Taurasi and Griner lead Mercury to 87-72 win over the Storm

Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner (42) shouts in celebration after scoring as Seattle Storm's Tanisha Wright (30) looks on during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (The Associated Press)

Seattle Storm's Sue Bird, left, passes the ball off as Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi (3) defends during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Tuesday, June 3, 2014, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) (The Associated Press)

PHOENIX – Diana Taurasi had 20 points and seven assists to lead the Phoenix Mercury to an 87-72 win Tuesday night over the Seattle Storm.

Brittney Griner added 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Mercury (4-1), who led by 15 in the second half and ran off five straight points early in the fourth to keep the advantage in double figures for the final eight minutes.

Crystal Langhorne had 27 points and six rebounds for Seattle (2-6), who have lost three of the last four.

Phoenix held Sue Bird to 1-of-10 shooting and two assists in 33 minutes. She had five points. She had made only 5-of-23 from the field in her previous two games.

Candice Dupree added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Mercury, who beat Seattle 81-64 in Phoenix's season opener. The Storm swept the Mercury last season.