PHOENIX – DeWanna Bonner and Brittney Griner each scored 22 points and the Phoenix Mercury outscored the Indiana Fever 28-16 in the fourth quarter en route to a 95-77 WNBA victory at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Tuesday.

BOX SCORE

It was the final game before the WNBA All-Star Break for both teams. The Mercury (10-8) won their third straight game while sweeping a three-game season series from the Fever. Indiana (6-15) absorbed its sixth straight defeat to extend its longest streak of the season.

The game was a back-and-forth affair until the decisive fourth period. It was 80-74 with 3:24 to play before the Mercury blitzed Indiana with three 3-pointers and 15 points in the closing minutes.

Phoenix opened its largest lead of the game on Leilani Mitchell’s 3-pointer with 6:33 remaining as the Mercury built a 76-69 advantage. A driving layup by Erica Wheeler kept the Fever within 76-71, but consecutive buckets by DeWanna Bonner and Brittney Griner pushed the Mercury advantage to nine as time began to slip away from Indiana.

Wheeler’s 3-pointer at the 3:24 mark kept the Fever within two possessions, but Griner answered for an 82-74 lead and a pair of free throws by Bonner stretched the lead to double digits for the first time. Three-point baskets from Briann January, Bonner and Mitchell capped a run of 13 unanswered points as the Mercury coasted down the stretch.

The Mercury took advantage of 12 Fever turnovers in the second half and shot 53.2 percent overall, including 12-of-21 (57%) from 3-point range. Phoenix had been the only club to shoot above 50 percent against the Fever already this season, shooting 52.4 percent on June 28.

Indiana had just five turnovers at halftime, but allowed 23 points on their 17 turnovers overall.

“Five turnovers in the first half, 17 for the game and 23 points, let’s start right there,” said Fever coach Pokey Chatman when asked her thoughts on the game. “We were down five with five-and-a-half minutes left, then we gave them momentum and they hit shots.”

Chatman continued, “We shoot 49 percent for the game and 50 percent from 3-point range. That should be enough.”

Indiana was led by Erica Wheeler’s 18 points and nine assists. Tiffany Mitchell scored 15 points, 11 coming in the first half with the help of a season-high three 3-pointers. Teaira McCowan had 14 points and nine rebounds, and Candice Dupree netted 12.

Wheeler, on pace to break the Fever’s single-season assist record, passed former Indiana guard January at No. 10 among Fever single-season leaders and became the first player in club history to elevate her career average above four assists per game (496 in 123 career games).

Indiana opened the contest with eight straight points and 11 of the game’s first 13, but the Mercury matched the Fever’s 11-2 run on the strength of nine consecutive points from Bonner to knot the score at 13. Indiana led 21-20 through one quarter of play.

A nip-and-tuck second quarter featured seven lead changes and three ties with Phoenix breaking a 32-32 deadlock with six straight points for its largest lead of the half. The Mercury took a 44-43 lead into intermission.

Following the WNBA All-Star Game this weekend, Indiana resumes play with home games against Atlanta and Minnesota.