Minnesota Lynx vs Phoenix Mercury Final Score & Over/Under Result — May 12, 2026

The 168.5 market total looked vulnerable from the opening tip, as Minnesota and Phoenix combined for 39 points in Q1—a modest opening quarter that suggested a lower-scoring affair. That belief held through halftime: the combined 86 first-half points landed directly on pace for a number beneath the key, setting up what appeared to be a defensive evening. The third quarter upended that narrative entirely. Q3 exploded for 49 combined points, the game's highest-scoring frame, as both teams pushed the tempo and found rhythm. Minnesota's Natasha Howard and Kayla McBride each dropped 14 points, while Phoenix's Kahleah Copper dominated with 30 points on the evening. By the final buzzer, the combined total reached 172, sending the OVER cashing by 3.5 points despite DAGGER's pregame UNDER lean.

Minnesota's 88 victory turned on their second-half execution. The Lynx outscored Phoenix 47 to 42 in the combined second half, with Nia Coffey contributing 13 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and DeWanna Bonner's 16 points and 7 boards keeping the Mercury close. Kahleah Copper's 30-point performance—easily Phoenix's leading offensive output—was tempered by Alyssa Thomas's all-around floor game (10 points, 8 assists), yet it proved insufficient in the end. The fourth quarter, a tightly contested 37-combined affair, favored the Lynx's poise.