Aces earn a second straight win over the Atlanta Dream, 87-72

The Las Vegas Aces (12-11) opened the second half of the season with a big win over the Atlanta Dream (13-10) at home on Tuesday night.

Las Vegas got off to a quick start, but Atlanta showed that they weren’t backing down early in the first quarter. Both teams went shot-for-shot.

Atlanta and Las Vegas tied twice during the first quarter. Jackie Young connected with everyone on the court early in the first pushing the Aces to a 17-12 lead over the Dream.

The Dream then managed to tie the game up again, 17-17 with less than 3 minutes left in the quarter. Atlanta went on to take the lead to close out the first quarter, 27-20.

Dana Evans checked in the game and went on a 9-0 run all her own pushing the Aces to the lead. With 7:51 left in the half, the Aces had taken the lead, 29-27.

A’ja Wilson came alive to close out the first half, giving the Aces a 42-39 lead going into the locker room.

In the second half, the Aces got a quick start, leading the Dream 55-45 with under 7:00 minutes to go in the third quarter.

Atlanta was called for a technical foul, Chelsea Gray made the free-throw to add to the Aces lead, making it 60-50.

Dana Evans drew the foul with less than a minute left in the third. Evans made both free-throws to add to the Aces lead, 67-59.

Headed into the fourth quarter, the Aces continued to add on to the lead. With less than 5 minutes to go, Atlanta began chipping away at the Aces big lead, 75-66. With 2:30 to go, Chelse Gray dished out an assist to A’ja Wilson for a jumper to give the Aces an 83-68 lead.

In the closing minute, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young hit back-to-back jumpers push the Aces up, 87-70.

Las Vegas is now 12-11, earning their second straight win and their first after the All-Star break, defeating Atlanta, 87-72.

A’ja Wilson led the Aces in scoring with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Aces grabbed a season-high

“I was pleased tonight to only hold them [Atlanta] to 13 points,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said in the post-game presser.

Hammon continued, “We just want keep moving in the right direction.”

The Aces hit the road to take on the Indiana Fever on Thursday, July 24 at 4pm PT.