Toronto Tempo (11-28, 5-11 Eastern Conference) at Phoenix Mercury (13-26, 8-11 Western Conference)
Phoenix; Saturday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury hosts the Toronto Tempo after Kahleah Copper scored 35 points in the Phoenix Mercury’s 80-73 loss to the Washington Mystics.
The Mercury are 5-14 on their home court. Phoenix allows 87.7 points to opponents and has been outscored by 4.0 points per game.
The Tempo have gone 4-15 away from home. Toronto gives up 93.6 points to opponents while being outscored by 6.9 points per game.
Phoenix scores 83.7 points per game, 9.9 fewer points than the 93.6 Toronto allows. Toronto averages 9.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, the same that Phoenix allows.
The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last matchup on June 27 the Mercury won 89-80 led by 27 points from Copper, while Nyara Sabally scored 14 points for the Tempo.
TOP PERFORMERS: Alyssa Thomas is averaging 14.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists for the Mercury. Copper is averaging 23.0 points over the last 10 games.
Laura Juskaite is scoring 10.3 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Tempo. Kia Nurse is averaging 1.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mercury: 2-8, averaging 85.2 points, 31.1 rebounds, 21.2 assists, 7.2 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 90.9 points per game.
Tempo: 1-9, averaging 83.5 points, 33.5 rebounds, 19.4 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.2 blocks per game while shooting 42.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 93.4 points.
INJURIES: Mercury: Kelsey Plum: day to day (leg), Valeriane Ayayi: out (not injury related), Marta Suarez: day to day (concussion protocol).
Tempo: Aneesah Morrow: out for season (knee), Brittney Sykes: out for season (foot), Marina Mabrey: out (adductor), Nyara Sabally: out (calf).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
