Mercury vs. Sky, Game 1 halftime score: Phoenix mounts record-setting 42-20 lead

After holding the Chicago Sky to a historically bad first quarter, the Phoenix Mercury's offense got going in the second quarter to build a commanding 42-20 lead going into halftime.

And Diana Taurasi wasn't even the principal scorer, demonstrating why this Mercury team is so difficult to beat.

Candice Dupree was a perfect 9-for-9 from the field to lead all scorers with 18 points while Diana Taurasi chipped in a game-high 7 assists to go with 12 points. Defensively, Brittney Griner has been dominating the paint with 6 blocks to go with her 8 points.

Meanwhile, the Sky just haven't been able to establish anything consistently.

The Sky's 8 first quarter points was a record low for the WNBA Finals, they had four turnovers, and Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner had a record five first quarter blocks to compound the Sky's own problems. Whether it was matter of nerves, inexperience, or smothering Phoenix Mercury defense, the Chicago Sky failed to score a basket in the first five minutes of the game before Courtney Vandersloot scored four in a row to get them going.

Somebody tell Chicago that the game has started. #WNBAFinals #WNBA

— Troy Littledeer (@TroyLittledeer) September 7, 2014

To Chicago's credit, their own perimeter defense kept them in it. The Mercury had four turnovers themselves in the first quarter and went without an offensive rebound until the 6:08 mark in the second period. Offensively, Sylvia Fowles has been working hard in the paint and getting good post position, but she has 6 points on just 2-for-9 shooting as Griner just isn't allowing her clean looks at the bucket.

Guard Epiphanny Prince scored all of her team-high 6 points in the second quarter, but it was all Mercury in the second period.

The Mercury shot 76.5% and had 8 assists on 13 made baskets while Taurasi has 6 of her 7 assists and Dupree made 6 of her shots.