Taurasi scores 35 points, Taylor adds 29 as Mercury beat Shock 110-96

Taurasi scores 35 to lead Mercury past Shock

TULSA, Okla. — Diana Taurasi scored 35 points and Penny Taylor added 29 to lead the defending champion Phoenix Mercury to a 110-96 victory over the Tulsa Shock on Tuesday night.

Candice DuPree had 14 points and 14 rebounds and DeWanna Bonner scored 10 points for Phoenix (2-1), which shot 45 percent from the field, including 16 for 36 on 3-pointers. Taurasi was 8 for 13 from beyond the arc and Taylor was 6 for 12.

Amber Holt scored 20 points and Shanna Crossley and Scholanda Robinson had 13 apiece for the Shock (1-3), who shot 47 percent but were just 4 for 16 on 3s.

Tulsa tied the score at 80-all on Natasha Lacy’s basket with about 2½ minutes left in the third. However, it was all Phoenix from there as the Mercury outscored the Shock 30-16 the rest of the way.