The Phoenix Mercury, who trailed by as much as 22, cut it to eight with 6:41 remaining but would get no closer as the New York Liberty closed the game on a 17-7 run to win 89-71 behind 28 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists from Breanna Stewart Sunday afternoon at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu missed her second consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Brittney Griner (hip) and Diana Taurasi (hamstring) were out for the Mercury.
The game appeared to be over with the Liberty (7-3) leading by 19 at the start of the fourth but from 8:29 remaining to 6:41 remaining, Phoenix (2-8) went on an 11-0 run to cut it to 72-64. Sug Sutton’s seventh assist of the game went to Sophie Cunningham for a layup that kicked off the run. Cunningham then made a three and a technical free throw to cut it to 72-59. A Moriah Jefferson steal would lead to a Cunningham transition three that capped the run. Off the steal, Sutton had the ball just inside the arc in Liberty territory and actually fell down, but still was able to pass the ball to Cunningham for the catch-and-shoot trey.
Marine Johannès threes at four minutes remaining and 2:50 remaining made it 78-66 NY and 82-67 NY, respectively. A 5-0 Jonquel Jones run then iced the game by making it 87-69 with 1:21 to…
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