Posted by Mechelle Voepel
PHOENIX -- It was a painful night for Phoenix's Penny Taylor, but indications are she still expects to play in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday in Indianapolis.
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After Penny Taylor caught an elbow late in the third quarter, her inner mouth was cut and a front tooth was displaced. She didn't return to the game.
Taylor, who had a nearly perfect night shooting Thursday, was injured with 3 minutes, 42 seconds left in the third quarter of Phoenix's 93-84 loss to Indiana. As the Fever's Briann January went in for a layup, she caught Taylor, who was trailing behind, with an inadvertent left elbow to the mouth.
Taylor left the game and did not return. Two team physicians and the team dentist attended to her, according to Mercury spokesman Eric Barkyoumb. He said Taylor's inner mouth was cut and one of her two front teeth was displaced.
Taylor's tooth was pulled back into place, and a bonding agent was put on it. A temporary retainer was put in, too, to keep the tooth in place. Her laceration also was stitched up.
On Friday, a special mouthpiece will be made for Taylor to wear on court.
"I haven't heard of any hesitation from her as far as playing in the next game," Barkyoumb said.
Taylor was 4-of-4 from the field, including two 3-pointers, and 4-of-5 from the line for 14 points -- all in the first half -- on Thursday. She played 11 minutes and 30 seconds.
Women's Basketball
