DeWanna Bonner scored 19 points off the bench, including six in the fourth quarter, to lead the Phoenix Mercury to an 85-79 victory over her old team, the Indiana Fever, on Tuesday night in Phoenix.
Bonner began the season with the Fever before they waived her in late June. She then signed in July with the Mercury, whose bench outscored Indiana’s 31-12 thanks to Bonner’s efforts.
Phoenix (26-14) won its fifth straight game, improving its chances to be in the top four of the WNBA standings and earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Mercury, Las Vegas Aces (26-14) and Atlanta Dream (26-14) are all tied for second, 2 1/2 games up on the New York Liberty (24-17).
The Fever (21-20) are No. 8 in the WNBA standings, the last qualifying spot for the playoffs, with three regular-season games remaining.
Indiana star Caitlin Clark missed her 19th consecutive game due to a right groin injury.
Alyssa Thomas led Phoenix with 23 points to go along with nine rebounds and nine assists.
Satou Sabally had 13 points, Kahleah Copper finished with 11 and Sami Whitcomb had 10.
Whitcomb also had seven assists, and Natasha Mack grabbed 10 rebounds.
Kelsey Mitchell had 29 points for the Fever, who also got 18 points from Lexie Hull and 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists from Aliyah Boston.
Phoenix outscored Indiana 15-3 to close the second quarter and take a 54-39 lead into halftime.
Thomas and Sabaly combined for nine points in that stretch. Bonner also had eight points in the quarter.
After Indiana scored the first six points of the second half, an 8-2 run pushed Phoenix’s lead to 62-47 with 4:39 left in the third quarter.
Indiana cut the deficit to 73-67 with 5:45 remaining after outscoring Phoenix 8-2.
The Fever had a chance to cut the gap further, but Copper stole the ball from Hull with 5:02 left.
Indiana made only one shot from the field in a span of 3:22, allowing Phoenix to go on a 9-2 run and take an 82-69 lead with 2:23 remaining.
Hull made a 3-pointer with 1:10 left and Mitchell converted two shots in the last minute, but the run was too late.
–Field Level Media
