Las Vegas Aces at Los Angeles Sparks
· WNBA Commissioner's CupSparks spot Aces first 14 points before rallying for 96-92 victory over two-time defending champions
Hamby sank 6 of 10 shots with a 3-pointer and 5 of 6 free throws for the Sparks (4-7), who won back-to-back games for the first time this season. McDonald made 5 of 8 shots, two from beyond the arc, and all four of her foul shots. McDonald's effort helped the LA bench outscore Las Vegas' substitutes 40-17.
Rickea Jackson pitched in with 16 points and five rebounds for LA.
A'ja Wilson had 31 points — three above her league-high average — to lead the Aces (5-4), who have lost three of their last four games. Wilson has now scored at least 20 points in 14 straight games, breaking a league record set by Diana Taurasi of the Phoenix Mercury.
Wilson, who averages a league-best 12 rebounds, grabbed eight. Kelsey Plum hit four 3-pointers, scoring 24 with five assists. Tiffany Hayes added 17 points and Kate Martin scored 13.
Wilson scored the first five points and Martin and Plum hit back-to-back 3-pointers to cap a 14-0 run to begin the game for Las Vegas.
Hamby had the first basket for Los Angeles at the 6:48 mark. She added five points from there and McDonald scored seven as the Sparks whittled their deficit to 26-21 heading to the second period.
Los Angeles erased all of a deficit that reached 15 when Cameron Brink hit the first of two free throws, knotting the score at 28 with 6:27 left before halftime. Jackson made a turnaround jumper to give LA its first lead six seconds later. Martin had a layup and a 3-pointer to put the Aces up by three, but Hamby answered with a layup and the Sparks trailed 44-43 at intermission.
Wilson drew a technical foul with nine seconds left in the third period. That led to two free throws by Lexie Brown and a layup by McDonald, giving the Sparks a 74-65 advantage heading to the fourth quarter.
Hayes scored six points and Plum hit a 3-pointer and two free throws to cap a 17-4 run as Las Vegas took an 82-78 lead with 4:42 left to play. Jackson answered with a layup and Rae Burrell buried a 3-pointer to put the Sparks ahead for good.
Las Vegas continues to struggle without starting point guard Chelsea Gray, who is out with a foot injury.
The Aces beat the Sparks 89-82 in the first matchup this season in mid-May.
Regular Season Series
Series tied 2-2
Recent Plays
4th 0.0 | End of Game | 92 - 96 | |
4th 0.0 | End of the 4th Quarter | 92 - 96 | |
4th 1.0 | Aari McDonald makes free throw 2 of 2 | 92 - 96 | |
4th 1.0 | Aari McDonald makes free throw 1 of 2 | 92 - 95 | |
4th 1.0 | (00:01.2) [Aces] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (CALL STANDS) | 92 - 94 |
Statistics
LV | LA | |
---|---|---|
30-68 | FG | 32-65 |
44.1 | Field Goal % | 49.2 |
11-26 | 3PT | 10-25 |
42.3 | Three Point % | 40.0 |
21-24 | FT | 22-26 |
87.5 | Free Throw % | 84.6 |
23 | Rebounds | 36 |
4 | Offensive Rebounds | 8 |
19 | Defensive Rebounds | 28 |
17 | Assists | 21 |
7 | Steals | 3 |
6 | Blocks | 6 |
6 | Turnovers | 15 |
0 | Team Turnovers | 2 |
6 | Total Turnovers | 17 |
4 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
4 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
7 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 18 |
7 | Fast Break Points | 8 |
34 | Points in Paint | 38 |
16 | Fouls | 24 |
15 | Largest Lead | 10 |
WNBA News
Kelly Krauskopf returns to Fever as president
Kelly Krauskopf will return to the Indiana Fever as president of both basketball and business operations after the season is over, the team announced Monday.
Caitlin Clark's ROY award sparks heated debate with Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith, Andraya Carter and Shannon Sharpe get into a heated debate about Caitlin Clark's award-winning season while not making Team USA's roster for the Olympics.
How the revival of Chelsea Gray raises the Las Vegas Aces
Chelsea Gray missed time with a foot injury and then struggled for months. Now the Point Gawd is back, just in time for the Aces' playoff push.
New York Liberty to play the Atlanta Dream Tuesday
Atlanta Dream (15-25, 7-13 Eastern Conference) at New York Liberty (32-8, 16-4 Eastern Conference)