Jonquel Jones is soaring as the New York Liberty aim to extend their winning streak to nine games when they visit the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night.
New York hasn’t lost since dropping back-to-back games on May 23 and 25. The Liberty (12-2) are a half-game behind the league-leading Connecticut Sun.
New York began its winning streak with an 81-78 home win over Phoenix on May 29. Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 22 points and nine assists, while Natasha Cloud scored 21 for the Mercury.
Jones scored 20 for New York that day. She has reached the 20-point mark five times this season, including each of the past three games.
Jones had her best outing of the season on Sunday when she poured in a career-high 34 points on 12-of-16 shooting in a 90-82 road victory over the Las Vegas Aces.
Jones is averaging 16.8 points and 8.7 rebounds and shooting 58.7 percent from the field. She is regularly displaying the form that saw her win league MVP honors in 2021 for the Sun.
She said she is most interested in seeing the Liberty improve.
Phoenix (7-7) is receiving a lift from Brittney Griner, who has scored 24 or more points in each of the past three games. Griner has played in just four games after missing the first 10 with a fractured toe.
Griner scored 28 points in Sunday’s 87-78 win over the Seattle Storm.
Offseason acquisition Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 30 points, her league-best fifth 30-point game of the season.
Copper had 20 points and nine rebounds in last month’s loss to the Liberty.
