LAS VEGAS — A’ja Wilson scored 21 factors and blocked 5 pictures after incomes her record-tying third MVP award earlier Sunday, and the two-time defending-champion Las Vegas Aces held the Seattle Storm to a pair of free throws within the fourth quarter in pulling away for a 78-67 victory in Recreation 1 of the best-of-three sequence.
Wilson made simply 1 of 8 pictures as Las Vegas missed 16 of 18 altogether and fell behind 18-9 after one quarter. She had 4 factors at halftime and Seattle led 42-38 after Jordan Horston and Mercedes Russell each made two free throws within the ultimate 43 seconds.
However the third quarter was a unique story as Wilson sank seven pictures with a 3-pointer, accounting for 15 of the Aces’ 26 factors. Skylar Diggins-Smith had a three-point play within the ultimate minute and the Storm took a 65-64 lead into the ultimate interval.
Kelsey Plum missed her first seven pictures, however she had the primary basket of the ultimate quarter on the 7:04 mark to present Las Vegas the lead. Seattle missed its first seven pictures, and back-to-back layups from Wilson and Tiffany Hayes pushed the Aces’ result in 70-65 with 4:49 left to play. Diggins-Smith hit two free throws for the Storm’s first factors to get them inside three, however Chelsea Grey had two baskets in an 8-0 run to wrap up the victory. Seattle missed all 13 of its pictures and turned the ball over six instances within the ultimate 10 minutes.
Hayes completed with 20 factors and 5 steals off the bench for fourth-seeded Las Vegas. Grey had 16 factors and 7 assists. Jackie Younger added 12 factors and 7 rebounds. Wilson had eight boards. She joined Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie and Lauren Jackson because the league’s solely three-time MVPs.
Diggins-Smith led fifth-seeded Seattle with 16 factors and eight assists. Gabby Williams completed with 14 factors and eight rebounds, whereas Nneka Ogwumike had 13 factors and 10 rebounds. Horston had 10 factors off the bench.
Seattle beat Las Vegas by 13 the primary time they met this season, however the Aces closed with three straight victories over the Storm — two by double digits.
Las Vegas will host Recreation 2 on Tuesday. Seattle will host Recreation 3 on Wednesday if vital.