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WNBA Phoenix Mercury

Phoenix Mercury Postgame Notes and Quotes: Phoenix 86, Seattle 66

August 31, 2018 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Phoenix Mercury News Release


KEY STAT

The Phoenix defense held the Storm to its second-lowest point total of the year, allowing just 66 points on 29-for-79 (.367) shooting from the floor. The Mercury defense also kept the Strom off the free throw line, committing only 16 fouls on the night, which led to a season-low five free throw attempts for the Storm

HIGHLIGHTS

The Phoenix victory forces a game four in the best of five series to be played Sunday, September 2nd at 2 p.m. at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The Mercury recorded a playoff-low 13 assists on the night. Entering tonight's game the team averaged 23.3 assists per game for the playoffs after averaging a franchise record 20.6 assists per game in the regular season.

Phoenix tied its playoff-high mark for blocks with eight on the night bolstered by Dewanna Bonner and Diana Taurasi who both blocked a team-high three shots.

The Mercury scored a playoff-high 17 points off a playoff-high 13 forced turnovers. The Mercury has forced 10.7 Storm turnovers per game thru the first three games of the series.

Phoenix tied its playoff-high with 50 points in the paint on 25-for-38 shooting (.658).

The Mercury's Diana Taurasi, who moved to 18-5 for her career in elimination games in the WNBA Playoffs, scored all eight of her points in the fourth quarter to help ice the game away for the Mercury.

DeWanna Bonner, who entered the game ranked 23rd on the WNBA's all-time playoff scoring list with 555 points, led all scorers in the contest with 27 points. Her 27 points move her career total to 581, moving her past Vickie Johnson (578) to take the 18th spot on the list.

Bonner also pulled down 11 rebounds to go with her 27 points giving her double-doubles in four of the five Mercury playoff games, and six of the last seven total games dating back to the regular season.

Diana Taurasi, who was held scoreless in the first half for the first time since May 30, 2018 against the Mystics she was held scoreless the first half, put up a playoff-low eight points on 3-for-11 shooting from the floor.

Yvonne Turner, getting her first start of the 2018 WNBA Playoffs, put up career-highs for points (19) and playoff career highs for field goals (7), rebounds (7), assists (6) and steals (3) in a career-high 38 minutes.

Brittney Griner, who recorded a career-high 10 double-doubles in the regular season, finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds to record her second consecutive double-double and second of the 2018 playoffs.

Griner's one block on the night gives her 77 career postseason blocks, moving her past Candace Parker (76) and into a tie for the second spot with Ruth Riley (77) on the WNBA's all-time playoff block list. The block also makes Griner the leader among active players in playoff blocks.

Seattle's Sue Bird racked up a playoff-high 11 assists, while scoring no points. Bird has now recorded double-digit assists in two of her three playoff games on the year.

Seattle's Natasha Howard's 19 point, 10 rebound performance marks her first career playoff double-double.

Seattle's Breanna Stewart's 15 point (all in second half) and 11 rebounds to give the 2018 WNBA MVP her first career postseason double-double.

Seattle's Jordin Canada posted playoff career highs for points (11) and assists (4) in 17 minutes off the bench for the Storm.

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