Mercury Rises Over Lynx

Taurasi lifts Mercury to 96-78 win

PHOENIX (AP) — Diana Taurasi had 31 points, including a 50-footer at the end of the third quarter, to lead the Phoenix Mercury to a 96-78 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night, putting the Mercury into the WNBA Finals.

Taurasi scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to give Phoenix an 80-67 lead with 7:19 left. Minnesota had eliminated Phoenix in the 2011 and 2013 en route to winning the title.

The Mercury, which had the best record in the league, will face the winner of Wednesday's Chicago-Indiana game.

Minnesota missed its first 10 shots of the fourth period, falling behind 85-67 by midway through the quarter.

Seimone Augustus had 13 of her 21 points in the third quarter as the Lynx erased a 10-point deficit. Lindsay Whalen had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists but missed four straight shots to start the fourth quarter.