Mercury lose sixth straight as post Finals season plummet continues
HIGHLIGHTS: Minnesota 111, Phoenix 77
PHOENIX — Courtney Williams scored a season-best 30 points on 13-of-20 shooting as the Minnesota Lynx mauled the host Phoenix Mercury 111-77 on Monday night at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
Olivia Miles added 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added nine assists and three steals for WNBA-best Minnesota (7-2), which posted its fifth straight victory and sailed in the first Commissioner’s Cup game for both Western Conference teams.
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The 34-point margin of victory is the largest in the WNBA this season. Minnesota’s largest lead was 37. The point total was the Lynx’s highest of the season and it marked the second time they scored 100 or more this season.
Antonia Delaere added 13 points and fellow reserve Anastasiia Olairi Kosu had 12 as the Lynx improved to 5-0 on the road. Natasha Howard scored 11 for Minnesota, which shot 64% from the field and made 10-of-17 from 3-point range.
Kahleah Copper scored 18 points for the Mercury (2-8), who lost their sixth straight game. Noemie Brochant added 11 points and Monique Akoa Makani had 10 for Phoenix.
The Mercury shot just 34% from the field and were 10-of-27 from 3-point range.
Minnesota shot 75% from the field in the first half and had a 19-4 edge in points off turnovers while taking a 67-40 lead.
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According to the Lynx, it is the fourth time the team has scored 67 or more points in a half.
Williams had 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in the half. Miles hit all five shots while scoring 13 points and Howard added 11 on 5-of-6 shooting.
Phoenix trailed just 19-16 in the first quarter after scoring eight straight points. Minnesota scored 16 of the final 22 points in the period to hold a 35-22 advantage.
The Lynx saw their lead reach 20 at 46-26 on Kayla McBride’s basket with 6:26 remaining in the half. The advantage was 29 later in the half before Copper’s basket in the final second. Copper had 11 first-half points.
Williams opened the third with consecutive baskets to push the lead to 31. A three-point play by Williams made it 76-43 with 6:43 left in the quarter.
The score was 88-56 entering the final quarter.
Williams reached 30 on a jumper with 1:36 left as the Lynx kept the pressure on with point differential being an important part of Commissioner’s Cup group play.
The Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season tournament in which the final is slated for June 30. The top team in group play from the Western Conference will meet the best team from the Eastern Conference in the title game.
–Field Level Media
