Griner ejected after scuffle with Jackson before Mercury rally in second half to beat Sparks 85-81
LOS ANGELES (AP) Brittney Griner scored 14 points before being ejected after a scuffle, Natasha Cloud had 13 points and 12 assists, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Los Angeles Sparks 85-81 on Tuesday night.
Griner and Sparks standout rookie Rickea Jackson were thrown out after exchanging shoves while in rebounding position following a Mercury free throw in the closing seconds of the first half. The Mercury, who found out before the game they would play second-seeded Minnesota when the playoffs open on Sunday, trailed by eight at halftime but took control in the third quarter.
Sophia Cunningham also scored 14 points for the Mercury (19-20). Diana Taurasi added 13 and Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan had 10.
Dearica Hamba had 21 points for the last-place Sparks (7-32), who lost their eighth straight in an injury-plagued season. Li Yueru scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Kia Nurse had 10 points.
Phoenix turned 20 turnovers into 31 points to offset a 49-25 rebounding deficit.
Natasha Mack's three-point play had the Mercury up 71-56 with 7:32 to play but the Sparks reeled off 10 straight points, pulling within five on Hamby's layup with five minutes to go.
Cunningham pushed the lead to 13 with a 3-pointer with 3:44 left but Hamby hit a 3 that made it 79-74 with two minutes to play. Herbert-Harrigan ended that threat with a 3 and the Mercury closed it out.
The game was tied at 14 after one quarter before the Sparks raced to a 44-36 lead at the half.
It was after Celeste Taylor made a free throw for Phoenix, cutting the lead to 43-36, that Griner and Jackson got tangled up, exchanged words and shoves and appeared ready for more before others intervened. After review, both players were ejected and L.A.'s Crystal Dangerfield and Cunningham were given technical fouls.
Griner was 7 of 8 for 14 points in 14 minutes and Jackson played all but those last 18.8 seconds and was 2 of 11 with four free throws.
Phoenix scored the first seven points of the second half, tied the game at 46 on Taurasi's 3-pointer and took the lead for good on her free throw as she started her own run of five straight points that made it 53-48.
The Mercury led by as many as 14 and took a 64-54 lead into the fourth quarter after outscoring the Sparks 28-10. Phoenix was 9 of 18 in the quarter to 4 of 18 for the Sparks, who had nine turnovers.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |  | Start of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Azurá Stevens vs. Brittney Griner. | ||
| 9:46 |  | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 9:46 | | Azurá Stevens with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:25 | | Rickea Jackson misses a jump shot from 13 feet out. | ||
| 9:25 | | Celeste Taylor with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:13 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 2-0 |
| 8:59 | | +2 | Rae Burrell makes a layup. | 2-2 |
| 8:41 | | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 8:41 | | Odyssey Sims with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:33 | | Personal foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 8:26 | | Azurá Stevens misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 8:26 | | Mercury with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:10 | | Diana Taurasi misses a layup. | ||
| 8:10 | | Brittney Griner with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 8:06 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. | 4-2 |
| 7:52 | | Brittney Griner blocks a Dearica Hamby layup. | ||
| 7:52 | | Sparks with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:51 | | Dearica Hamby misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | ||
| 7:51 | | Azurá Stevens with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:45 | | +2 | Azurá Stevens makes a layup. | 4-4 |
| 7:41 | | Brittney Griner with a turnover - Lost Ball | ||
| 7:38 | | Azurá Stevens misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | ||
| 7:38 | | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:28 | | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 7:28 | | Dearica Hamby with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:13 | | Personal foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 7:13 | | Substitution: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan in for Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 7:03 | | Rickea Jackson misses a jump shot from 8 feet out. | ||
| 7:03 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:51 | | Natasha Cloud misses a jump shot from 15 feet out. | ||
| 6:51 | | Dearica Hamby with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:43 | | Odyssey Sims misses a jump shot from 9 feet out. | ||
| 6:43 | | Odyssey Sims with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:38 | | Odyssey Sims misses a jump shot from 6 feet out. | ||
| 6:38 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:28 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 6:28 | | Azurá Stevens with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:07 | | Dearica Hamby with a turnover - 3 Second | ||
| 5:51 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 6-4 |
| 5:39 | | Rickea Jackson misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 5:39 | | Odyssey Sims with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 5:34 | | Personal foul committed by Brittney Griner. | ||
| 5:29 | | Odyssey Sims with a turnover - Lost Ball | ||
| 5:17 | | Diana Taurasi misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | ||
| 5:17 | | Azurá Stevens with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:04 | | Personal foul committed by Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 5:04 | | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Brittney Griner. | ||
| 5:04 | | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 4:58 | | Celeste Taylor blocks a Rickea Jackson 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 4:58 | | Sparks with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 4:57 | | Official's timeout. | ||
| 4:52 | | Azurá Stevens with a turnover - Traveling | ||
| 4:44 | | Personal foul committed by Odyssey Sims. | ||
| 4:41 | | Offensive foul committed by Natasha Mack. | ||
| 4:41 | | Natasha Mack with a turnover | ||
| 4:35 | | Dearica Hamby misses a jump shot from 5 feet out. | ||
| 4:35 | | Monique Billings with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:25 | | Celeste Taylor misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 4:25 | | Dearica Hamby with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:18 | | +2 | Dearica Hamby makes a layup. | 6-6 |
| 4:00 | | Monique Billings with a turnover - Traveling | ||
| 4:00 | | Substitution: Crystal Dangerfield in for Odyssey Sims. | ||
| 4:00 | | Substitution: Stephanie Talbot in for Azurá Stevens. | ||
