LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Phoenix Mercury led Game 1 of the WNBA Finals for more than two-thirds of the game, but couldn’t finish what they started in their 89-86 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.

The Mercury were ahead for more than 27 minutes Friday and their biggest lead was nine points after Monique Akoa Makani hit three consecutive free throws to give them a 66-57 advantage with 3:36 left in the third quarter.

Phoenix’s last lead was 82-80 with a little less than 5 minutes left in the game.

So what went wrong?

“They made a couple plays down the stretch we didn’t,” Phoenix coach Nate Tibbets said. “That’s why this is going to be a great series, right?”

It could be, if the Mercury don’t make the same mistakes Sunday in Game 2 under the pressure of a raucous arena that had a sellout crowd of 1

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