Recap: Mercury rout Mystics 91-68 for second straight win

The Phoenix Mercury soundly defeated the Washington Mystics 91-68 on Wednesday afternoon at Capital One Arena. It was the fifth-place Mercury’s second straight win and the second-place Mystics’ second straight loss.

Washington had a strong start, holding off Phoenix in a 27-22 first quarter while both teams shot over 50 percent. However, only the Mercury maintained the offensive onslaught, finishing with a season-high 54.2 percent shooting.

Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner eclipsed their combined 38.8 points per game average, as Griner led all scorers with 25 points and Bonner chipped in 22. The duo shot a combined 65.5 percent.

Briann January added 18 points for Phoenix, and Yvonne Turner scored 10 points off the bench. Sancho Lyttle also contributed off the bench, scoring 8 points on 4-of-5 shooting and grabbing 7 rebounds.

The Mystics were playing without Elena Delle Donne, who suffered a nasal injury on Sunday against the Sparks. Tianna Hawkins proved a capable replacement, getting the start and notching a team-high 24 points and 7 rebounds, but Delle Donne’s absence was too much to overcome.

Ariel Atkins was the only other player in double figures for Washington, adding 14 points.

This was the second time that the Mystics have lost consecutive games this season. Meanwhile, the Mercury are one win away from tying their season-best three-game winning streak and have won five of their last six games.

Up next

The Mercury travel to Connecticut to take on the Sun on Friday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2). The Mystics will stay in town but head back to Entertainment and Sports Arena, where they’ll host the Aces on Saturday (7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network).