Palmetto, FL (August 13, 2020)—The Las Vegas Aces (7-2) moved into sole possession of second place Thursday evening, as A’ja Wilson and Angel McCoughtry combined for 44 points on 19 of 32 shooting from the field in an, 87-77, win over the Minnesota Lynx (6-3). Las Vegas is one game back of the front-running Seattle Storm (8-1).
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Las Vegas 27, Minnesota 22)
Las Vegas led 7-4 when Sylvia Fowles left the game with an injury. The Lynx scored 11 of the next 13 points to lead 15-9. Minnesota led 20-19 with 2:27 remaining, but Las Vegas closed the quarter on an 8-2 run.
Second Quarter (Las Vegas 53, Minnesota 37)
Las Vegas led 35-33 with 5:25 to go in the half, and scored 18 of the final 22 points before the break.
Third Quarter (Las Vegas 69, Minnesota 60)
Las Vegas extended its lead to 19, 61-42, but the Lynx sliced the Aces’ advantage to nine at quarter’s end thanks to an 18-8 run.
Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 87, Minnesota 77)
The aces scored the first 8 points in the quarter, but the Lynx countered by scoring 8 straight of their own. They wouldn’t get closer thaan 9 points the rest of the way.
KEY STATS
It has been 153 days since Breonna Taylor was murdered.
The Lynx committed 19 turnovers, which Las Vegas turned into 24 points, while the Aces committed 11 turnovers which Minnesota turned into 11 points.
Las Vegas went 17 for 21 from the free throw line, while Minnesota went 12 for 17.
The Lynx went 7 for 22 from three-point range, while the Aces went 2 for 13.
Las Vegas made 48.6 percent of its shots from the field while Minnesota made 43.9 percent of theirs.
GAME NOTES
A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 9th straight game to start the season, and the 65th time in her 68 games as a pro (23 points). She also reached the 20-point plateau for the 6th time this season, and the 31st time in her career.
Angel McCoughtry scored in double figures for the 7th game this season, and the 268th time in her professional career (21 points). She also scored 20 or more points for the 144th time in her career.
Kayla McBride scored in double figures for the 6th time this season, and the 139th time in her professional career (17 points).
Jackie Young scored in double figures for the 5th time this season, and the fourth straight game (16 points). It is the 12th time in her career that she has scored in double figures.
Sylvia Fowles left the game with an injury with 1:23 gone in the first quarter, and the score 7-4 Las Vegas.
Kayla McBride tied her career high with 5 steals.
Lindsay Allen handed out a season-high tying 7 assists.
A’ja Wilson blocked a season-high 4 shots.
Las Vegas’ 7-2 start ties the best nine-game start in franchise history.
The Aces have won six straight games, which is the team’s longest such streak since the franchise moved to Las Vegas.
NEXT OPPONENT
Las Vegas remains at a home this Saturday to take on the 2019 WNBA Champion Washington Mystics at 12 pm ET/9 am PT on ESPN.