DeWanna Bonner's 19 Points and Phoenix's 7-0 Run Stunned Portland at Home

Alright, Emerald City, listen up! You gotta hear about this WNBA game from last night. DeWanna Bonner just dropped a game-high 19 points and basically dragged the Phoenix Mercury to a wild 78-72 win over the Portland Fire IN Portland! This Mercury squad, battling injuries and fresh off a six-game skid, just pulled off their second straight win. Talk about grit!

The Fire's Late Surge Couldn't Stop This Mercury Squad

This game was a total slugfest, man. Phoenix came out firing, sparked by a Bonner 3-pointer, going on a quick 5-0 run to start things. They even pushed it to 17-7 midway through the first, with Noemie Brochant draining a trey. They led 21-16 after one, and never trailed in the first half, heading into the locker room up 38-34, thanks to Bonner and Natasha Mack each putting up eight points. But the Fire weren't just gonna roll over, right? Sarah Ashlee Barker went on a mission, sinking a driving layup to cap a 12-5 run that cut the lead to two before halftime. The Mercury tried to pull away in the third, hitting an eight-point lead three separate times, with Lexi Held even nailing a 3-pointer to make it 49-41, but Portland kept punching back, shrinking the lead to 55-51 by the end of the third.

When It Mattered Most, Phoenix Delivered

The fourth quarter, though? That's where things got absolutely wild. Portland went on an 8-0 run, with Luisa Geiselsoder and Teja Oblak burying back-to-back 3-pointers, and suddenly, for the first time all night, the Fire had the lead, 62-61! Bonner, man, she's clutch. She immediately answered with a 3-pointer to put Phoenix back in front. Oblak tied it up again with two free throws, then Mack hit a jumper to regain the lead, only for Barker to hit another 3-pointer with just over three minutes left, putting Portland back up 67-66. But then, Jovana Nogic, with ice in her veins, drove to the basket and dropped a layup with 2:46 left, grabbing the 68-67 lead for Phoenix. That bucket ignited a game-changing 7-0 run that ultimately sealed the deal. What a way to close it out!

This wasn't just any win, especially for an injury-plagued team missing Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas. Phoenix shot 41.9% from the field against Portland's 42.1%, so it was a grind for every bucket. But sometimes, you just gotta find a way, and they did. With two straight wins now after that rough six-game skid, maybe this is the momentum swing the Mercury needed. They can savor this one, know they battled back on the road, and look to keep this little streak alive. Every game counts, and every win builds confidence, especially when you snatch it from the jaws of defeat like that!

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.