Taurasi, Bonner lead Mercury to 78-71 win over Dream

Jun 4, 2018, 07:55 am

ATLANTA -- Diana Taurasi and DeWanna Bonner had 20 points apiece, and combined to score the Mercury's final 20 points, as Phoenix beat the Atlanta Dream 78-71 on Sunday.

Bonner added seven rebounds, six assists and two steals while Taurasi finished with eight assists. Brittney Griner had 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for the Mercury (4-3).

Brittney Sykes made a layup to trim Atlanta's deficit to 58-57 early in the fourth quarter, but Taurasi scored 12 points from there as she and Bonner combined to make 12 of 12 free throws over the final six-plus minutes to hold off the Dream (2-3).

Taurasi hit Bonner for a 3-pointer to open the scoring and Phoenix never trailed. Bonner hit a jumper to make it 50-36, and match the Mercury's biggest lead of the game, with seven minutes left in the third quarter. Five different Atlanta players scored during a 17-4 run over the next six minutes that pulled the Dream within one.

Angel McCoughtry, who sat out last season to rest, had 21 points and 10 rebounds -- both season highs -- for Atlanta.