| 4:00 | | Substitution: Li Yueru in for Dearica Hamby. | ||
| 3:45 | | Stephanie Talbot misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | ||
| 3:45 | | Celeste Taylor with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:29 | | Natasha Mack misses a jump shot from 9 feet out. | ||
| 3:29 | | Rae Burrell with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:19 | | Celeste Taylor steals the ball from Rae Burrell. | ||
| 3:19 | | Rae Burrell steals the ball from Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 3:19 | | Natasha Mack steals the ball from Rae Burrell. | ||
| 3:08 | | +2 | Natasha Mack makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 8-6 |
| 2:43 | | +3 | Crystal Dangerfield makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Stephanie Talbot with the assist. | 8-9 |
| 2:27 | | Shooting foul committed by Stephanie Talbot. | ||
| 2:27 | | +1 | Natasha Cloud makes free throw 1 of 2. | 9-9 |
| 2:27 | | Substitution: Kia Nurse in for Rae Burrell. | ||
| 2:27 | | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 2:27 | | Substitution: Amy Atwell in for Mikiah Herbert Harrigan. | ||
| 2:27 | | +1 | Natasha Cloud makes free throw 2 of 2. | 10-9 |
| 2:13 | | +3 | Li Yueru makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Crystal Dangerfield with the assist. | 10-12 |
| 1:59 | | Personal foul committed by Kia Nurse. | ||
| 1:52 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 1:52 | | Monique Billings with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:46 | | Stephanie Talbot blocks a Amy Atwell 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 1:46 | | Amy Atwell with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:43 | | Mercury with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | ||
| 1:33 | | Crystal Dangerfield misses a layup. | ||
| 1:33 | | Mercury with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:33 | | Sparks take a full timeout. | ||
| 1:33 | | Substitution: Brittney Griner in for Natasha Mack. | ||
| 1:31 | | Li Yueru misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | ||
| 1:31 | | Stephanie Talbot with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:18 | | Monique Billings blocks a Kia Nurse jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 1:18 | | Kia Nurse with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:15 | | Crystal Dangerfield misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 1:15 | | Sparks with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:15 | | Sparks with a turnover: Shot Clock Turnover | ||
| 1:02 | | +2 | Monique Billings makes a layup. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 12-12 |
| 42.4 | | Rickea Jackson misses a jump shot from 11 feet out. | ||
| 42.4 | | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 35.7 | | Personal foul committed by Stephanie Talbot. | ||
| 35.7 | | +1 | Monique Billings makes free throw 1 of 2. | 13-12 |
| 35.7 | | +1 | Monique Billings makes free throw 2 of 2. | 14-12 |
| 19.3 | | Stephanie Talbot misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 19.3 | | Sparks with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 15.5 | | Personal foul committed by Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 15.5 | | +1 | Rickea Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2. | 14-13 |
| 15.5 | | +1 | Rickea Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2. | 14-14 |
| 05.4 | | Jump Ball: Diana Taurasi vs. Rickea Jackson. | ||
| 04.9 | | Rickea Jackson steals the ball from Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 2:27 | | +1 | Natasha Cloud makes free throw 2 of 2. | 10-9 |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | | Start of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 9:33 | | Kia Nurse misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | ||
| 9:33 | | Rickea Jackson with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:28 | | Kia Nurse misses a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. | ||
| 9:28 | | Li Yueru with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 9:21 | | +2 | Li Yueru makes a layup. | 14-16 |
| 9:08 | | Kia Nurse steals the ball from Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 9:04 | | Rickea Jackson misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 9:04 | | Stephanie Talbot with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 8:57 | | Kia Nurse misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | ||
| 8:57 | | Sophie Cunningham with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:48 | | Diana Taurasi with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 8:35 | | +2 | Rickea Jackson makes a jump shot from 24 feet out. Crystal Dangerfield with the assist. | 14-18 |
| 8:16 | | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 6 feet out. | ||
| 8:16 | | Rickea Jackson with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:08 | | Shooting foul committed by Natasha Mack. | ||
| 8:08 | | +1 | Rickea Jackson makes free throw 1 of 2. | 14-19 |
| 8:08 | | +1 | Rickea Jackson makes free throw 2 of 2. | 14-20 |
| 7:56 | | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 16-20 |
| 7:38 | | +2 | Li Yueru makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. Kia Nurse with the assist. | 16-22 |
| 7:26 | | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 19-22 |
| 7:17 | | Rickea Jackson misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 7:17 | | Natasha Mack with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:06 | | +2 | Natasha Mack makes a layup. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 21-22 |
| 6:45 | | Crystal Dangerfield misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 6:45 | | Rickea Jackson with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:41 | | +2 | Rickea Jackson makes a layup. | 21-24 |
| 6:32 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 6:32 | | Crystal Dangerfield with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:21 | | Stephanie Talbot misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 6:21 | | Kia Nurse with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 6:11 | | +2 | Crystal Dangerfield makes a layup. | 21-26 |
| 6:07 | | Mercury take a full timeout. | ||
| 6:07 | | Substitution: Rae Burrell in for Kia Nurse. | ||
| 6:07 | | Substitution: Dearica Hamby in for Stephanie Talbot. | ||
| 6:07 | | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Amy Atwell. | ||
| 6:07 | | Substitution: Natasha Cloud in for Brittney Griner. | ||
| 6:07 | | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 5:58 | | Sophie Cunningham misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 5:58 | | Dearica Hamby with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:40 | | +2 | Dearica Hamby makes a jump shot from 5 feet out. Li Yueru with the assist. | 21-28 |
| 5:39 | | Shooting foul committed by Monique Billings. | ||
| 5:39 |