Phoenix Mercury vs. Washington Mystics Live Blog: Analysis and Results

Brittney Griner played the best game of her young career but the Washington Mystics got all they could handle from Diana Taurasi. 

After a slow start by both teams the Mercury found their footing by working the ball inside to Griner and Bonner who finished with 13 and 7 points respectively in the first half. 

Diana Taurasi got to every spot she wanted to in the first half by pushing every time up the floor, finishing the half with 17 points and 3 assists.

Although the Mystics finally started to find open lanes off the pick and roll late in the 2nd quarter, the Mercury smothered them with solid switching and pressure on the perimeter, forcing them into just 41 percent shooting from the floor to their 58.8 percent. 

The second half saw both teams get off slow again, but the Mystics found easy looks close to the bucket when Taurasi and Griner went to the bench with four minutes left in the third quarter. 

Despite a solid run by the Mystics to cut the deficit, Taurasi and the Mercury's fast pace was just too much for the Mystics. Taurasi finished with a game-high 31 points while Griner notched a career-high 21 points to go along with four blocks.

Ivory Latta scored 22 points for the Mystics but a 44-22 edge in points in the paint for the Mercury sealed their fate and led to a 90-82 victory for Phoenix. They are now 4-4 while Washington falls to 4-3.