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PHOENIX MERCURY

Kahleah Copper drains OT 3 in Mercury’s Game 2 20-point comeback win vs. Lynx

Phoenix's Kahleah Copper hit a critical 3 in overtime to ice a 89-83 playoff victory for the Mercury at the Minnesota Lynx. The WNBA semis are now tied 1-1.

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Satou Sabally scored 11 of her 24 points in the fourth quarter and Alyssa Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists to help the Phoenix Mercury erase a 20-point deficit and beat the Minnesota Lynx 89-83 in overtime on Tuesday night, tying the WNBA semifinal series at one game apiece.

Sami Whitcomb’s 3-pointer from the wing with 4 seconds left in regulation evened the game at 79 after Thomas kept alive the possession following Whitcomb’s airballed 3 from the top of the key, and Napheesa Collier’s 18-footer for the win fell short at the buzzer to force extra time.

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The Mercury matched the third-largest comeback in WNBA playoff history, and it was their first postseason victory against the Lynx — now 1-10 all-time.

For the part of time Sabally, she has a playoff career-best five 3s made and Thomas recorded her 27th double-double in her playoff career. Thomas’ mark tied Candace Parker and Tamika Catchings for the most in league history.

Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper drained a 3 of her own with 1:47 remaining in OT, giving her team the six-point cushion they needed to stave of Minnesota.

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Copper, the only returning player from the Mercury’s 2024 roster, had eight points, three assists and a rebound in 33 minutes.

Thomas, who had a triple-double in the decisive Game 3 victory in the first round that ousted defending champion New York, grabbed eight rebounds and ignited the rally with her intensity after a lackluster first half. Her three-point play with 3:32 left in the fourth quarter ended a stretch of 33:28 during which the top-seeded Lynx had the lead.

Collier scored 24 points on her 29th birthday, Kayla McBride had 21 points and Courtney Williams added 20 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals for the Lynx, whose bench was outscored 25-3.

The Mercury, who played their fourth game in seven days, will host Game 3 of the best-of-five series on Friday night.

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