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Storm-Mercury Takeaways Game 2 — What just happened?

By Alex Simon

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 28: Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury is seen against the Seattle Storm during Game Two of the WNBA SemiFinals at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joshua Huston/NBAE via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 28: Diana Taurasi #3 of the Phoenix Mercury is seen against the Seattle Storm during Game Two of the WNBA SemiFinals at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joshua Huston/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 28: Jordin Canada #21, and Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm talk to the media after the game against the Phoenix Mercury during Game Two of the WNBA SemiFinals at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joshua Huston/NBAE via Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 28: Jordin Canada #21, and Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm talk to the media after the game against the Phoenix Mercury during Game Two of the WNBA SemiFinals at KeyArena in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joshua Huston/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Canada’s perfect shooting keys early lead

One of the big reasons the Storm were able to have such a massive second quarter was their bench, highlighted by rookie guard Jordin Canada.

The top three bench players for Seattle — Canada, Crystal Langhorne and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis — were on the floor for a good chunk of the second quarter surge for the Storm, and they have three of Seattle’s top-four plus-minus totals at the halftime break.

But it was the former UCLA star who shone brightest, scoring 10 points on 4-for-4 shooting in the first half, including 2 makes from deep. She added a 2-point jumper in the fourth quarter to finish the night a perfect 5-of-5 for 12 points.

Little makes massive defensive impact for Phoenix

If you were the person who bet on Camille Little leading all players in plus/minus in Game 2, you 1) have a serious gambling problem, but 2) won big on Tuesday night.

Called into action with 5:55 left in regulation with the Mercury down 73-56, Little was an absolute force defensively, helping Phoenix go on a 23-6 run in nearly six full minutes to finish the fourth quarter. Little then stayed on the court for all five minutes of overtime, playing double-digit minutes for the first time since August 5 at Las Vegas.

She finished with just two points and one rebound, but her plus/minus shot as high as +21 when the Mercury took a four-point lead in overtime and she finished the game at +13, the only player in positive double-digits for either team. After not playing at all in the second-round game at Connecticut or in Game 1 Sunday, Little deserves a ton of credit for being ready to go when called upon.

It surely hasn’t been easy for the one-time starter to adjust to either playing minimal minutes not playing at all, but Little was exactly what the Mercury needed down the stretch Tuesday night. At this point, it’d be shocking to see her get DNP’d on Friday.

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