Shakira Austin made the go-ahead basket with 39.8 seconds to play, and the Washington Mystics eked out a win over the A’ja Wilson-less Las Vegas Aces 70-68 on Thursday in Fairfax, Va.
The Mystics (10-10) outscored the Aces 12-2 over the last 3:45 of the game to pull out the stunner. Brittney Sykes led Washington with 18 points, Austin contributed 16 points and eight rebounds and Kiki Iriafen added 12 points and eight boards.
Sonia Citron scored seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter.
Reigning league MVP Wilson suffered a wrist injury after falling on a layup attempt in Las Vegas’ loss at the New York Liberty on Tuesday. An MRI on Wednesday revealed no structural damage and only a sprain. There is no timetable for her return.
Jewell Loyd led Las Vegas (9-11) with 20 points. Chelsea Gray had 13 points and seven rebounds, Dana Evans finished with 11 points and Jackie Young added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Washington has won four consecutive games at home and five of its last seven overall.
Las Vegas has lost four its last six games.
Washington scored seven straight points, capped by Iriafen’s free throws with 1:48 left, to cut the lead to 66-65. The teams then traded baskets, with Young making a layup and Sykes converting a pull-up jumper.
After a missed shot by the Aces’ Megan Gustafson, Washington had the ball trailing 68-67. Austin’s putback on a missed jumper by Sykes gave the Mystics a 69-68 lead.
Following a miss by Young, Austin got the rebound for Washington but Sug Sutton committed a turnover.
Gray then missed a shot in the lane, got the tipped offensive rebound, and then turned the ball over with 5.2 seconds left.
Sykes was fouled with 4.3 seconds left and made one of two shots from the free-throw line.
Young missed a drive to the basket, with the shot rolling off the rim as time expired.
Las Vegas led by as many as 15 points in the third quarter before the Mystics charged back. Washington trailed 57-54 on Citron’s jumper with 7:24 remaining. The Aces responded with a 3-pointer by Gray and a layup by Young.
Washington again cut the deficit to four points, but jump shots by Gray and Young gave the Aces a 66-58 lead with 3:45 remaining.
–Field Level Media
