PHOENIX — Kahleah Copper scored a career-high 38 points and combined with Sophie Cunningham for the last 16 points as the Mercury recovered after losing a 10-point fourth-quarter lead to beat the Dream 88-85 on Saturday night.
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus had 11 points and Allisha Gray 10 in the fourth quarter as the Dream, down 70-60 with 8:43 to play, charged back to lead 81-74 at the 4:11 mark. A layup by Parker-Tyus produced Atlanta’s first lead of the game at 73-72.
Cunningham answered with a 3-pointer and Copper’s four free throws pulled the Mercury within 83-81 with 1½ minutes to play. Following an offensive foul on Tina Charles, Copper found Cunningham on the left side for a 3-pointer and the lead with 1:11 to play. Natasha Cloud then blocked a Rhyne Howard attempt, and Copper converted that into a layup for an 86-83 lead at 28.1 seconds.
Parker-Tyus made it a one-point game again, but Copper answered and Howard missed a 3-point try for the tie.
Diana Taurasi had 15 points and Cunningham 10 for the Mercury (1-1), who gave coach Nate Tibbetts his first win in the WNBA.
Gray finished with 22 points, Howard had 21, and Parker-Tyus scored 18 for the Dream (1-1).
Phoenix led from the outset, scoring the first seven points and leading 24-15 after…
