LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brittney Griner had a season-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, Skylar Diggins-Smith added 27 points and the Diana Taurasi-less Phoenix Mercury beat the Las Vegas Aces 99-90 in overtime on Wednesday night.
It was the 50th career double-double for Griner, who also had five assists and three blocks. Diggins-Smith had eight assists and made 11 of 11 from the free-throw line. Sophie Cunningham, who made a career-high four 3-pointers, added 13 points and a career-best seven rebounds for Phoenix (8-9) in place of Taurasi, who didn’t play because of a hip injury.
She warmed up before the game, but didn’t play.
The Aces (14-5) had their four-game win streak snapped and fell a game behind the WNBA-leading Seattle Storm. Las Vegas is two games behind Seattle for the Western Conference spot in the Commissioner’s Cup championship with two games to play.
Griner scored six consecutive points before Diggins-Smith hit a 3-pointer to cap a 9-0 run to open overtime and the Mercury led the rest of the way.
A’ja Wilson had 25 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for Las Vegas. Chelsea Gray added 19 points and six assists and Liz Cambage scored 16 points.
The Mercury shot 2 of 19 from the field and committed five turnovers as they were outscored 20-8 in the third quarter. Kia Nurse hit a 3-pointer to give Phoenix an 11-point lead with about 3 1/2 minutes after halftime but the Aces scored the next 18 points over a six-minute span.
Cunningham missed the second of two free throws but Griner grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled with 15.9 seconds left. Griner made 1 of 2 from the free-throw line to give Mercury an 84-82 lead and Wilson made two foul shots on the other end before Cambage blocked a potential winning shot by Griner at the end of regulation.
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