Another comeback attempt falls short as Mercury lose to Las Vegas.
For the third time in the last five games, the Phoenix Mercury failed to close out a second-half comeback, falling 85-82 Thursday night to Las Vegas.
The Mercury trailed by nine at halftime and five going into the fourth quarter at Talking Stick Resort Arena. They pulled within one point (64-63) early in the fourth before the Aces went on a 13-6 run to lead 77-69.
Phoenix answered with an 8-2 run, including back-to-back 3pointers by Leilani Mitchell and Diana Taurasi to close within two (7977) with 2:57 left.
Taurasi hit another 3 to bring the Mercury within one (83-82). Mitchell and Brittney Griner missed on shots that would have put Phoenix ahead.
With 21.8 seconds left, the Aces' A'ja Wilson drove the lane for a layup just as the shot clock expired that was ruled good after a replay review.
Down 85-82 coming out of a timeout, the Mercury had nothing going on offense, forcing coach Sandy Brondello to call another timeout with 13.2 seconds left. Taurasi then was way short on a 3pointer, but Mitchell saved possession for the Mercury off an Aces player with 7.9 seconds remaining.
DeWanna Bonner had trouble inbounding and her pass for Angel Robinson resulted in a game-ending turnover.
The Mercury fall to 15-9 and their hold on second place in the WNBA is down to a half game. Las Vegas, which lost the first two meetings with Phoenix, improved to 11-13.
Kayla McBride led the Aces with 27 points, Wilson had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Tamera Young scored 10. Taurasi had 33 points, Griner 19 and Bonner 13 for Phoenix.
The Mercury made a dent in a10point deficit in the latter half of the third quarter, first with a 6-0 run then with Yvonne Turner scoring the final four points of the period.
Las Vegas led 64-59 going into the fourth with Wilson already assured of a double-double.
Briann January’s buzzer-beating corner 3-pointer gave the Mercury a 26-25 lead at the end of the first quarter. Phoenix still led 34-33 midway through the second quarter when Wilson ignited a 13-0 Aces run.
Phoenix shot just 30.6 percent in the first half and went 3-of-13 from 3-point.
Mercury All-Stars on Team Delle Donne
Taurasi, Griner and Bonner will play on Team Delle Donne in the WNBA All-Star Game on July 28.
All were drafted by Washington’s Elena Delle Donne, one of the team captains. The other team will be captained by Los Angeles’ Candace Parker and coached by Brondello.
Others on Team Delle Donne, coached by Seattle’s Dan Hughes, are: Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Sylvia Fowles, McBride, Breanna Stewart, Kristi Toliver and Wilson.
Team Parker has: Liz Cambage, Tina Charles, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Maya Moore, Angel McCoughtry, Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka Ogwumike, Allie Quigley and Parker.