For much of Tuesday’s Game 1 between the Mercury and the Sparks, Phoenix looked capable of beating the defending champs and winning its third consecutive playoff game. But L.A. eventually pulled away for a 79-66 victory, taking a 1-0 lead in this best-of-five Semifinal series.

Here are the key storylines to follow in Thursday night’s Game 2 (10 PM ET, ESPN2).

Can Diana Taurasi Get Going?

The league’s all-time leading scorer was limited to just six points Tuesday night, the fewest she’s ever tallied in a playoff game. Leilani Mitchell stepped up with 19 crucial points for the Mercury, but they will need Taurasi to complement Griner’s inside presence to have any shot at winning this series.

One problem, of course, is that Defensive Player of the Year Alana Beard happens to be guarding her. Taurasi averaged 23 points per game in the regular season against the Sparks, but Beard was all over her Tuesday night. Taurasi had high praise for this year’s DPOY after the game.

“One of the fiercest competitors I’ve ever seen,” Taurasi told reporters. “She just competes on every play and gives you different looks. No one deserves that award more.”

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Who Can Stay Out of Foul Trouble?

If there’s anything we learned from Game 1, it’s that this series will be called extremely tightly. There were 46 total fouls called, and three Mercury players fouled out, marking the first time in WNBA history that a trio of teammates have done so in the same playoff game.

“Everybody was fighting to finish plays, and going for the offensive boards,” Nneka Ogwumike said after the game. “It was intense. It was a physical game, but you have to expect that at this point in the season. Especially with a team like Phoenix.”

Star center Brittney Griner was one of those who fouled out, and Phoenix cannot afford for Griner to miss significant time in Game 2. Her absence would permit Ogwumike and Candace Parker to control the paint on both ends.

How Healthy is Candace Parker?

The reigning Finals MVP tweaked her ankle in pregame warmups on Tuesday. She brushed off the injury in an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game, saying, “Stuff happens. I’ve been battle-tested my whole career with injuries, so this is nothing new. You never know what journey you’ll go through, but I’m just happy that we got the win. Our team stepped up big.”

Parker landed awkwardly while shooting a jumper in warmups, and she was clearly in pain throughout Tuesday’s contest. She often grimaced after drives to the basket and limped up and down the court. Parker still managed to score 15 points and contribute in a variety of ways, but the health of that ankle will be a key factor in Thursday’s Game 2.

Can the Sparks Maintain Balance?

Game 1 was a historic night for the Sparks on the offensive end:

For the first time since Sept. 1, 2003 the @LA_Sparks have 5 starters with 10+ PTS in a #WNBAPlayoffs game!

Sparks lead by 9 late in Q4! pic.twitter.com/BlNwphUXjx

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 13, 2017

After shaking off the rust from their nine-day layoff, the Sparks’ starters all had productive nights. Young guards Odyssey Sims (12 points, five assists) and Chelsea Gray (13 points, six assists) helped L.A. win the battle in the backcourt despite Mitchell’s hot shooting. The Sparks had swept Phoenix 3-0 in the regular season fueled by big performances from those two guards.

“We’re going to have to figure out a way to limit someone,” Taurasi said. “We obviously know Nneka and Candace, what they’re capable of doing. When Odyssey plays like that, it becomes very difficult. We’re just going to have to do a better job on limiting the easy points. I think we did that for the most part, but we had a couple runs where we had some defensive breakdowns that really hurt us.”