FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Dream - Game 5 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Dream – Game 5 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (5-0) | Atlanta Dream (2-3)

 

The Las Vegas Aces were battle-tested by the Atlanta Dream but Las Vegas prevailed 92-87.

The Aces vs Dream played at the Gateway Center on Friday.

The Las Vegas Aces were finally tested after steamrolling through their first four games, as the Aces slipped by the Atlanta Dream with a 92-87 victory.

Las Vegas has now won nine straight regular-season games dating back to last season, their second-longest streak in franchise history.

The Aces are also now 5-0 to start a season for the first time in franchise history.

A’ja Wilson totaled 21 points (9-of-16 FGs), five rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Jackie Young added 20 points (6-of-10 FGs, 7-of-8 FTs), five rebounds, and three steals. Kelsey Plum had 15 points (6-of-15 FGs, 0-for-3 3s), three rebounds, and three assists. Alysha Clark put up 11 points (3-for-4 3s) and five rebounds off the bench.

The Aces handled business against the Dream

Wilson scored in double figures for the 29th consecutive regular season game, which is the third-longest active streak in the WNBA, and the sixth-longest streak in Aces’ franchise history.

The start of the Aces vs Dream first half. 

Chelsea Gray (eight points, four assists, two steals) struggled mightily from the field. However, Gray made a few huge buckets down the stretch that propelled the Aces over the top.

Plum picked Aari McDonald’s pocket and Gray dashed the other way for a fast-break layup to extend Las Vegas’ lead to 89-84. However, Rhyne Howard responded with a three-point play on the other end with 36 seconds left.

Gray answered with a jumper from the free-throw line with 22.5 seconds left, pushing the Aces ahead by a four-point lead. Howard went for a 3-point attempt at the other end but was blocked by Kiah Stokes.

All the while, Candace Parker moved into eighth on the WNBA’s career scoring list. Parker passed Katie Smith on the list and now trails Sue Bird in seventh place.

The end of the Aces vs Dream first half. 

Riquna Williams was ruled out once again as she deals with a lower back injury, making this the fifth consecutive missed game for Williams.

The start of the Aces vs Dream second half. 

For the Dream, Cheyenne Parker led the way with 25 points (10-of-18 FGs, 2-for-3 3s) and 11 rebounds. Allisha Gray had 16 points (6-of-11 FGs), five rebounds, and five assists. Howard totaled 15 points (5-of-15 FGs, 2-for-7 3s), four rebounds, and five assists. AD Durr finished with 13 points (5-of-7 FGs, 3-for-4 3s) off the bench.

It was a strong start for the Aces, who led by nine after the first quarter. Wilson already had 10 points, Young had six, and Stokes (who shot 41% from the floor) hit a 3 for the Aces.

Las Vegas also kept the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, Howard, off the scoresheet in the first period.

The Aces headed into halftime with a 15-point lead. Young and Wilson led the way with 12 points each, while Parker had seven points and three assists, including a beautiful assist to Plum. Las Vegas shot 46.2 percent from the field in the first half, while holding the Dream to 30 percent shooting.

Atlanta did a solid job of sticking around, scoring 28 points on the Aces in the third quarter as Durr was 3-of-4 from 3.

Young led the Aces with 20 points through three quarters. Clark was also back in double figures for the third time in five games.

Parker’s ninth point moved her past Smith up to eighth on the all-time regular season scoring list in WNBA history. Parker now sits 346 points behind Bird. Parker’s third assist also tied her with Cappie Pondexter for seventh on the all-time assist list.

Las Vegas topped the 90-point mark for the fifth-straight game to open the season, extending their own WNBA record in the process. It was also the sixth-straight game overall that the team has scored 90+ points, which is one shy of the WNBA record of seven held by the 2010 Phoenix Mercury.

The final score of the Aces vs Dream was 92-87, Aces.

The Aces will now take on the Indiana Fever on Sunday, June 4th, at 1:00 pm PST.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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