Sabrina Ionescu scored a game-high 29 points — including 12 in the crucial third quarter — as the host New York Liberty rallied to defeat the Phoenix Mercury 89-76 on Friday night.
Ionescu also had a game-high-tying eight assists, and teammate Jonquel Jones added 20 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
The Liberty won despite getting just six points from All-Star Breanna Stewart, who made 3-of-12 shots. However, Stewart posted eight rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals.
Phoenix, which had beaten New York both times the teams had met previously this season, blew a 12-point first-half lead.
The Liberty, the reigning WNBA champs, outscored the Mercury by eight points in the third quarter to take control of the game.
New York has won five straight games, the longest active streak in the league.
The Mercury, who have lost three straight games — their longest skid of the season — were led by Alyssa Thomas, who had 20 points, a game-high 13 rebounds and eight assists. Kahleah Copper added 14 points.
Mercury center Satou Sabally — who was named an All-Star starter this year but missed the game due to injury — scored just six points on 3-for-13 shooting.
Phoenix got off to an 8-0 lead, and it took New York 3:18 before it scored a point.
The Mercury stretched their lead to 11 points, but the Liberty closed the first quarter well, trailing 27-23 at the buzzer.
Midway through the second quarter, Ionescu scored five straight points, cutting New York’s deficit to 39-32 and forcing Phoenix to call timeout. New York kept coming, tying the score 42-42 on a Natasha Cloud bucket with 1:22 remaining.
By halftime, the score was tied at 46.
Thomas led all first-half scorers with 15 points, and she also had seven rebounds and five assists.
New York took its first lead of the game at 56-54 on a layup by Ionescu with 3:55 left in the third quarter. The hosts then scored the final seven points in the third, taking a 67-59 lead going into the fourth.
The Liberty cruised in that final period.
For the game, New York (21-of-22) outscored Phoenix (7-of-13) 21-7 at the foul line, and that was the difference in the scoring column.
–Field Level Media
