Mercury open Western Conference finals with rout of Minnesota Lynx

Eleven months ago to the day, the Mercury stood on their home court as the Minnesota Lynx celebrated a series victory in the Western Conference finals – the disappointing end of the Mercury's tumultuous season.

The memory of that game may have faded some by the time the two teams met on the same floor Friday, but watching the Mercury dominate the Lynx and release the pent-up frustration that had been brewing ever since they were eliminated in 2013, the feeling of catharsis inside US Airways Center was unmistakable.

It was a long time coming.

The Mercury finally avenged their recent letdowns against the Lynx, winning 85-71 to take Game 1 of the Western Conference finals in front of 10,376 fans.

The series now shifts to Minnesota, where the teams will play Game 2 Sunday and the Mercury will have a chance to clinch and advance to the WNBA finals.

Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 23 points and also had 11 rebounds, and Penny Taylor nearly put up a triple double with 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.

If the Mercury had sat in their locker room before the game Friday and dreamed of the perfect start, it likely would've looked something like what unfolded on the floor over the first two minutes.

Griner made a layup and a turnaround and DeWanna Bonner drilled a 3 before the Lynx had even found the basket, and Minnesota called timeout down 7-0 just 1:37 into the game.

The break had only marginal benefit, as the Mercury got the ball back and scored again before the Lynx finally got on the board.

Minnesota eventually made its own run, tying the score at 12 a few minutes later. The Mercury ended the first quarter up 23-20.

They ended the first half much the way they started it, at one point going on an 11-2 run and carrying a 42-31 lead into the locker room.

Maya Moore struggled mightily in the first half, making just one of her six shots for two points. Bonner was excellent one-on-one with the league MVP, and her teammates were quick to help when needed.

Griner went 6 for 8 over the first 20 minutes, showing great touch on her jumper when forced outside by the Lynx.

The Mercury broke things open in the third quarter, scoring 14 unanswered points during one three-minute stretch and bringing the crowd to its feet with each basket or Minnesota miss.

It was the kind of performance fans had seen so many times this season, but to do it in the playoffs and against the Lynx was a much-needed boost of confidence.

The Lynx made a last-ditch effort to get back in the game in the fourth quarter, but the Mercury had more than enough left to make sure that didn't happen, leaving them the opportunity Sunday to return the favor for last year.

Tyler Killian writes for The Arizona Republic, a Gannett company.