FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Sparks - Game 18 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Sparks – Game 18 – 2022

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (14-4)  |  Los Angeles Sparks (7-11)

After a heartbreaking overtime loss to bring the Aces to 13-4 on the season, Las Vegas went into Crypto.com Arena and responded with a 79-73 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum picked up the slack for the inactive Chelsea Gray as they combined to score 54 points in the victory.

RECAP

The Aces came into Monday night’s contest against the Los Angeles Sparks riding a two-game losing streak after dropping a close one in overtime to the Washington Mystics over the weekend. The consecutive losses were the first of the season, and what was also a first was that the Aces finally looked like somewhat of a mortal team. But one way to stop the bleeding and get back on track is to face a familiar foe, particularly one that you’ve enjoyed success against. And perhaps no other opponent in the league serves as the perfect remedy to a hard time for Vegas than the Los Angeles Sparks.

Monday’s victory in Los Angeles gave the Aces their ninth straight win over the purple and gold. While the result wasn’t a third consecutive blowout, a couple of things remained similar to the season’s prior two meetings.

1) The Sparks had absolutely zero answers for A’ja Wilson, which is understandable. The 2020 MVP scored 25 points on 8/16 shooting from the floor to go along with 11 rebounds and four steals in a plus-8 outing. The fantastic all-around game didn’t quite compare to her 35 points in LA a little over two weeks ago, but it was another statement game for Wilson — a statement to the Aces that they indeed chose the correct player to lead the franchise going forward, and a statement to the league that she is the MVP frontrunner to this point of the season.

The Aces will have one more date with the Sparks during this regular season and it probably couldn’t come soon enough for Wilson. She is averaging 28.0 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game against LA in 2022.

2) Los Angeles has not figured out how to overcome Las Vegas‘ defense. Some numbers — 38.4 percent, 36.6, 40.0 — are the field goal percentages that the Sparks struggled to get to in three different games against the Aces this year. And 19 for 68 is the number of 3-pointers made and attempted in those same three outings. The Sparks not being a good offensive team has very much to do with the subpar stats, but I’d like to think that Vegas is also doing something right being that its defense is consistently making life miserable for LA.

All in all, it wasn’t a pretty win for Becky Hammon‘s squad but it was a much-needed one to start the four-game road trip. The Aces will hope to have Chelsea Gray return to the lineup soon, and as Riquna Williams knocks off the rust, Vegas has a real chance to head into the All-Star break with momentum.

KEY PERFORMERS:

A’ja Wilson (Aces) – 25 PTS, 11 REBS, 4 STLS

Kelsey Plum (Aces) – 29 PTS, 5 ASTS, 3 STLS, 4/7 3PT

Nneka Ogwumike (Sparks) – 18 PTS, 11 REBS, 2 ASTS

Las Vegas will travel to Seattle to face the Storm on Wednesday, June 29th. You can catch the game live at 7:00 pm PST. Check back with us after the game for a recap and analysis.

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-Cole Huff– Franchise Sports Media