A’ja Wilson scored 17 of her game-high 34 points in the first quarter, Jackie Young delivered her first career triple-double and the visiting Las Vegas Aces used a fast start to overwhelm the Los Angeles Sparks 89-74 on Tuesday.
Young compiled 18 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, while Dana Evans added 10 points as the Aces (14-13) won for the fifth time in the past seven games.
Wilson shot 8-for-8 from the floor in the opening quarter as Las Vegas took a 31-18 lead, and the visitors were never threatened the rest of the way. The reigning MVP had 10 rebounds on the night while recording her fifth game of at least 30 points this season and second against Los Angeles.
Kelsey Plum produced 22 points and eight assists and Rae Burrell added a season-high 17 points as the Sparks (11-15) saw their season-high five-game win streak come to an end. Dearica Hamby scored 15 points for Los Angeles.
Sparks forward Cameron Brink came off the bench to score five points during her first game of the season after missing 13 months due to a torn ACL that required surgery. She played 14 minutes.
The Sparks committed 20 turnovers in the game, and the Aces turned them into 19 points.
Las Vegas not only shot 56.5 percent from the floor in the first quarter, but it hit 48.8 percent in the first half while taking a 48-34 lead into the break. Wilson made her first 10 shots in the game, finally missing from the floor midway through the second quarter.
Wilson had 23 points at halftime to pass her season average of 21.6 points per game.
Las Vegas led 70-53 after three quarters and took its first 20-point lead when Aaliyah Nye made a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the fourth.
The Aces are now 2-1 against the Sparks with the teams set to meet one more time on Sept. 11 in the regular-season finale for both clubs.
–Field Level Media
