Nurse hits game-winning 3 a step inside half-court line
CHICAGO -- — Kia Nurse sank a 3-pointer a step inside the half-court line as time expired and the Phoenix Mercury closed the game on a 14-3 run to beat the Chicago Sky 84-83 on Tuesday night.
Phoenix trailed 80-70 with 3:37 to play, but Chicago would not make another field goal the rest of the way.
Megan Walker made two free throws with 29.9 seconds left to pull Phoenix within 83-80, and Kahleah Copper had a shot roll off the rim at the other end. Nurse grabbed the rebound, dribbled down the court and eluded a defender at midcourt for an open look from distance. Nurse went to her knees as her teammates rushed in to celebrate.
“Brianna Turner told me to shoot it, I never make the half-court shot, thank God this one went in,” Nurse said.
Skylar Diggins-Smith led Phoenix (4-3) with 24 points and Nurse finished with 18 points on five 3-pointers. Brittney Griner and Turner each added 13 points and Walker scored 10.
Diamond DeShields scored 26 points for Chicago (2-5), which lost its fifth straight game. Courtney Vandersloot had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, and Ruthy Hebard had 14 points and nine rebounds.
Chicago went on a 12-0 run in the fourth as Phoenix was limited to five points in the first five minutes of the quarter.
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Regular Season Series
PHX wins 3-0
Game Information
- Referees:
- Maj Forsberg
- Eric Brewton
- John Conley
2023-24 Western Conference Standings
2023-24 Eastern Conference Standings
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | 32 | 8 | .800 | - | L1 |
Connecticut | 28 | 12 | .700 | 4 | W1 |
Indiana | 20 | 20 | .500 | 12 | L1 |
Atlanta | 15 | 25 | .375 | 17 | W3 |
Washington | 14 | 26 | .350 | 18 | W1 |
Chicago | 13 | 27 | .325 | 19 | L5 |