Phoenix Mercury beat Indiana Fever for 7th straight time

PHOENIX (AP) — Skylar Diggins-Smith had 17 points and seven assists, Sophie Cunningham added 14 points and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever 99-78 on Wednesday night.

Phoenix (9-12) beat Indiana for a seventh straight time, including an 83-71 victory on Monday.

“We are spreading the basketball and just using Diamond (Deshields) playing at the four and Sophie (Cunningham) playing at the four just messes up people’s matchups,” Diggins-Smith said postgame.

Shey Peddy and DeShields each added 13 points for Phoenix, which has won three straight games. Brianna Turner had 11 points and 11 rebounds and Diana Taurasi also scored 11. The Mercury had a season-high 29 assists on 38 made field goals.

“It is my fourth year in the league and you have to keep getting better every year,” Cunningham said after the win. “Before I got injured overseas, I was playing pretty good and with a lot of confidence and then I tore this elbow up. I was out for four months, no preseason with the team and I just got thrown in there. Then, I got back and tore my other one up.

“Tina left and, honestly with me playing the four, it has opened up a lot of shots for me and I think with our offense it is hard for any team to guard.”

Phoenix built a 49-43 lead by halftime behind 28 combined points from Diggins-Smith, Cunningham and Peddy.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 14 of her 21 points in the first half for Indiana (5-16). Victoria Vivians added 13 points.