Aces stumble as Diana Taurasi shines in WNBA semifinals

Even earlier Thursday’s 117-91 nonaccomplishment to the Phoenix Mercury, Aces defender Chelsea Gray knew not to underestimate Diana Taurasi. Even astatine property 39 and with the sore near ankle she tweaked again during Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals.

“I ne'er instrumentality her for granted,” Gray said Tuesday, moments aft a 96-90 victory. “She tin travel down and deed 30 successful a minute.”

Try 37 instead.

The Aces were astatine Taurasi’s mercy Thursday nighttime during Game 2 of the best-of-five bid astatine Michelob Ultra Arena. The surviving fable made 10 of 13 tract goals — including 8 of 11 from 3-point scope — and basked successful the glory of her greatness earlier an announced assemblage of 6,432 astatine Michelob Ultra Arena that included chap hoops fable Shaquille O’Neal.

The 17-year seasoned had played successful 63 playoff games, but had ne'er scored that galore points earlier successful the postseason. The Mercury besides established a grounds for astir points successful a regularisation playoff game, eclipsing the erstwhile people of 113.

Game 3 is Sunday astatine Arizona State University successful Tempe, Arizona, with bid tied 1-1.

“We weren’t locked in,” said Aces guardant A’ja Wilson. “We conscionable can’t travel retired with that mentality that we had. That was unspeakable to beryllium in. I’m beauteous definite that was unspeakable to watch. We truly can’t bash that anymore.”

The Aces finished the regular play with the league’s No. 2 antiaircraft rating, but played without the cohesion and strength indispensable to dilatory a squad similar Phoenix. In summation to Taurasi, the subordinate lauded by galore arsenic top ever, the Mercury boast Olympians and All-Stars successful Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith, who scored 25 and 17, respectively.

Las Vegas slowed the Mercury for stretches of Game 1 successful portion by sending a 2nd defender astatine Griner erstwhile she caught the shot successful the debased post. But she was acceptable for the treble teams Thursday and dropped a dime connected the game’s archetypal possession to a cutting Brianna Turner — foreshadowing what turned into a forgettable crippled for the Aces.

Save for a brace of three-minute stretches, Las Vegas was acold excessively dilatory with its antiaircraft rotations. Aces manager Bill Laimbeer said the nine lacked the vigor indispensable to triumph a playoff game. Wilson said the Aces approached Game 2 similar it was a regular-season game.

As a result, the Mercury stepped into 1 unfastened jumper aft different — shooting amended than 75 percent from the tract successful the archetypal half. Taurasi dominated the 2nd by sinking 1 triple aft another, galore of which were contested and disconnected the dribble.

“You conscionable privation to compete. You privation a accidental to vie astatine the highest level,” said Taurasi, who hasn’t been practicing arsenic she battles the injury. “When you get agelong successful the bony similar I am, you truly person to instrumentality vantage of these situations.”

Kelsey Plum continued her torrid agelong of play with a team-high 25 points and teammate Riquna Williams added 17.

“I told anybody that would perceive that Taurasi would effort to instrumentality implicit the crippled and beryllium the prima of the amusement and volition them to the win. And she did,” Laimbeer said. “It’s a series. We person tons of clip to marque adjustments, find our crippled and travel backmost and win. We’re a precise assured team. We deliberation we tin triumph anyplace we play, and that’s our task.”

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.