GAME RECAP: Wilson Comes Alive In Overtime As Aces Top Mercury, 84-79

LAS VEGAS (August 20, 2019)—A’ja Wilson scored nine of the Aces 11 points in overtime, as Las Vegas (19-9) picked up its fourth straight win in an 84-79 victory over the Phoenix Mercury (13-14).

KEY RUNS

First Quarter

Phoenix led 4-3 early in the  first, but the Aces scored the next 10 points to lead 13-4 with 5:27 remaining in the quarter. The  Mercury went 1 for 10 from the field to start the game.

After a Phoenix timeout, the Mercury countered with a 10-0 run of their own to go up 14-13.

Third Quarter

Tied at 40 early in the third, Las Vegas scored 11 straight points to go up 51-40 with 6:02 on the clock.

The Mercury closed the quarter on a 16-7 run to slice the Aces advantage to two, 58-56.

Fourth Quarter

Las Vegas led by six, 62-56 with 1:49 gone in the fourth, but the Mercury scored 17 of the next 21 points to go up by half a dozen, 73-66, with 4:02 to go.

The Aces held Phoenix scoreless over the final 4:02, closing regulation on a 7-0 run.

Overtime

Trailing 79-78 with 1:12 to go, Las Vegas scored the final six points of the game on a pair of A’ja Wilson free throws, a Wilson driving layup and a pair of free throws by Dearica Hamby.

KEY STATS

The Mercury went 7 for 30- from three-point range, while Las Vegas went 6 for 14.

The Aces went 16 for 22 from the free throw line, while Phoenix went 10 for 10.

Las Vegas outrebounded Phoenix 50-39.

The Aces outscored the Mercury 10-4 in fast break points.

Las Vegas outscored Phoenix 13-4 in second chance points.

GAME NOTES

The game featured 7 ties and 15 lead changes.

A’ja Wilson returned to the starting line up for the first time since she injured her left ankle on July 19 at Seattle.

Las Vegas is now 2-0 on the season in overtime games.

Jackie Young recorded just the third rebound-assist double-double in WNBA history in which a player also scored fewer than 10 points. The other two were Aces Assistant Coach Vickie Johnson (2 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists on May 25, 2007 vs. Seattle) and Nikki Teasley (4 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists on June 14, 2003 at New York).

Liz  Cambage scored in double figures for the 24th time this season (19 points). She added 15 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season, and fifth straight.

Wilson scored in double figures for the 17th time this season (19 points)

Kayla McBride scored in double figures for the 23rd time this season (11 points).

Kelsey Plum scored in double figures for the 14th time this season (10 points).

Brianna Turner blocked a career-high 6 shots, matching the Mercury’s rookie record for blocks in a game, tying Brittney Griner’s mark (August 11, 2013)..

Brittney Griner finished with a game-high 24 points this evening to move past Mercury teammate, Sancho Lyttle, for 50th on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list tonight. It was Griner’s 13th 20+ point game of the season and her third in the last four games she’s played in.

DeWanna Bonner scored 19 of her game-high 24 points in the second half and overtime tonight to go along with eight rebounds. Bonner moved past Alana Beard for 25th on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list.

Brianna Turner’s seven points, 11 rebounds and six blocks mark just the eighth time in WNBA history a rookie has put up such numbers in a game, and the first time since August 8, 2010 whenTina Charles did so.

Leilani Mitchell scored 14 points and dished five assists in the loss tonight. It was Mitchell’s 11th consecutive game scoring 10+ points.

Entering tonight’s game ranked second in the WNBA in free throw shooting, the Mercury shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe this evening, the eighth time Phoenix has shot 100 percent from the free throw line in a game this season.

Tonight’s game marked the Mercury’s first overtime game since August 10, 2017 against Dallas

NEXT GAME

Las Vegas goes on the road for the next three gamed beginning with a Friday, August 23 trip to Connecticut. Tip is slated for 4:30 pm PT.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

The Aces are now 1.5 games back of Washington (20-7), and .5 games back of Connecticut (19-8), neither of whom played this evening. The Mystics have the tiebreaker over Las Vegas, while the Sun and Aces split their first two meetings this season.