PHOENIX (AP) - Diana Taurasi hit four straight free throws in the final 40 seconds, and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Los Angeles Sparks 75-72 on Friday night in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
Taurasi had a personal playoff-best 34 points and DeWanna Bonner added 13 for the Mercury, who had the league's best record during the regular season at 29-5.
Candace Parker, who led the Sparks with 22 points, threw too high for Kristi Tolliver with 7.1 seconds left, giving Phoenix the ball with a 73-70 lead. Bonner hit her third and fourth straight foul shots down the stretch to help secure the win.
It was the sixth win of the season for Phoenix over Los Angeles, which faces elimination in the best-of-three series on Sunday.
SKY 80, DREAM 77
ATLANTA (AP) - Courtney Vandersloot made a tiebreaking jumper from the top of the key with 20 seconds left, leading the Sky to the win.
The decisive shot came after officials reviewed a loose ball scramble under Atlanta's basket and then called for a jump ball that Chicago center Sylvia Fowles won over Atlanta center Erika de Souza with 42 seconds left. The playoff game was tied at 77 at the time.
Elena Delle Donne led Chicago with 21 points, though she did not score in the fourth quarter. Epiphanny Prince added 14 points, and Fowles had 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Angel McCoughtry scored 24 points for Atlanta, including seven straight late in the fourth quarter.