WASHINGTON (AP) Brittney Griner had 23 points and seven rebounds, Kahleah Copper scored 10 of her 22 points in the fourth quarter and the Phoenix Mercury beat the Washington Mystics 96-87 on Tuesday.

Copper scored six straight points in the fourth and Natasha Cloud capped the 8-0 run for an 82-72 lead with 5:09 left.

Washington guard Ariel Atkins stole it from Diana Taurasi and raced the other way for a layup while being fouled. Atkins completed the three-point play with 2:43 left to get within 87-83 following an 8-0 run. But Phoenix made a shot on its next three possessions, capped by Sophie Cunningham’s 3-pointer for a 94-85 lead.

Phoenix sealed it when Taurasi blocked a Myisha Hines-Allen shot and Copper converted a fast-break layup at the other end for a 96-87 lead with 22.6 left.

Taurasi finished with 18 points and Cloud had 12 points, nine rebounds and 10 assist for Phoenix (13-12). Cunningham added 11 points off the bench.

Hines-Allen led Washington (6-19) with 18 points, 12 rebounds and six assists. Julie Vanloo scored 17, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added 15 and Atkins finished with 14 points. Atkins also passed Emma Meesseman for third on Washington's career assists list.

Phoenix closed the third quarter on a 13-0 run, capped by Cloud’s jumper from the free-throw line to take a 71-63 lead. Cloud also opened the fourth with a basket for a 10-point lead.

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