Nine-year league veteran Katie Smith scored 22 points, one shy of her career playoff high, as the defending champion Detroit Shock beat the cold-shooting Mercury 88-83 on Tuesday night in Phoenix to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA finals.
The 33-year-old Detroit forward, in her 12th pro season, made 4-of-8 three-pointers, 3-for-4 in an 11-point third quarter.
“The defining moment of the game was her three or four shots that she made in a row there,” Shock coach Bill Laimbeer said. “She knew it was her time to make those shots.”
The Shock, who regrouped from a 28-point home loss in Game 2 on Saturday, can wrap up the best-of-five series and their third title since 2003 with a victory in Game 4 Thursday in Phoenix.
Detroit took the lead for good in the game’s first four minutes. Phoenix stayed close but could never catch the Shock.
Deanna Nolan, who scored 20, sealed the win with four straight free throws in the final 8.3seconds. Diana Taurasi scored 22 for the Mercury, who shot 35 percent for the game, 5-for-31 on threes.
