Mercury hold off Fever’s late rally, win 9th straight, 86-81

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brittney Griner had 21 points and 10 rebounds and the Phoenix Mercury held off the Indiana Fever 86-81 for their ninth straight victory. Indiana (6-21) used a 21-7 run that included a Kelsey Mitchell 3-pointer to pull to 84-81 with 47.9 seconds to play. But she missed a potential-tying 3 with 24.8 remaining, and Brianna Turner’s layup then sealed it for Phoenix (18-10). The Mercury’s current win streak is the franchise’s second longest.