LAS VEGAS (June 18, 2023)—The Las Vegas Aces (10-1) dominated the third quarter 20-7 en route to a 93-62 victory over the Minnesota Lynx (3-8) on Sunday evening in Michelob ULTRA Arena. The win marked the 9th time the Aces scored 90 or more points on the season and upped the Aces home record to 5-0. Jackie Young scored a game-best 24 points, Kelsey Plum hit 4 3-pointers and finished with 21., Chelsea Gray scored 17 and Candace Parker had 11. A’ja Wilson grabbed a game-high 14 boards and added 8 points. Napheesa Collier scored 18 and was the lone member of the Lynx in double figures.
Box Score / Photos / Highlights
KEY RUNS
First Quarter (Las Vegas 26, Minnesota 22)
Neither team was able to gain more than a 5-point lead and with 2:08 to play, the game was knotted at 20-all following a Collier 3-pointer. Young responded with a driving floater at 1:55, giving the Aces a lead they would never relinquish. However, the Lynx kept it close, and after Plum hit a jumper with 6.5 seconds on the clock, the Aces held a 26-22 edge at the end of the first. Plum (7) and Wilson (6) led the Aces’ scoring in the stanza. Collier had a quarter-high 9 points.
Second Quarter (Las Vegas 54, Minnesota 41)
The game remained close through most of the second frame and a Collier jumper at 2:11 pulled Minnesota to within 4, 45-41. Ten seconds later, a traditional 3-point play by Plum sparked an Aces 9-0 run to close the quarter, which included a Gray pullup jumper at the buzzer, for a 54-41 halftime lead. Gray, who passed out 3 dimes in the period, hit 5-of-7 for 11 points and Young added 8 points. Collier topped out at 6 for the Lynx.
Third Quarter (Las Vegas 74, Minnesota 48)
Over the first 5:15 of the third period, the Aces outscored the Lynx 14-4 as their lead ballooned to 23 points, 68-45. The Aces continued to expand their lead for a 26-point, 74-48, advantage with 10 minutes to play. Plum shot 3-of-5 from the floor and 2-of-4 from 3-point for 8 points. Collier was held to 3 points. The Aces held the Lynx to 14.3% (3-21 FGs, 0-8 3ptFTs) and scored 6 points off of 6 turnovers.
Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 93, Minnesota 62)
The Aces went up by as many as 37 points, 87-50 on a 3-pointer from Parker at 6:09, and closed out for their 10th win of the season. Young, who was 2-of-2 from 3-point, scored 6 points.
KEY STATS
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The Aces made 33.3% (10-30 3pt FGs) of their 3-point attempts, while the Lynx were held to 16.7% (4-24 3pt FGs) from afar.
The Aces outscored the Lynx 17-9 on second chance points.
The Aces starters outscored the Lynx’ starters 81-40.
GAME NOTES
The 6 turnovers by the Aces marked the first time this season the Aces were in single digits for TOs.
Kiah Stokes and Wilson had 4 blocks apiece, both of which tied their respective season high.
The Aces have scored 90+ points in 9 of 11 contests in 2023.
The 62 points scored by the Lynx was the lowest total by an Aces opponent this season.
Plum netted 4 3-point field goals, breaking a streak of 18 games with 3 or fewer 3s. The last time she made 4 from afar was against Phoenix on Aug. 20, 2022.
Wilson’s 14 rebounds were a season high.
Wilson, who finished with 8 points, had scored in double figures 34-straight games, which stands as the 5th-longest such streak in Aces franchise history.
Riquna Williams did not dress for the Aces (lower back).
NEXT OPPONENT
The Aces travel to Phoenix for a clash with the Mercury (2-7) on Wednesday, June 21, at the Footprint Center. The 12:30 pm PT game will be broadcast on FOX 5, Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network and NBA TV; and air on the radio at ESPN Las Vegas 100.9 FM and 1100 AM. It will mark the first meeting between the two teams, which have faced off 94 times previously in the regular season. The Mercury own a 53-41 record over the Aces, but the Aces have won the last five games and 7 of the past 10 meetings, including playoffs.