Taurasi scored a career-high 31 points but had little support as the Mercury were eliminated from postseason contention with an 85-74 loss to the Seattle Storm, who set a franchise record with their ninth straight home win.
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Mercury-Storm: Play |
Phoenix (16-18) needed to win and have Los Angeles lose later in Houston to gain the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Instead, it suffered its third straight loss and limped into the offseason by matching its worst defensive effort of the year.
Taurasi scored 15 points in the first half to keep her club close and tied it at 41-41 on a jumper just three minutes after halftime. However, Sue Bird answered seconds later to give Seattle (20-14) the lead for good.
Two free throws by Taurasi and a basket by Kamila Vodichkova got Phoenix within 65-60 with 4:06 left, but Bird again replied, this time with her second three-pointer to give the Storm an eight-point edge.
The Mercury never got closer than seven points thereafter.
Bird matched a season high with 20 points and dished out seven assists and rookie Tanisha Wright scored a career-high 17 for Seattle, which opens defense of its WNBA crown Tuesday at either Los Angeles or Houston.
Wright scored 11 of her points after halftime, picking up most of the slack for Jackson, who scored eight points before departing.
Taurasi added eight rebounds and six assists and Vodichkova scored 18 points, but no other player had more than six for the Mercury, which made just 5-of-24 (21 percent) 3-pointers.