(Photo credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)The New York Liberty could not come close to producing enough offense in a critical third-quarter stretch on Wednesday because the Phoenix Mercury turned up the defensive intensity in an 86-60 Game 2 road victory. The result is a deciding Game 3 on Friday night when Phoenix hosts New York to conclude their first-round series. Phoenix is attempting to advance to the second round for the first time since 2021 when it made a run to the WNBA finals as the fifth seed. After an even opening quarter, the Mercury outscored the Liberty 61-35 over the final three, holding a 31-point edge with six minutes left in the game. Stewart's quiet showing was part of a night when the Liberty missed their first 12 shots of the third quarter, allowing the Mercury to seize control.