FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Mystics - Game 17 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs. Mystics – Game 17 – 2022

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (13-4)  |  Washington Mystics (12-9)

 

 

The Las Vegas Aces lost their second game in a row for the first time all season, falling 87-86 to the Washington Mystics in overtime. The story of the game was Washington’s defense putting on a defensive clinic, something it’d done to the Aces’ offense previously. Keep scrolling for more details on the loss.

 

RECAP:

Immediately following a historically bad 28-point blown lead to the defending champion Chicago Sky on Tuesday, Vegas‘ ability to rebound from a loss would be put to the test on Sunday against the Washington Mystics — the team that handed the Aces their first loss of the season back on May 10, 2022. But, of course, the Mystics hit Vegas in the mouth during that May matchup, and the Aces did not get up off the mat.

A similar situation arose on Saturday as the Aces‘ early seven-point second-quarter lead was turned into a six-point deficit by the end of the half.

As the two teams headed out of the locker room and onto the Michelob ULTRA Arena court, an essential question was soon answered: Would the Aces crumble at the sight of adversity, as they have done twice already this season? It took only a few minutes into the third quarter to get the answer.

Las Vegas‘ defense turned up the defensive intensity in the early moments of the third and sustained it throughout the half. The chaos it created for the Washington offense ultimately kept the game close, close enough for Jackie Young to deliver a late stepback 3-pointer to tie the game at the end of regulation and force overtime.

 

But as was the case in regulation, the Aces‘ offense failed them in overtime. They tallied just six points in the extra frame (one was a halfcourt heave with the game out of reach) and only 86 for the game. In addition to the low score, it was the second time all season that the squad failed to connect on at least 40.0 percent of its field.

Vegas has now lost two games in a row for the first time all season and slipped to 13-4. The rest of the league is slowly catching them in the standings as the All-Star break approaches. But before then, they’ll embark on a long four-game road trip that stretched from Los Angeles to Seattle to Minneapolis before returning home to host New York before the break.

They’ll need to put together a solid stretch of games here so their strong start to the season doesn’t go to waste.

 

TOP PERFORMERS:

Kelsey Plum (Aces): 20 PTS, 6 ASTS, 5/10 3PT

Chelsea Gray (Aces): 17 PTS, 14 REBS, 3 BLKS, 2/3 3PT

Alysha Clark (Mystics): 20 PTS, 8 REBS, 4 STLS, 4/6 3PT

Natasha Cloud (Mystics): 16 PTS, 10 ASTS, 1/6 3PT

 

You can catch the Aces in action on Monday, June 27th, when they travel to Los Angeles for their third matchup with Liz Cambage, Nneka Ogwumike, and the Sparks. As Las Vegas looks to end its losing streak, you can tune in to the game live at 7:30 p.m. PST on NBA TV. Check back in with us here at Franchise Sports Media following the game for a recap.

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-Cole Huff– Franchise Sports Media