The Las Vegas Aces, led by 32 points from A’ja Wilson, rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to overtake the Atlanta Dream 74-72 and post an eighth consecutive win.
Neither team had led by more than five points entering the fourth quarter, but Atlanta held a 61-57 edge and scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to go up 67-57 with 8:44 remaining. But Las Vegas then went on a 13-0 run to claim a 70-67 edge, capped by a Jewell Loyd 3-pointer with 4:09 to play. Wilson scored six points in that pivotal stretch.
After the Dream pulled even at 72 on a Rhyne Howard 3-pointer, it was Wilson time again for Las Vegas. She drained a mid-range jumper to account for the winning margin with 1:15 to play.
Atlanta had two possessions to answer, but Howard missed a 3-point attempt with 51.9 seconds left and a short runner in the paint with 4.2 seconds left. Brittney Griner got the carom and attempted a tip-in, but it was off the mark and the Aces’ Kierstan Bell snared the rebound to seal the win.
Las Vegas (22-14) forced six turnovers in the fourth quarter, including a trio of shot-clock violations, to pull within a half-game of the Dream and the New York Liberty, both 22-13, in the race for the No. 2 playoff seed behind the Minnesota Lynx.
Las Vegas shot 45.3 percent (29-for-64) while holding Atlanta to 40 percent (26-for-65).
Wilson’s 32 points represented her third straight 30-plus-point effort in a run toward a potential fourth WNBA MVP award. Wilson shot 12-for-24 and added 12 rebounds and five blocked shots. Jackie Young added 16 points and seven boards. Chelsea Gray logged eight points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
Atlanta was led by Howard, whose 19 points included 4-for-11 3-point shooting. Allisha Gray added 16 points and six rebounds. Griner tallied 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting and pulled down eight rebounds.
The Dream will return to action on Thursday when they host league-leading Minnesota. The Aces will also play at home, facing the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday.
–Field Level Media
