Mercury-Sun Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Aug 25 2011 6:31PM

Despite valiant efforts from their best player, the Phoenix Mercury have come up just short in each of their last three meetings with the Connecticut Sun.

The Mercury might have trouble keeping this latest matchup close, however, if Diana Taurasi is forced to sit out again.

With Taurasi's status uncertain, Phoenix begins a four-game road trip looking to avoid a fourth consecutive loss to Connecticut, which seeks a fourth straight home win Friday night.

Taurasi, who leads the WNBA with 21.0 points per game, was held out for the second consecutive contest due to back spasms Tuesday. Phoenix fell 74-70 to New York, dropping to 5-6 without the five-time All-Star since she entered the league in 2004.

"We're a scared team right now, playing without Diana," guard Alexis Gray-Lawson said. "Just imagine if she comes back, we'll be even better. So (we) can't wait till she gets back."

The Mercury's three straight losses in this series have come by a combined six points - the most recent a 96-95 overtime defeat Aug. 7 - with Taurasi averaging 26.3 points. The 2009 league MVP, who hasn't played since last Tuesday, has scored at least 20 points in a season-best six straight games.

Phoenix (15-11) has lost three of four on the road and could have trouble starting its trek on a positive note, especially if Taurasi can't go. The Sun (17-10) have outscored opponents by an average of 15.0 points during a three-game winning streak at Mohegan Sun Arena.

"We're excited to get on the road again. It's our last road trip together, it's starting to be crunch time," Gray-Lawson said. "We're just gonna come together and play hard, and try to get better every game cause we have things to improve on."

Connecticut, an WNBA best-tying 12-2 at home, avoided a season-worst third consecutive defeat by beating Atlanta 96-87 on Sunday to conclude a home-and-home set. All-Stars Renee Montgomery and Tina Charles came up big, scoring 21 and 18 points, respectively.

"This was big to win this game because of the two games that we just lost on the road. We definitely lost those games," said Charles, who also recorded nine rebounds and three blocks. "I wouldn't say those teams beat us, because we were leading and let those games slip away from us."

Connecticut trailed by 10 heading into the second quarter Sunday but outscored the Dream 80-61 the rest of the way.

"Every single game that we play, we have to grind it out and hang in there," said forward Asjha Jones, who had 18 points and 10 boards. "As long as we have good possessions in the fourth quarter, we usually pull out the wins."

Charles, Jones lead Sun past Mercury

Posted Aug 26 2011 11:38PM

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Connecticut Sun coach Mike Thibault used one word to summarize a wild game against the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.

``Wow,'' Thibault said.

Tina Charles scored 17 points and Asjha Jones had 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Sun rallied from an 11-point deficit in the third quarter and from five points down over the final 3 1/2 minutes to beat the Mercury 95-92.

Connecticut had to survive Diana Taurasi's potential game-tying 3-point shot bounced off the rim at the final buzzer, and the Sun moved one win from clinching a playoff berth.

``That had to be a fun game for the fans,'' Thibault said. ``I thought Diana's last shot was going in. It looked straight.''

Taurasi thought it had a chance, too.

``Yeah, I did think (it might),'' she said. ``It didn't come off as smoothly as I wanted off my hands so you get a big brick.''

Kara Lawson scored seven of her 14 points in the final 43.8 seconds for Connecticut (18-10).

Lawson snapped an 86-86 tie with a 3 and made four free throws in the final 13 seconds. Her two free throws with 3 seconds left gave the Sun the three-point lead.

``I was excited (to make the 3-pointer),'' Lawson said. ``But the first thing I thought was I've got to sprint back because at that point I was guarding Taurasi and they can throw it ahead and she can shoot a quick 3. I was thinking, 'Find her. Find her quick.'''

Taurasi and Penny Taylor had 26 points apiece for the Mercury (15-12). They combined to score Phoenix's last 15 points.

The Sun were down 86-81 with 3:26 remaining in the fourth period before they used an 11-0 run to take a 92-86 lead with 13.1 seconds left.

``We didn't have the best possessions down the stretch and in games like this half court offense wins these games,'' Taurasi said. ``I think that is pretty evident in most close games that you watch, half court offense execution either wins or loses the game and today we didn't have it.''

Kalana Greene and Renee Montgomery had 14 points apiece for the Sun.

Phoenix scored the last six points of the first half to take a 47-44 lead at halftime.

The Mercury made five of their first nine 3-point attempts and led 31-25 after one period.

The teams combined to attempt 43 3s. Phoenix was 10 for 25 (40 percent), and Connecticut 6 for 18 (33 percent).

• Mercury: --
• Sun: --

• Mercury: --
• Sun: --

• Lead Changes: 10
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
• Officials: #39 Michael Price, #21 Byron Jarrett, #42 Roy Gulbeyan
• Attendance: 9007
• Duration: 2:00