Sun beat Lynx to move into tie for first in standings
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Connecticut Sun beat the Minnesota Lynx 82-71 on Thursday night.
Bonner made 10 of 11 free throws — and Connecticut went 23 for 25 from the line — to help reach 30 points for the first time this season. It was her fifth double-double.
Jonquel Jones added 20 points and seven rebounds for Connecticut (17-6) despite being in foul trouble. The Sun turned it over 17 times but outrebounded the Lynx 31-23.
Sylvia Fowles led Minnesota (13-9) with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Layshia Clarendon added 15 points and Napheesa Collier scored 11.
Connecticut continues its five-game homestand on Tuesday against Las Vegas in a battle for sole possession of first place. Minnesota lost back-to-back games against Connecticut following an eight-game winning streak.
MERCURY 77, MYSTICS 64
PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner had 30 points, 12 rebounds and five assists to help the Mercury beat the Mystics.
Phoenix, which trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, started the second half on a 21-5 run — with eight points apiece from Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith — to build a 60-49 lead.
Washington was held to just four points through the opening eight minutes of the fourth quarter.
Diggins-Smith finished with 17 points for Phoenix (12-10). Brianna Turner grabbed 14 rebounds. She was questionable to play after injuring her ankle in the last game. Diana Taurasi had six points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Taurasi needs two assists to join four others in WNBA history with 2,000.
Tina Charles scored 17 points for Washington (8-13).
SPARKS 66, DREAM 64
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nneka Ogwumike had a putback of a missed 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left to help the Sparks edge the Dream.
Atlanta made a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions — by Aari McDonald and Crystal Bradford — to tie it at 64 with 25.6 left.
Kristi Toliver dribbled down the clock and attempted a long 3-pointer that hit off the back and front of the rim. Ogwumike grabbed the rebound in traffic and ignored the inadvertent shot-clock buzzer to put it off the glass and in.
Ogwumike finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals for Los Angeles (9-13).
Courtney Williams scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Atlanta (6-16).
