Taurasi nets milestone, Mercury drops Liberty

Diana Taurasi became the first player in WNBA history to reach 8,000 career points and scored 21 points as the Phoenix Mercury overcame a slow start and recorded an 80-74 victory over the New York Liberty in a matinee game Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 26 points, making her first six shots and finishing 12 of 14 from the field.

Taurasi produced her fifth 20-point game of the season despite going 1 of 9 from 3-point range. She shot 5 of 14, converted all 10 of her free throw attempts and reached her milestone with a 3-point play with 5:10 remaining in the first quarter.

Taurasi also added eight assists and just missed her first double-double of the season.

DeWanna Bonner added 18 points as Phoenix won its third straight in a game that featured 17 lead changes and eight deadlocks.

Tina Charles led the Liberty with 25 points but shot 12 of 25 from the floor. Bria Hartley hit four 3-pointers and added 18 but the Liberty shot 41.3 percent and were unable to win their third straight game despite a 39-21 rebounding edge and a 16-2 advantage on second-chance points.

Rookie Kia Nurse, who scored 34 points Saturday at Indiana, was held to five points on 2 of 7 shooting.

After using an 11-0 run midway through the second to get a five-point at halftime, the Mercury survived a shaky third quarter and carried a 57-55 lead into the fourth. After six lead changes in the fourth, Phoenix took the lead for good at 76-74 on a 3-pointer by Bonner with 2:16 remaining.

The Liberty missed their final six shots and committed a turnover after getting a 74-73 lead on a 3-pointer by Marissa Coleman with 3:23 left. They were within 76-74 in the final 90 seconds but a jumper by Griner over Charles clinched the win for Phoenix.

–Field Level Media