Phoenix wins 94-87 in Los Angeles
Twenty-four points. Five steals. Both career highs, both from a rookie who was supposed to still be finding her feet. Noemie Brochant instead ran the show as the Phoenix Mercury won 94-87 at the Los Angeles Sparks overnight.
The game swung in the fourth. Phoenix were chasing it, down 81-78 with under five minutes left. Then Brochant lit the fuse on an 8-0 run. Her steal off a Rae Burrell pass set up an Alyssa Thomas basket in transition. Phoenix led 86-81, and from there the Sparks were cooked.
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Los Angeles did answer through a Nneka Ogwumike three. Too late. Thomas added two more, Kahleah Copper picked off Erica Wheeler, and that was that.
The Mercury were missing the injured Kelsey Plum, so no reunion with her former team. Phoenix covered for her with balance. Four players finished in double figures. Copper scored 18, DeWanna Bonner had 11. Natasha Mack chipped in nine and hit all four of her shots. Brochant, for her part, shot 10 of 13, including 3 of 6 from deep.
Los Angeles punished by cold shooting
Here is the odd part. Los Angeles won the turnover battle, forcing 24 Phoenix giveaways to 17 of their own. Then their shooting fell apart at the worst possible time. The Sparks finished 7 of 32 from three. The Burrell-Wheeler backcourt managed a single outside basket from 15 attempts between them. Burrell tied Dearica Hamby for team-high honours with 19 points, but needed 21 shots to get there.
Phoenix move to 13-22. Los Angeles drop to 12-20. Two teams scrapping for playoff position, and one rookie who just delivered the best night of her young career.
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