Phoenix Mercury (17-18, 9-8 Western Conference) at Seattle Storm (20-14, 8-6 Western Conference)
Seattle; Saturday, 9 p.m. EDT
CONCLUSION: The Seattle Storm faces the Phoenix Mercury after Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 21 points in the Seattle Storm’s 77-70 loss to the New York Liberty.
The Storm’s record in the Western Conference is 8-6. Seattle is second in the Western Conference with 8.7 offensive rebounds per game, led by Ezi Magbégor with an average of 2.4.
The Mercury are 9-8 in the Western Conference. Phoenix is 4-1 in games decided by 3 points or less.
Seattle is averaging 82.8 points per game, 1.6 points fewer than the 84.4 allowed by Phoenix. Phoenix is averaging 8.7 three-pointers per game this season, 1.7 more than the 7.0 allowed by Seattle.
The two teams are meeting for the third time this season. The Mercury won 87-78 in the last meeting on June 16. Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 30 points, and Nneka Ogwumike led the Storm with 15 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Ogwumike is averaging 16.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and two steals for the Storm.
Copper averages 21.9 points for mercury.
LAST 10 GAMES: Storm: 4-6, averaging 79.7 points, 31.4 rebounds, 18.3 assists, 8.6 steals and 5.0 blocks per game on a 42.7% shooting percentage. Their opponents are averaging 82.2 points per game.
Mercury: 4-6, averaging 78.1 points, 33.3 rebounds, 19.4 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.3 blocks per game on a 44.3% shooting percentage. Their opponents are averaging 80.9 points.
INJURIES: Storm: MacKenzie Holmes: absent for the season (knee).
Mercury: Charisma Osborne: outside (leg), Rebecca Allen:out (hamstrings).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Skrive Data and the data of Sports radar.
