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The Connecticut Sun won their 12th game in a row and clinched the No. 1 seed in the 2021 WNBA Playoffs by defeating the Phoenix Mercury 76-67 on Saturday night at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
The Mercury were on a 10-game win streak of their own and lost despite a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double from Brittney Griner that featured her fourth dunk of the season and 3-point make on her only attempt.
The Sun, who received a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double from MVP frontrunner Jonquel Jones, had Natisha Hiedeman knock down a triple one minute and 30 seconds into the fourth that gave them a five-point lead. They led by at least five the rest of the way. A Shey Peddy layup with 29.7 seconds remaining cut it to five again, but Connecticut went 4-of-4 from the line after that and Phoenix didn’t score again.
The Mercury led by as much as four in the first, but the Sun led by five entering the second and went on to lead by as much as 11. The Mercury came back to tie it late in the third.
Jasmine Thomas (17 points), DeWanna Bonner (16 points, five rebounds) and Brionna Jones (10 points, six rebounds) all scored in double figures for the winners.
Griner stuffed the entire stat sheet by adding four assists, two steals and three blocks.
The Sun tied the franchise record for wins in a row with the victory. It was set in 2006. The only other time two teams with double-digit win streaks faced each other was a Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx game in 2016.