Aces win 11th straight, fend off gritty Sky

Chelsea Gray hit a deep, go-ahead three-pointer with 2:37 remaining in regulation as the visiting Las Vegas Aces had to work for their 11th straight win, 79-74, over the Chicago Sky on Monday night.

Aces guard Jackie Young scored 20 of her team-high 22 points in the first half.

Las Vegas (25-14) led 73-68 with four minutes remaining, but Chicago's Ariel Atkins hit two free throws, Kamilla Cardoso followed with a bucket and Angel Reese put the h ome team ahead, 74-73, on a layup with 2:37 left in regulation.

After each team had an empty possession, Gray, who finished with 14 points, canned a 27-footer past the top of the arc to put the Aces back ahead for good.

A'ja Wilson followed with a basket and free throw as the Aces scored the final six points of the contest. Wilson finished with 18 points and nine rebounds for the Aces, who shot 11-of-23 from distance en route to clinching a playoff berth.

Atkins registered 30 points, while Cardoso (19 pts./10 rebs.) and Reese (10 pts./game-high 17 rebs.) each posted double-doubles for the Sky (9-28). Chicago shot 38.5% from the field, but outscored the Ace s, 42-35, in the second half.

The Sky have lost 15 of 17.

The Aces led 48-34 early in the third, but Cardoso elevated her offensive game and got the Sky back into the contest. Chicago outscored the Aces 21-12 the rest of the quarter to make it a four-point game entering the fourth.

A Young trey gave the visitors a 30-18 advantage early in the second quarter. However, the Sky used a 12-2 run, fueled by 10 points from Atkins, to get with 32-30.

But, Young scored the Aces' final 12 points of the period, while Chicago managed a pair of Atkins' free throws, and visitors carried a 44-32 lead into the break.

Atkins scored five early points as Chicago opened a 7-3 lead. The Aces countered with a 12-2 surge, highlighted by five points from Young and four from NaLyssa Smith, to open a 15-9 edge and never trailed again.

At halftime, the Sky retired the No. 3 jersey of local hero and WNBA legend Candace Parker, who helped both franchises win league titles.