LAS VEGAS (June 11, 2024)—The Las Vegas Aces (5-5) received double-figure scoring efforts from four different players, led by A’ja Wilson’s 28 points, but it was not enough to overcome the hot shooting by the Minnesota Lynx (9-3) as Las Vegas fell 100-86 on Tuesday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Aces dropped to 1-3, in Commissioner’s Cup play and the Lynx improved to 4-1.
In addition to Wilson, Kelsey Plum scored 13 points and Megan Gustafson had 11 and Tiffany Hayes chipped in 10.
Box Score | Highlights | Photo Gallery
First Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 31, Minnesota 29)
The Aces opened the game with a 7-0 run, but the first period eventually saw four lead changes and one tied score which left the Aces up 2 through the first 10 minutes of play. Both teams hit more than 50% of their shots from the field, with the Lynx making 64.7% and the Aces hitting 57.9% of their field goal attempts. The Aces went 7 of 10 from behind the arc and the Lynx went 4 of 8 from distance. Gustafson scored a high of 8 points for the Aces, while Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams had 10 apiece for the Lynx.
Second Quarter Highlights (Minnesota 59, Las Vegas 48)
The Lynx went out in front 34-33 at 9:21 and did not trail the remainder of the game. A 6-0 spurt to close the first half gave the Lynx their first double-digit lead. Minnesota’s defense held the Aces to just 5 of 15 from the field and 2 of 8 from distance, while connecting on 11 of 18 of their field goal attempts and 5 of 7 from 3-point range. Wilson and Minnesota’s Natisha Hiedeman scored 7 points apiece to lead their respective teams.
Third Quarter Highlights (Minnesota 78, Las Vegas 60)
The Lynx steadily increased their lead throughout the quarter by shooting 41.2% from the field to the Aces 28.6%. The Lynx went 3 of 7 from 3-point range, while the Aces missed all 8 of their 3s. Wilson scored a high of 6 for the home squad and Napheesa Collier clocked 8 for the visitors.
Fourth Quarter Highlights (Minnesota 100, Las Vegas 86)
After the Lynx went up by 20 in the first minute, the Aces cut the gap to 11, four minutes into the final frame. However, that was as close as they would come. Wilson scored a team-high of 9 points and Bridget Carleton had 6 to lead Minnesota.
KEY STATS
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The Lynx had 34 assists on 37 made baskets, while the Aces assisted on 19 of their 28.
Minnesota scored 21 points off the Aces 14 turnovers and gave up 11 points on their own 9 miscues.
The Aces shot 45.2% from the field and 32.3% from behind the arc, but the Lynx connected on 55.2% of their field goal attempts and 55.6% from distance.
The Aces, who entered the game shooting a league-high 85.1% from the line, made 76.9% of their free throw attempts.
The Lynx had five players score 14 or more points, led by Smith’s 18.
The Aces bench outscored the Lynx reserves 31-22.
GAME NOTES
Wilson has scored at least 20 points in 15 straight regular season games which extended her WNBA record.
Wilson has scored 28 or more points in 7 straight games, extending her WNBA record.
Wilson did not block a single shot, snapping an 18-game streak with at least 1 blocked shot. It had been the longest active streak in the WNBA.
The Aces, who had 10 3-pointers in the game, tied a franchise high with 7 3-pointers in the first quarter. Franchise teams previously had made 7 3-pointers in a single quarter four times.
Gustafson’s 11 points marked a season high for her.
The Lynx’ 34 assists are tied for the second most ever allowed by the Aces, and are tied for the 5th most in WNBA history
Minnesota’s 55.2 percent shooting from the field is the fourth highest percentage in the league this year, and the highest by an Aces opponent since July 6, 2022 when New York made 57.5 percent of its shots against Las Vegas.
The Aces were without the services of Kierstan Bell (lower right leg injury) and Chelsea Gray (lower left leg injury).
NEXT UP
Las Vegas continues to ping pong around the Western conference, heading back out on the road for a Thursday, June 13 meeting with the Phoenix Mercury. Tip on amazon prime and the Silver State & Entertainment Network is 7 pm PT.