Griner is sent off after a scuffle with Jackson before the Mercury catch up in the second half and beat Sparks 85-81

LOS ANGELES – Brittney Griner scored 14 points before being ejected after a scuffle, Natasha Cloud had 13 points and 12 assists and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Los Angeles Sparks 85-81 on Tuesday night.

Griner and Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson were ejected after shoving each other in rebound position after a Mercury free throw in the final seconds of the first half. The Mercury, who learned before the game that they would play second-seeded Minnesota on Sunday when the playoffs began, trailed by eight points at halftime but took control in the third quarter.

Sophia Cunningham also scored 14 points for the Mercury (19-20). Diana Taurasi added 13 and Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan had 10.

Dearica Hamba scored 21 points for the Sparks (7-32), who were in last place and suffered their eighth straight loss in an injury-plagued season. Li Yueru scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Kia Nurse scored 10 points.

Phoenix converted 20 turnovers into 31 points, making up a 49-25 rebound deficit.

A three-point play by Natasha Mack gave the Mercury a 71-56 lead with 7:32 left, but the Sparks scored ten straight points and got within five points on Hamby’s layup with five minutes left.

Cunningham increased the lead to 13 with a three-pointer with 3:44 left, but Hamby hit a three-pointer to make it 79-74 with two minutes left. Herbert-Harrigan ended that threat with a three-pointer and the Mercury sealed the deal.

After the first quarter, the score was 14-14 before the Sparks took a 44-36 lead at halftime.

After Celeste Taylor made a free throw for Phoenix to cut the lead to 43-36, Griner and Jackson got into a tussle, exchanging words and shoves and appearing ready to launch further attacks before others intervened. After review, both players were ejected and LA’s Crystal Dangerfield and Cunningham received technical fouls.

Griner scored 7 of 8 points in 14 minutes and Jackson played all but the final 18.8 seconds, shooting 2 of 11 with four free throws.

Phoenix scored the first seven points of the second half, tying the score at 46-46 with a three-pointer from Taurasi and taking the lead for good with her free throw as she started her own run of five straight points that made it 53-48.

The Mercury led by as many as 14 points and went into the fourth quarter with a 64-54 lead after outscoring the Sparks 28-10. Phoenix shot 9 of 18 in the quarter to the Sparks, who had nine turnovers, 4 of 18.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball