Mercury alone in 1st with 84-77 win over Sun

Jul 6, 2018, 02:43 pm

PHOENIX -- Diana Taurasi had 25 points, Brittney Griner scored 23 and the Phoenix Mercury took sole possession of first place in the WNBA with an 84-77 win over the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night.

DeWanna Bonner made a pair of key baskets down the stretch that helped the Mercury (14-5) hold off the Sun. She finished with 12 points and a season-high 13 rebounds.

Bonner's baseline 3-pointer with 3:26 left gave Phoenix a 78-74 lead and her up-and-under with 1:27 left made it 81-76. Griner made 3 of 4 free throws in the final minute to secure the win.

The Sun (10-8) never led. They trailed by as many as 15 in the third quarter before going on a 17-3 run to cut the deficit to 73-72.

Chiney Ogwumike, Rachel Banham and Jasmine Thomas had 11 points each for Connecticut.

The Mercury are 6-0 this season when Taurasi and Griner both score over 20 points.