Aces force turnovers, stop Mystics win streak

“This is a game I feel like we need to get,” Hammon said before tipoff. Las Vegas got it by winning the possession battle in a way that mattered more than Washington’s 41-30 rebounding advantage.

Young flips it

Washington controlled the glass early and built an 11-5 lead while Las Vegas opened 2-for-7 from the floor. Gray helped settle the Aces with a bounce pass to NaLyssa Smith, then Wilson followed with a block and jumper to cut the deficit to two.

Young changed the quarter from there. Jewell Loyd turned a steal into Young’s four-point play, and Young buried two more 3s as Las Vegas moved in front. Young surpassed 4,000 career points during the surge, then made three free throws after Mai Yamamoto forced another turnover.

The Aces led 22-19 despite getting outrebounded 15-2, including 5-0 on the offensive glass. Las Vegas compensated by forcing six turnovers and scoring 10 points off them while committing only one. Young finished the quarter with 13 points.

Glass response

Ta’Niya Latson opened the second with a short jumper, but Washington answered with nine straight points to take a 28-24 lead. Gray and Wilson steadied Las Vegas, while Latson later buried a 3 to put the Aces back in front.

More importantly, the rebounding problem began to level out. After getting overwhelmed on the glass in the first, Las Vegas outrebounded Washington 11-8 in the second and did not allow an offensive rebound in the quarter.

Wilson scored six points and added two blocks in the period, while Gray scored five. Smith’s reverse layup gave Las Vegas a 41-38 lead late, but Cotie McMahon answered with a 3 to send the game to halftime tied at 41.

Wilson stretches it

Las Vegas came out of halftime with more force, opening the third on an 11-7 run. Young hit a 3 early, while Wilson repeatedly found space in the midrange as the Aces began creating separation.

Wilson stretched that advantage from behind the arc. Her 26-foot 3 with 3:17 remaining gave Las Vegas a 61-54 lead and marked her 31st make from deep this season. The basket also completed her double-double.

Washington did not disappear. The Mystics scored the final six points of the quarter and trimmed what had been a nine-point deficit to 63-60. Still, Las Vegas had changed the rebounding fight, edging Washington 8-6 on the glass while holding the Mystics to 0-for-5 from 3.

Stops close it

Las Vegas opened the fourth in a zone, then Yamamoto buried a 3 that sent the Aces bench into a frenzy. Wilson followed with an and-one and another jumper as Las Vegas stretched the lead to 71-62.

The defense kept creating separation. Wilson scored again after a Washington turnover, while the Aces continued turning stops into chances at the other end.

Gray later slipped a wraparound, no-look pass to a cutting Loyd for a layup. Young then converted an and-one to push the lead to 84-71 with 1:05 remaining and effectively put the game away.

Las Vegas forced five Washington turnovers in the fourth and scored 10 points off them while committing only one. The Mystics managed just 16 points in the quarter as the Aces closed with their strongest defensive stretch of the night.

The final numbers explained the win. Washington still controlled the glass 41-30 and scored 42 points in the paint, but Las Vegas committed only eight turnovers while forcing twice as many.

That produced a decisive 26-8 advantage in points off turnovers. The rebounding gap also looked much different after the opening quarter, with Las Vegas outrebounding Washington 28-26 over the final three periods.

Smith finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds, giving Las Vegas a second double-double alongside Wilson. Gray added 12 points and five assists, while Loyd moved past Lauren Jackson into 17th on the WNBA’s all-time made field goals list.

Shakira Austin led Washington with 20 points. Sonia Citron scored 19, while Kiki Iriafen finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Before the game, Hammon pointed directly to rebounding as one of the lessons from Washington’s 100-99 win over Las Vegas on July 22. She also said resting Wilson, Young and Gray on Sunday was done partly with Tuesday in mind.

“Hopefully, it helps us have some juice and some energy on the defensive end,” Hammon said.

The Aces had enough when it mattered.

Up next

Las Vegas hosts the Washington Mystics again Thursday, Aug. 13, at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.