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Whalen, Lynx rout Mercury to take 1-0 lead in West finals

Sep 27, 2013 - 4:51 AM Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen dropped 20 points apiece as the Minnesota Lynx cruised to an 85-62 victory over the Phoenix Mercury to take a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference Finals.

Whalen shot 10-of-15 from the field and dished out a game-high five assists in the triumph. Seimone Augustus added 18 points while Monica Wright chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Diana Taurasi paced Phoenix with 15 points and Brittney Griner, who sunk a baseline jumper late in Game 3 of the semifinals to lift the Mercury to a series win, registered 13 points and six boards. Phoenix shot just 34.3 percent from the floor and 2-for-18 from behind the arc.

Minnesota led 24-16 after the opening period but blew the game open with a dominant second quarter, in which the Lynx outscored the Mercury, 21-6. It capped the period when Moore came up with a loose ball and nailed a deep triple with a second left on the game clock. Phoenix shot just 2-for-15 in the quarter.

The two teams traded baskets for most of the third, but Minnesota ran off eight straight points early in the fourth to take a 75-44 edge.