GAME RECAP: Las Vegas Erases 11-point First-Half Deficit To Upend Washington, 83-77

Palmetto, FL (August 5, 2020)—The Las Vegas Aces improved to 3-2 on the season, Wednesday evening, erasing an 11-point first half lead to upend the Washington Mystics, 83-77. The game was a rematch of last year’s WNBA semifinals meeting between the clubs. A’ja Wilson and Danielle Robinson led the Aces with 20 points, and Dearica Hamby added a 12-point, 13 double-double.

KEY RUNS

First Quarter (Washington 21, Las Vegas 19)

Washington scored the first 6 points of the game and 11 of the first 13. The Aces still trailed 19-8 with 1:43 to go in the quarter, but closed the period on an 11-2 run.

Second Quarter (Washington 37, Las Vegas 35)

The Mystics pushed their lead back out to seven, 29-22, but Las Vegas scored seven straight to tie the score for the first time since the opening tip.

Third Quarter (Las Vegas 60, Washington 59)

Las Vegas took its first lead of the game on a Dearica Hamby three-pointers, which made it 42-41 with 8:36 to go in the quarter. The teams traded the lead three more times, before the Aces went on a 9-0 run to lead bv seven, 56-49. The Mystics scored the next 10 points, but the Aces scored four straight to end the quarter with the lead.

Fourth Quarter (Las Vegas 83, Washington 77)

Washington regained the lead by scoring the first basket of the fourth, but a 7-0 Las Vegas run gave the Aces a lead they would never relinquish.

KEY STATS

The Aces shot 49.1 from the field, while the Mystics made 41.9 percent of their shots.

The Aces’ bench outscored the Mystics’ bench 34 to 9.

Washington went 8 for 26 from three-point range, while the Aces went 4 for 10.

Las Vegs went 23 for 30 from the free throw line, while the Mystics went 7 for 11

GAME NOTES

This is the 48th time that head coaches Bill Laimbeer and Mike Thibault have squared off against one another in the regular season, which is the most by any pair of coaches. Laimbeer is now 30-18 against Thibault.

A’ja Wilson scored in double figures for the 5th straight game to start the season, and the 61st game in her 64-game professional career (20 points). It was also her 3rd game of 20 or more points this season, and the 28th of her career.

Angel McCoughtry scored in double figures for the 4th time this season and the 264th time in her career (13 points).

Dearica Hamby scored in double figures for the fifth time this season and the 68th time in her career (12 points). She added a season-high 13 rebounds for her 12th career double-double.

Kayla McBride scored in double figures for the fourth straight game and the 137th time in her career (14 points).

Danielle Robinson scored a season-high 20 points. It was her first double-digit scoring effort of the season, and the 123rd of her career.

NEXT OPPONENT

Las Vegas returns home Friday to take on the Los Angeles Sparks at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT.