The Phoenix Mercury win a very big game against the Dallas Wings on Friday night at the FootPrint Center.
The playoff picture seemed a little bleak after a loss to the Minnesota Lynx a few days ago, but now the parody of the WNBA has helped put the Mercury in a position to control their own destiny to make the postseason.
Coming into the night the team was sitting out of the playoff picture at the number 10 spot, but the stars have aligned with key losses by the Lynx, and Liberty and Mercury needed a win to get the 7th seed with one game left.
The night started with a close game throughout, and the Wings had the lead at halftime 43-39, and it looked like the Mercury was headed for a close battle the rest of the way.
Then Diamond DeShields took over the game, after a very poor shooting game the previous game.
DeShields had a 16-point quarter after a six-point first half, and ended the game 10 of 21 for 24 points and five rebounds.
The Mercury also got a big lift from the new starter Jenny Simms, she added 14 points and gave the team a much-needed scoring punch to add to the top three scorers to get the big win.
The Mercury blew the game open with a 28-14 third quarter, and the three ball dropped tonight at the clip 50% at 11 of 22.
The team finished shooting 51% from the field and held Dallas Wings to 42%,
The big win sets up the final game of the year to be the biggest game of the year, with a win the Mercury will make the playoffs under some of the most adverse situations all season.
The Footprint Center was electric and it felt like a playoff atmosphere, even complete with a minor scuffle between DeShields and Wings Kayla Thorton.
Frustration from the Wings mounted as the Mercury hit them with a monster third quarter, and tempers flared after an elbow was thrown at DeShields and she retaliated with a throwing of the ball at Thorton.
Then the boxer’s weigh-in face-off ensued, but no punches were thrown and both players received technical foul calls and it was over.
Phoenix was up by as many as 19 and finished with a big 86-74 win.
Sunday against the Champion Chicago Sky will be a big contest, a win clinches a spot in the postseason and could also be a rematch of last year’s Finals clubs in the first round.
KAZUAL SPORTZ RADIO NETWORK 