PHOENIX MERCURY

Taurasi’s season-high 33 not enough for Mercury to beat Aces

Jul 19, 2018, 9:38 PM

Connecticut Sun guard Jasmine Thomas (5) picks up the foul as she and teammate Alyssa Thomas, right...

Connecticut Sun guard Jasmine Thomas (5) picks up the foul as she and teammate Alyssa Thomas, right, defend against Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Friday, July 13, 2018, in Uncasville, Conn. (Sean D. Elliot/The Day via AP)

(Sean D. Elliot/The Day via AP)

PHOENIX — Kayla McBride scored 27 points, A’ja Wilson had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Las Vegas Aces beat the Phoenix Mercury 85-82 on Thursday night.

McBride made a steal and fast-break layup to give the Aces an 83-79 lead. Wilson added a scoop shot in the lane to make it 85-82 with 21.8 seconds left. The Aces pressured the Mercury into a timeout with 13.2 seconds remaining before Diana Taurasi missed a 3-pointer. Phoenix got the ball back but turned it over in the lane.

McBride scored 14 points in the first half and Wilson added 10 as Las Vegas (11-13) led 46-37.

Taurasi scored a season-high 33 points for Phoenix (15-9), which began a four-game homestand. Brittney Griner had 19 points and 10 rebounds to become the Mercury’s leader in career double-doubles with 34. Griner also blocked one shot to tie Tammy Sutton-Brown for sixth on the WNBA list with 555. Margo Dydek (1998-08) holds the record at 877.

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