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The Portland Fire played party-poopers with an 88-85 win over the Phoenix Mercury. The Mercury retired Diana Taurasi’s jersey today while celebrating her tremendous 20-season career in the WNBA, including three WNBA titles. She was All-WNBA 15 times, an All-Star 11 times, and she finished as the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer. However, it was Portland though who took honors from the game, coming back in the fourth quarter to take the victory. Point Guard Carla Leite had 21 points for the Fire, while DeWanna Bonner led all scorers with 23. Fire Win with Chaotic Fourth Quarter Comeback Ring it up! Both teams came out of the chute playing fast and letting the ball fly from deep. Neither team shot the ball very well though, resulting in an ugly first quarter. The Fire shot 35% from the field, 23.1% from deep on 13 attempts, and went 1 for 3 from the free-throw line in the quarter. Considering that the Mercury shot better at every metric at 38.9% from the field, 30% from deep on 12 attempts, and 71.4% from the free-throw line, the Fire weren’t too disappointed to be only down four at the end of one. The biggest worry was that Carla Leite absorbed a hard foul while driving into the paint and fell awkwardly on her wrist. She’d play through it, but it looked like the wrist was causing her some discomfort. The Mercury started to diversify their portfolio more in the second quarter, causing the Fire some trouble with their penetration into the lane with some resulting fouls against Portland. Power forward Emily Engstler was particularly targeted, picking up four fouls in the half, while Leite additionally picked up three fouls of her own. The Mercury finished the quarter with a late burst and took a 42-36 halftime lead into the locker room. Phoenix’s Dewanna Bonner, already having a really good game, turned it on in third to the detriment of the Fire. Her driving layup with 4:49 left in the third got the Mercury lead up to 9, providing Phoenix a margin of comfort. Continuing foul trouble for Leite and Engstler would compound the problem. Yet, not long after the burst from the Mercury, the Fire were throwing up a disruptive trapping defense and hitting some shots that weren’t falling earlier. Portland got the deficit down to three points at the end of three. The Mercury stretched the lead back out to eight and seemed to all the world that they were going to put this one away. Carla Leite said no. Her tremendous 15 points in the fourth quarter turned the game around. A Leite short jumper gave the Fire their first lead of the game with 1:53 left in the game, a lead they would hold until the end of the game. Bridget Carleton blocked K. Copper’s drive attempt with the Fire holding a two-point lead, and Carleton would be intentionally fouled on the other end. Carleton would drill both free throws with 9.7 seconds left, giving Portland a four-point margin. A Mercury five-second violation seemed to seal the deal, but a turnover and a lightning quick three pointer from Alyssa Thomas cut the Portland lead to one. Leite was intentionally fouled, and her free throws took the margin back up to three points. Phoenix’s desperation three was no good, and the Fire walked away with the win. Shooting Percentage The Fire was shooting blanks for most of the game. They eventually got their field goal percentage up to 45.1%, but they never did find the range from three at 27%. The free throw line was also challenging at 66.7%. What saved them though was they held the Mercury to 41.8% from the field with one fewer made three than the Fire had, allowing Portland to sneak away with the win. Dewanna Bonner Phoenix’s 38 year old Bonner looked like the best player on the court until Leite took over in fourth quarter. Bonner finished with 23 points, 40% shooting from deep, was 5 for 5 from the free throw line, and added six rebounds and steal while not committing a foul. If the Mercury had won this one she’d be the player of the game. Foul Line Discrepancy (Until it Wasn’t) Things were really looking bleak for the Fire when it came to fouls and free-through attempts. For much of the game the Mercury were taking nearly twice as many foul shots as the Fire, and they were making them at higher efficiency than Portland was as well. The chaotic fourth quarter helped turn it around, although a bunch of the Portland free throws were due to intentional fouls by Phoenix. It’s important to recognize that the Fire were getting overwhelmed in this category and they found away to turn it around. In the end they attempted 21 to Phoenix’s 25. A few more makes from Portland and it wouldn’t have come down to the last shot of the game. Carla Leite What an inspirational game for Leite. Her 15-point fourth quarter was stunning, especially on a night when only two other Fire players got into double figures. This in spite of a wrist injury that was clearly bothering her. She finished shooting 60% from the field, 50% from behind the arc, and added five assists. Give her the game ball. She earned it. Two to the Ball With the offense not really clicking, Portland kept the game in range with their defense. They had the most success sending two to the ball, trapping when possible. They didn’t generate inordinate numbers of turnovers, but they were causing enough problems to be highly disruptive. The Mercury never completely solved the Fire’s defense, and it was integral to winning the game. Up Next The Fire have some time off before heading north of the border to take on fellow expansion team Toronto Tempo on Friday, August 21 at 7pm Pacific. Fortunately for the Fire this one will take place in Vancouver, BC, and not all the way in Toronto.