Palmetto, FL (July 31, 2020)—Las Vegas erased a 23-point second quarter deficit, tying the game at 56 midway through the third, but couldn’t quite complete the comeback against Phoenix Friday evening, falling to the Mercury, 102-95. The comeback would have tied for the third largest deficit ever overcome in a WNBA game.

KEY RUNS

First Quarter (Phoenix 30, Las Vegas 19)

Phoenix scored the first four points of the game and 9 of the first 11, eventually building an 11-point lead.

Second Quarter (Phoenix 50, Las Vegas 41)

The Mercury scored 18 of the first 24 points in the quarter to go up 48-25. Las Vegas countered by scoring seven straight, and 16 of the next 18 to close the gap to nine at the half, 50-41.

Third Quarter (Phoenix 76, Las Vegas 63)

Las Vegas stormed out of the locker room at the half going on a 15-6 run to tie the score at 56, but they couldn’t get over the hump, as the Mercury pushed its lead back to 13 by the end of the quarter.

Fourth Quarter (Phoenix 102, Las Vegas 95)

Las Vegas was unable to get closer than seven the rest of the way.

KEY STATS

Phoenix’s big three of Taurasi, Griner and Diggins-Smith scored 62 points on 23 of 38 shooting from the field, including 8 of 13 from three-point range.

The Mercury made 11 of 20 shots from three-point range while the Aces went 7 for 14.

Las Vegas went 24 of 28 from the free throw line, while the Mercury went 15 for 19.

Phoenix outscored the Aces 13 to 6 on fast break points.

GAME NOTES

The Aces were without the services of starting guard Lindsay Allen due to an “inconclusive positive result” from a COVID-19 test Thursday evening (read more).

A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the third straight game and the 59th time in 62 career regular season games (17 points).

Angel McCoughtry scored in double figures for the third straight game and the 263rd time in her career during the regular season (18 points).

Kayla McBride scored in double figures for the second straight game and the 125th time in her career during the regular season (season-high 16 points).

Sugar Rodgers scored a season-high 16 points, which is her highest scoring output since she poured in an identical 16 at Connecticut on August 1, 2018. It is her first double-figure scoring effort of the season, and 74th of her career.

Dearica Hamby scored in double figures for the fourth straight game and for the 66th time in her career (10 points)

The last time the Aces allowed more than 30 points in a quarter was June 29, 2019 when they gave up 33 to Indiana in the first quarter of 102-97 overtime win over the Fever.

The Mercury connected on 57.6 percent of their field goal attempts, which is the highest percentage the Aces have allowed since Minnesota connected on 58.8 percent on August 25, 2019.

NEXT OPPONENT

Las Vegas returns home Sunday to take on the Dallas Wings at 6 pm ET/3 pm PT.