FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Mystics - Game 35 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Mystics – Game 35 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (30-5) | Washington Mystics (16-18)

 

The Washington Mystics held the Las Vegas Aces below 70 points for just the second time this season in a 78-62 victory

The Aces vs Mystics played at the Entertainment & Sports on Saturday.

The Washington Mystics held the Las Vegas Aces to a season-low 30.8 percent shooting from the field in the win. Las Vegas is now only 2.5 games ahead of the New York Liberty in the race for the number-one seed in the postseason.

“We weren’t winning that game,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said. “Honestly, this was a game I considered resting people because we’re just tired.”

For context, Las Vegas has played ten games since August 6, with the rest of the league playing 6-to-8 games during that same period.

Hammon is now just 1-4 against Washington.

Elena Delle Donne led the Mystics with 21 points (6-of-10 FGs, 2-for-3 3s, 7-of-7 FTs) and seven rebounds. Ariel Atkins added 16 points (5-of-7 FGs, 3-for-5 3s), and Brittney Sykes totaled 14 points (7-of-19 FGs, 0-for-4 3s), four rebounds, and six assists.

Kelsey Plum led the Aces with 21 points (7-of-15 FGs, 3-for-8 3s, 4-of-4 FTs), A’ja Wilson had 14 points (4-of-12 FGs, 6-of-8 FTs), 11 rebounds, and two blocks, while Jackie Young put up just 10 points (3-of-10 FGs, 1-for-4 3s) and five rebounds.

The Aces handled business against the Mystics 

Plum recorded 20 or more points for the third-straight game. She also made at least two 3-pointers for the 11th straight game, the longest streak in the league, and is two games back of her franchise record of 13.

It was the start of the Aces vs Mystics first half. 

Wilson recorded her 20th double-double of the season, the second most in the WNBA this season. It is also the 74th double-double of her career, which has her with the 12th most in WNBA history, one behind Chamique Holdsclaw and two behind Lauren Jackson.

The Aces trailed 13-2 to start the game, as Washington’s defense held Las Vegas to 1-of-5 shooting during that opening stretch, while Delle Donne and Atkins paced the Mystics offense. However, a 6-0 Las Vegas run closed the gap to five, and another 7-0 run from the Aces later in the period tied the score at 17.

Neither team could find the bottom of the net early on in the second quarter, as they combined to miss eight shots and commit four turnovers. Young’s layup with 7:18 left to go on the clock ended the drought, and Las Vegas took their first lead of the game on Young’s following free throw. 

There were four more lead changes throughout the period as both offenses continued to struggle. Las Vegas went 3-of-14 with seven turnovers in the quarter, while Washington was 3-of-16 with four miscues. 

The end of the Aces vs Mystics first half. 

The Aces outscored the Mystics 13-8 in the second period, thanks primarily to their efforts at the free throw line, where they made 5-of-5 to Washington’s 2-for-4. Las Vegas also hit the only two 3-pointers in the quarter.

The start of the Aces vs Mystics second half. 

Neither team led by more than five points in the third quarter as their defenses locked in. There were five lead changes in the period. However, the Mystics scored nine of the final 11 points to take the lead into the final quarter. 

Washington made 50 percent of their shots (9-of-18), while Las Vegas went 5-for-17 from the floor (29.4 percent). The Mystics also ended their drought from distance, making 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.

There was still uncertainty with the game’s result with 6:17 to go as the Mystics clung to a five-point lead, 57-52. However, a 6-0 Washington run put the Mystics up by double figures, and they closed out the final quarter on a 10-2 run for the final 16-point margin of victory.

The Aces were limited to just 27.8 percent from the field, while the Mystics connected on 55 percent of their shots. Washington also scored seven points off of three Las Vegas turnovers.

The final score of the Aces vs Mystics was 78-62, Mystics.

The Aces will now take on the New York Liberty on Monday, August 28th, at 4:00 PM PST.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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