Mercury ride team-first mentality in win over Los Angeles Sparks

The Mercury and the Sparks played a close game, with Los Angeles playing from behind most of the game. The Sparks made it interesting as they pulled within six points in the final 25.1 seconds, 90-84. However, Phoenix kept them scoreless the rest of the quarter and added two more points in the win.

Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas secured her league-leading seventh triple-double this season, with 16 rebounds, 15 assists and 12 points.

Phoenix’s bench outscored Los Angeles’, 39-13, and showcased “team” basketball that Thomas believes needs to be done more consistently.

“When we’re playing team basketball, taking easy, open shots were really hard to guard,” she said on Aug. 22 after their win against the Golden State Valkyries, according to the team’s post-game recording. “And we can’t pick and choose when we want to play like that.”

With the win against the Sparks, the Mercury are now 12-0 when five or more players score in double digits. Thomas, along with Satou Sabally, Kahleah Copper, DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb, scored 10 or more points in the victory.

“That’s what makes us dangerous, when we share the ball,” said Thomas after Tuesday’s win, according to Desert Wave Media. “It can be anybody’s night each and every night. We just gotta continue to play like this. This is Mercury basketball.”

Phoenix is now 23-14, with its magic number down to two to clinch a playoff berth.

The Mercury will look to keep their unselfish style going, trusting that team basketball remains their winning formula as their playoff spot is in sight.

The Phoenix Mercury will head home and face the Chicago Sky on Thursday, Aug. 28.