With just under a week before the WNBA playoffs begin, the Phoenix Mercury looked to defend home court for last time in the regular season Tuesday against the playoff hopefuls Los Angeles Sparks.

In an effort to avoid being swept in the season series, LA’s Kelsey Plum got off to a quick start nailing a pair of three-point shots.  With Phoenix’s leading scorer Satou Sabally quickly responding with five points of her own.  

With both teams trading baskets, Phoenix turned to their defense and secured some stops to quiet down Plum and the Sparks to take a six-point lead after the first quarter.  Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas continued to assert her dominance by putting up four-points, three-rebounds and five assist.

Looking for an answer to slow down the Mercury, LA turned to second year player Cameron Brink.  Whose length shutdown any Phoenix attempt to stepping in the paint, resulting in Phoenix putting up only four-points in the five minutes of the second.

The offense got going for Phoenix, Sabally found herself leading the charge with a 12-point quarter. LA found their spark in Rae Burrell who dominated the second with 12 points off the bench ending with LA taking a 45-44 lead into half.  

Starting the second half, the Sparks got off to a quick 9-0 run to extend a 10-point lead.  The defense of LA held Phoenix scoreless for nearly half of the third quarter.  The Mercury quickly responded with a 15-4 run led by Thomas.  Despite both teams going on scoring runs, LA took a 63-62 lead going into the fourth quarter. 

Continuing her Most Valuable Player (MVP) push, Thomas recorded her eighth triple-double of the season only needing just three quarters.  Making the player to record the fastest triple-double in WNBA history at 21 minutes and 52 seconds.

When asked about Thomas, head coach Tibbets said, “AT impacts the game at a high level.  She did it tonight in quick fashion.”

With a playoff spot secured, coach Nate Tibbets chose to start the close fourth quarter without a single starter.  Rather relying on the bench to finish off LA in the last home game of the regular season.  “I’m super proud of that group… I think it shows the talent level and depth that we have on our team,” said coach Tibbets with regard to the bench keeping the game close.

Despite the Phoenix bench unit holding their own, the LA Sparks held them off 87-83.  

Sabally led the way for Phoenix with 24 points and Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 25 points.  

The Mercury will host the efending WNBA champions the New York Liberty on Sunday.