The Las Vegas Aces continued their hot streak, matching their season-high with a sixth straight win by defeating the visiting Los Angeles Sparks 89-79 on Tuesday.
A’ja Wilson led the Aces (30-13) with 18 points and 10 rebounds, though the performance ended a streak of seven consecutive games in which Wilson tallied at least 20 points. Chelsea Gray scored 17 points on efficient 7-of-12 shooting, going 2-for-5 from 3-point range.
Jackie Young was held to just 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting and struggled from beyond the arc, making just one of eight attempts, but offset a rough shooting night by tallying a game-high 11 assists.
Las Vegas took control early with a 15-0 run that turned a 5-2 deficit into a 17-5 advantage. The Aces stretched the margin to 17 points in the second quarter before the Sparks answered with 11 straight points to pull within six at 35-29.
Los Angeles continued to hang around and was within single digits early in the third quarter, but Las Vegas responded with another decisive burst. The Aces scored 10 unanswered points to push their lead to 63-45 and carried a comfortable advantage into the fourth.
The Sparks never seriously threatened down the stretch. Las Vegas kept its lead in double figures for most of the final quarter and closed out the 10-point victory to finish 3-1 in the season series against Los Angeles.
The game also marked the final road appearance of retiring Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike, who will close her career at home against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday.
The Aces honored Ogwumike with bouquets of flowers and a pregame moment of recognition, and Ogwumike responded in vintage fashion by dropping a team-high 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting while grabbing nine rebounds.
Aside from Ogwumike, Erica Wheeler tallied 16 points, five assists and four rebounds for the Sparks (16-27). Rae Burrell added 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting, while Tonie Morgan posted 14 points on a much more efficient 6-of-7 from the field.
With the eight-team playoff field already set but much of the seeding still undecided, Tuesday’s game carried added importance for an Aces team that needed one win to clinch first-round home-court advantage.
With the win, the Aces clinched at least the No. 3 seed and first-round home-court advantage. If the current standings hold, they would meet the Washington Mystics in the opening round.
–Field Level Media
