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Diana Taurasi hits game-winner as Mercury beat Lynx in opener

Minnesota had a 1-point lead and the ball before Brianna Turner stole the ball and Taurasi hit the game-winner.

Diana Taurasi scored 14 points, including a decisive 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left, as the visiting Phoenix Mercury defeated the Minnesota Lynx 77-75 in the WNBA season opener for both teams Friday night.

The Lynx had a 1-point lead and the ball before Brianna Turner made a steal and Taurasi, who had made just 2 of 12 shots, hit the game-winner.

Skylar Diggins-Smith added 18 points, while Brittney Griner had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Turner finished with 13 points and 10 boards and Kia Nurse scored 10 points for Phoenix.

Aerial Powers scored 18 points, Kayla McBride and Crystal Dangerfield added 17 each and Sylvia Fowles had 11 points and 11 rebounds to lead Minnesota.

The Mercury scored eight straight to take a 64-57 lead early in the fourth quarter.

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The Lynx pulled even at 69 and 71 before McBride's two free throws gave them a 73-71 lead with 1:17 left.

Griner's layup tied the score before Fowles' put-back brought Minnesota back on top with 42.6 seconds left.

Phoenix had a chance to tie, but Griner made just 1 of 2 free throws with 31.4 seconds left before Taurasi's game-winner. After a lengthy delay to review the time remaining, the Lynx were unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer.

A Griner basket started the third-quarter scoring and gave the Mercury a 35-24 lead.

Powers had seven points and two assists during a Lynx push that gave them a 41-39 lead midway through the period.

There were two ties and three lead changes before Phoenix held a 56-54 advantage at the end of the quarter.

The Lynx made just 4 of 18 shots in the first quarter and Diggins-Smith and Griner had four points each as the Mercury took a 14-10 lead at the end of the period.

The Mercury opened a 29-18 lead and Fowles made the last two baskets of the second quarter to give Phoenix a 33-24 halftime lead.

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