MINNEAPOLIS, MN (July 9, 2023)—Kelsey Plum poured in a career-high and franchise-record 40 points, leading 5 Aces in double figures as Las Vegas (17-2) got back on the winning track with a 113-89 road win over the Minnesota Lynx (9-10). The Aces’ 113 points and field goal percentage of 59.7 are the highest figures by any team in the WNBA this season. With the win, the Aces upped their record in Commissioner’s Cup games to 8-1 and clinched the Western Conference’s spot in the championship game, which will be held in Las Vegas on Aug. 15 (time TBD).
Box Score | Photos | Highlights
KEY RUNS
First Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 28, Minnesota 19)
The Lynx took an early 5-4 lead, but a 17-4 Las Vegas run put the Aces up a dozen with 3:50 to go in the quarter. Las Vegas connected on 12 of 18 shots from the field in the period, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range. Six different Aces dented the scoring column led by A’ja Wilson’s 7.
Second Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 54, Minnesota 42)
Las Vegas led by 7, 39-32, with 5:28 gone in the period, when they ran off 9-straight, all from 3-point range, for their largest lead of the half. Plum led all scorers in the quarter with 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting, including 2 for 4 from 3-point land. The Aces made 57.9 percent of their shots in the period, and went 4 for 10 from long range. Minnesota shot even better making 58.8 percent from the floor and 3 of 6 from downtown. Diamond Miller paced Minnesota with 7 points, and Rachel Banham added 6 off the bench with a pair of 3s. The Lynx scored 15 points in the first 20 minutes off of 7 Vegas miscues.
Third Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 80, Minnesota 61)
The Aces led 60-50 with 6:42 remaining before scoring 10 unanswered points to go up 20. The Aces committed just 1 turnover in the period, while shooting 52.6 percent from the field compared to 43.8 percent or Minnesota. Plum and Jackie Young each scored 8 points to lead the Aces while Lindsay Allen’s 8 led the Lynx.
Fourth Quarter Highlights (Las Vegas 113, Minnesota 89)
The Lynx sliced the Aces advantage to 15 with 7:12 remaining, but Las Vegas scored 9 consecutive points to effectively put the game out of reach. Plum poured in 16 points, making 4 of 5 from distance
KEY STATS
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The Aces made their first 7 field goal attempts, shot 59.7 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from 3-point range (17 of 39), while the Lynx made 50 percent from inside the arc, and 56.2 percent from distance (9 for 16)
Las Vegas blocked 11 Minnesota shots.
The Aces made a season-high 17 3-pointers, tying the high-water mark for the WNBA this season.
The Aces dished out 31 assists on 43 field goals and scored 18 second-chance points (7 of 9).
GAME NOTES
Plum scored a season-high and franchise-record 40 points on the night. She also set career highs with 14 made field goals and 6 made 3-pointers.
The Aces connected on 59.7 percent of their field goal attempts, which is the highest percentage by any team in the WNBA this season. The Aces have now produced 6 of the league’s top 10 field goal percentage games this season.
Las Vegas has scored 90+ points in all but 5 games this season, and 100+ points on 4 occasions.
The Aces 113 points is the most scored in the WNBA this year.
The Aces blocked a season-high 11 shots, which ties the high for a WNBA team this season.
Las Vegas connected on 17 3-pointers which is the most for the team this season, and tied for the most in the WNBA this year.
The Aces made 43 field goals, which is the most in the league this season.
Chelsea Gray recorded her 3rd point-assist double-double of the year (14 points, 10 assists), and the 8th of her career.
Wilson recorded her 12th double-double of the season (15 points, 10 rebounds) and the 66th of her career.
Wilson has played in 117-straight games, which is the longest active streak in the W
Candace Parker (right ankle) and Riquna Williams (lower back) did not play for the Aces.