Ruki Monon Akoa Makani scored a career-high 21 points and Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night raised his winning streak in four matches with a win of 89–81 over New York Liberty, which was handed over to his first domestic loss of the season.
Akoa Makani shot 8 -12 from the ground and crossed his previous 14 -point career in Seattle on 23 May. Elisa Thomas produced 18 points and 15 rebounds to go with seven assistance for Mercury (10–4), who faced a season-high 35 points from New York Star Breena Stewart.
Sami Whitcomb hit four 3-pointers N routes for 16 points for Phoenix, shooting 41.7 percent. Satou Sabally contributed 15 points and nine rebels, and Kitija Laksa stole in 13 points as Mercury disappeared missing 24 of 31 3-points by shooting 81.5 percent (22-for-27) on the foul line.
Stewart scored 18 points in the third quarter, but for the second time in three matches, Liberty (10-2) helped a lot as a necklace. Sabrina INESCU added 16 points but shot 3-for-16, which included 1-for-10 from 3-point range, as New York shot 42.6 percent and missed 18 out of 26 3-point attempts.
New York also lost Jonkal Jones for an ankle injury in the second quarter after whitcom steps on the leg under the basket.
Akoa Makani’s basket took the mercury 53-49 with 5:48, but Liberty continuously captured the Phoenix technical foul, and Stewart’s drive took him 55-54 leading a 5:21 lead.
The lead on a basket by Marine Johannes with 4:42 rose to 60–54, and New York settled for a 65–64 lead in the fourth, when Stewart submerged 19-Footer with six seconds. Akoa Makani drowned a 19-footer to snap a 68–68 tie with 7:21, and Luxa hit a jumper for a 76–70 lead after about two minutes.
After the nyara sabally trimmed, Liberty was found within two points at the 4:51 mark, Whitcom submerged the 3-pointer, and Akoa Makani hit a 12-footer for a lead of 81-74. Mercury opened a 10 -point lead with 3:10 on the fourth tray of Whitcom and finished it by throwing five in the rest of the way.
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