LAST 3min: Phoenix Mercury vs Atlanta Dream WNBA basketball | Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner

Phoenix looks to secure a playoff spot with a win against the dream Cunningham Corner three BG with a huge weak side rebound over to Sophie Cunningham shot clock getting [Applause] low grer turning and earning a trip to the free throw line really been a difference with Phoenix Mercury this game as far as their ball movement quick passes good spacing they're getting into their spots where they're finding their teammates gr so Griner in her 11th season out of Baylor former number one overall pick gets that first free throw to go she's shooting 77% from the free throw line she shooting over 60% from the floor too in this game came into the game leading the WNBA in field goal percentage better than 57% a game under three minutes to go Atlanta has gotten as close as three short is gray grer another huge rebound this has been her quarter to shine but griner's defense really made gray think about that shot but also Taylor was very physical on that play Down Below 16 points seven rebounds for BG the lead is eigh for Phoenix that ball is tip terasi has to Fire and Hillman corals the rebound for Atlanta Phoenix has to continue to lock in on the defensive end I know Tosh Cloud isn't in the building but boy I tell you what this Mercury crew has played def until that play beautifully like TSH is here as Greg gets an easy bunny to fall she's got nine then's record doesn't show as far as how tough this team is just 11 up and 21 down overall five and 11 on the road and a whistle blows away from the basketball Tina Charles picking up her fourth personal foul well good cut and then the pass by Jordan going right over between the ears of Taylor but Taylor with a nice drive gets her first basket celest Taylor getting it done extending the lead for the [Applause] Mercury Buck going a half to go here in the fourth [Applause] quarter shot clock into single digits Howard nothing but net she's got 31 one her season High I'd rather have her take that shot than that three-point shot being wide [Applause] open copper does she have an answer pulls it back out Nate tibits calling out the play he wants to see copper sitting on 28 points to lead the Mercury terasi off the bounce scoop shot doesn't go and here come the dream down by six nobody stopped ball Canada gets it to gray who smartly br brings it back out with 69 BG there defending the Mercury have to continue to pass the ball in their half court game a little bit too much dribbling that time so timeout has been called by Tanisha Wright and the Atlanta Dream so if you're the Mercury Annie what's the discussion in this huddle one you got to take care of the basketball and two on the offensive end you got to continue to set picks and cut to the basket try and find that one-on-one situation get the ball inside to grinder but also on the defensive end don't foul they've got to be a little bit more active in talking on defense can't say enough good things about Britney grer half of her points have come here in this fourth quarter including a gigantic three she's got 16 and seven on the day how is she getting it done Annie well she's been more active on the board she's got seven rebounds but those four assists we know that she's always going to get assists because she does get doubled and triped team and Tanisha Wright talked about trying to change things up and making it it different for Britney grinder she's able to recognize things and getting deep in the lane to enable her to get her shots and also her teammates are finding her more she only took three shots in that first half we want to thank our friends 4 and 1 half hours doe North in Las Vegas the aces have won 90- 71 against Chicago so if Phoenix can hold on to this lead and get a victory they will clinch a playoff for the 18th time in franchise history well we said at the beginning of the game how important this game was going to be not not worrying about anybody else you got to worry about what you're doing and I think the biggest thing too that they have come in mentally prepared and forgot about those three games beforehand want to put the breaks on a three game slide and Atlanta has inbound of the ball JC trying to find some daylight out to Howard three on the way in and out and rosi is there for the rebound and Co copper will bring the basketball up the floor a reminder TSH clouds Valley threads collection is available at the team shot get yours as ASAP here at the footprint Center when you come to watch this Mercury team play on Thursday grer made another three it doesn't count and Ryan Howard picking up the personal foul her fourth and that's the 15 foul so in the penalty is the dream Sophie Cunningham will step to the free throw line well this is a situation too for the Mercury the clock is running down it looked like they were trying to hold the ball but you got to continue being attacking mode and fortunate for Cunningham that she did get fouled so Sophie connects on the first free throw try she's got six looking to make it seven shot clock and game clock almost identical Atlanta will have to go in a hurry and now Phoenix needs to defend the three-point line a threet timeout will advance the basketball up the floor for the dream 22 of 26 from the free throw line for the Mercury 11 of 14 that's been a big part of this game for the Mercury they've gotten to the free throw line they've been aggressive on the offense [Applause] V it's a season High 31 and Counting for Ryan Howard but she can't connect there and this might do it shot clock and game clock almost identical and the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history has the X Factor on their feet here at the footprint Center as the Phoenix Mercury have put the brakes on a three game skid now 10 up and seven down here at home a shot clock violation will give the basketball back to the Mercury but it is mission accomplished for Phoenix the Mercury win 74- 66 and clinch a playoff spot for the 18th time in franchise history along the way Phoenix wins the regular season series against Atlanta up next The Merc close out their season high five game home stand Thursday against the Mystic at 7:00 here on Arizona's Family Sports what is your biggest take away from this Mercury win Annie I think that the fact that they came out the beginning of this game and controlled it they had the tempo they were attacking their defense was really good certainly they missed Tosh Cloud but I the players really adjusted to the different positions that they had to play Diana try at the point Sophia Cunningham at the point Celeste Taylor at the point and I think that they really shared the basketball they had great space