Las Vegas Aces at Minnesota Lynx
· Women's National Basketball AssociationNapheesa Collier scores 27, grabs career-high 18 rebounds as Lynx beat Aces 87-74
Minnesota (21-8) has won five straight games and sits atop the Western Conference standings, two games ahead of the Seattle Storm. The Lynx extended their winning streak over the two-time defending WNBA champion Aces to three games.
Collier finished 11 of 15 shooting, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range, with five assists and two steals. Alanna Smith made 6 of 9 from the field and scored 15 for the Lynx, while Courtney Williams scored 13 and Natisha Hiedeman and Kayla McBride added 12 apiece. Williams left the game after she suffered a non-contact injury midway through the fourth quarter and did not return.
Collier made a layup and then a mid-range jumper to give Minnesota a one-point lead at halftime and the Lynx scored 22 of the first 28 second-half points to stretch their advantage to 62-45. It was at least a two-possession game the rest of the way.
Jackie Young made the second of two free throws to pull Las Vegas within four points with 6:14 to play but McBride answered with a 3-pointer and the Aces (17-11) got no closer.
A'ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 24 points and seven rebounds while Young and Tiffany Hayes scored 12 each and Kelsey Plum finished with 11 on 4 of 10 from the field.
Wilson scored 11 points on 5 of 8 shooting in the third but her teammates combined to make just one of nine attempts and committed five turnovers as the Aces were outscored 25-15 in the period.
Las Vegas has lost four of its last five games, including three of four since returning from a monthlong break for the Paris Olympics.
The Aces beat Minnesota 80-66 in Minneapolis on May 29 but the Lynx beat Las Vegas by double digits in each of their three meetings since, including a 98-87 road victory on Wednesday.
Regular Season Series
MIN wins series 3-1
Recent Plays
4th 0.0 | End of Game | 74 - 87 | |
4th 0.0 | End of the 4th Quarter | 74 - 87 | |
4th 1.0 | shot clock turnover | 74 - 87 | |
4th 25.1 | shot clock turnover | 74 - 87 | |
4th 48.1 | Tiffany Hayes bad pass (Kayla McBride steals) | 74 - 87 |
Statistics
LV | MIN | |
---|---|---|
26-57 | FG | 31-61 |
45.6 | Field Goal % | 50.8 |
7-19 | 3PT | 10-26 |
36.8 | Three Point % | 38.5 |
15-18 | FT | 15-18 |
83.3 | Free Throw % | 83.3 |
17 | Rebounds | 37 |
1 | Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
16 | Defensive Rebounds | 30 |
17 | Assists | 22 |
7 | Steals | 12 |
1 | Blocks | 2 |
18 | Turnovers | 19 |
2 | Team Turnovers | 2 |
20 | Total Turnovers | 21 |
1 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
1 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
18 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 12 |
0 | Fast Break Points | 8 |
34 | Points in Paint | 26 |
21 | Fouls | 21 |
5 | Largest Lead | 17 |
WNBA News
What do Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier need to do in Game 5?
Andraya Carter breaks down what the Liberty and Lynx need from Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier respectively to win Game 5 of the WNBA Finals.
Game 5 predictions: Is Liberty-Lynx the best WNBA Finals ever?
Either the Liberty win their first title or the Lynx win their fifth as the thrilling series comes down to a winner-take-all.
'Future me can worry': No time for pain as Alanna Smith eyes WNBA glory
Injury worries can wait, Alanna Smith is living in the present and on the cusp of a WNBA championship.
Minnesota hangs on for dramatic win to force Game 5
Sabrina Ionescu can't convert the shot as time expires and the Lynx force Game 5 at home.