Recaps: Griner phenomenal as Mercury trounce Aces in OT

The Phoenix Mercury ended the Las Vegas Aces’ four-game winning streak with a 99-90 overtime victory. Britney Griner led all scorers with 33 points and recorded 10 rebounds, her second 30-point game of the season and ninth double-double.

Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 27 points for her ninth 20-point game of the year. Sophie Cunningham added 13 points for her third game reaching double figures this year.

For the Aces, A’ja Wilson scored 25 points and nabbed 12 rebounds. Chelsea Gray scored 19 points while Liz Cambage contributed 16 and with eight rebounds. Additionally, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Mercury and the Aces were relatively close throughout the entirety of the game. The Mercury’s largest lead of 11 points occurred at the six-minute mark of the third quarter and was followed by an 18-2 Aces run to end the frame that made the score 63-58 Vegas. A pair of free throws from Wilson with five seconds left in the final quarter tied the game at 84.

Phoenix opened the overtime period with a 9-0 run. Las Vegas did not get closer than within six points the rest of the way as the Mercury put the Aces into second place.

Storm earn sloppy win over Sparks

The Seattle Storm handed the Los Angeles Sparks their fifth-consecutive loss, 71-62. Breanna Stewart led all scorers with 27 points, her 11th 20-point game of the season. Additionally, Stewart recorded 11 rebounds for her ninth double-double this year.

Jewell Loyd poured in 18 points with Stephanie Talbot and Ezi Magbegor each contributing seven points. The Storm shot 37.7 percent from the floor while committing 20 turnovers yet were able to open up a 17-point lead that they maintained for large portions of the game.

A basket by Arella Guirantes with two minutes left in the fourth brought the Sparks within one point, 61-60, but Stewart scored seven of the Storm’s final nine points to seal Seattle’s victory. Guirantes finished with six points.

The Sparks’ point leader and only player to reach double figures was Erica Wheeler who finished with 22 points, her third 20-point game of the year. The Sparks were also quite inept on offense, shooting 35.6 percent from the floor and committing 18 turnovers.

Lynx earn late victory over Wings

The Minnesota Lynx defeated the Dallas Wings 85-79 after trailing by as many as 11 points in the second half to extend their winning streak to five games. Kayla McBride scored 25 points, earning her third-straight 20-point game and fourth of the season. She also had five rebounds and five assists.

Sylvia Fowles recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Her performance extended her streak of double-digit-rebound games to five. Another four players recorded 10 points for Minnesota.

The Wings had four players reach double figures, led by Allisha Gray, who came off the bench to score 13 points. However, the team shot just 41.9 percent from the floor for the game.

The Lynx jumped out to a 23-13 lead in the opening quarter but it was the Wings who led 46-38 at the half. Dallas extended its lead to 51-40 early in the third but by the seven-and-a-half-minute mark of the final quarter the game was tied at 67. The Lynx pushed in front and never let the Wings tie the game the rest of the way.

Up Next

The Mercury welcome the Storm to Phoenix on Friday at 9 p.m. ET. Also on Friday, the Lynx travel to face the Aces at 10:30 p.m. ET. The Wings are off until Sunday and will face the Aces in Dallas at 1 p.m. ET. Additionally, the Lynx and Sparks will face off in Minnesota on Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.