LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson scored 29 factors on Sunday night time to assist the No. 2 seed Las Vegas Aces beat the seventh-seeded Seattle Storm 102-77 in Sport 1 of their best-of-three first-round playoff collection.
Las Vegas closed the season with 16 consecutive wins, tying the 2014 Phoenix Mercury for the second-longest regular-season win streak in WNBA historical past. Las Vegas can advance to the semifinals with a win in Sport 2 on Tuesday in Seattle.
Jackie Younger had 18 factors, seven assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals for the Aces. Jewell Loyd scored 14 factors, Dana Evans 13 and NaLyssa Smith had 11 factors and 9 rebounds.
Gabby Williams led the Storm with 16 factors and Dominique Malonga had 12 factors and 11 rebounds. Skylar Diggins additionally scored 12 factors and Nneka Ogwumike added 11.
Loyd, who spent her first 10 seasons with Seattle and was traded to the Aces in January, scored seven factors and Wilson added six an in a 17-7 opening run and Las Vegas by no means trailed. Chelsea Grey hit a 3-pointer that made it a 12-point lead late within the first quarter.
Erica Wheeler hit a 3-pointer a couple of minute into the second quarter that trimmed the Storm’s deficit to 22-17 however Evans hit a 3 after which a brief jumper to cap a 9-0 spurt that made it a 14-point lead with 5:56 left within the first half and the Aces led by double figures the remainder of the way in which.
The Aces shot 51% (36 of 71) from the sphere, hit 14 of 29 (48%) from 3-point vary and had 23 assists.
