LAS VEGAS -- Two hours before Game 1 of the WNBA Finals tipped, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon lauded her reserve unit as the "best overall bench we've had since I've been here."

Her praise proved prescient. Dana Evans and Jewell Loyd helped the Aces earn a 41-16 edge in bench scoring over the Phoenix Mercury to propel Las Vegas to a series-opening 89-86 victory Friday night.

The backcourt pair -- Evans finished with 21 points and Loyd with 18 -- became the fifth duo to each score at least 15 points off the bench in the same game in WNBA Finals history.

"We have weapons. We want to use them all because we're harder to guard that way," Hammon said. "It was just a really great time for our bench to come up and have a big game ... oh my goodness, our bench was huge."

Every co

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