Article author:
Reuters
All five starters scored double digits as Las Vegas Aces defeated Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis 91-85 on Friday night to stay at the top of the WNBA's Western Conference.
Chelsea Gray hit 10 out of 12 shots from the field and scored 21 points at the pace of Las Vegas (15-5). Meanwhile, Kelsey Plum continued the breakout season with 18 points and 10 assists. Dearica Hamby added 16 points, and A'ja Wilson scored chips with a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Jakelin Young finished with 10 points. This included the remaining 1:19 corner 3 pointers in the game and refined the game clinching 14-5 spurt, which resulted in an insurmountable 89-81 lead over the ace. Las Vegas sank 51.4% from the field and pulled 25 assists into 36 made baskets.
Rachel Banham got out of the bench and scored six 3 pointers, the highest 24 points in the game in Minnesota (6-15). This fell to 1-1 at 6. Game home stand. Moria Jefferson added 20 points and Sylvia Fowles hit 12 with a 6-7 shot, but not enough to prevent Lynx's third defeat to Ace this season.
Minnesota converted 11 of the 25 3 points, eliminated the 13-point half-time deficit and took a short edge in the fourth quarter but lost.
Las Vegas dominated most of the first half and used big runs each quarter to build a 46-33 half-time lead. Ace established a 15-2 advantage with a 3:29 mark in the first period with two foul shots by Plum before settling in the 19-13 margin going to the second quarter.
Minnesota hacked a 9-point deficit from 33-31 with Jefferson making a 12-foot can in the lane with 3:31 remaining, but Las Vegas turned off at the final 3:17. became. Plum drilled the corner 3 pointer and started a 13-2 run where Young finished with 3 pointers.
But Lynx moved in the second half of the third quarter. After Plum sank a foul shot, they dragged at 10 and they received a spark from Bangham.
– Field-level media
