FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Lynx - Game 15 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Lynx – Game 15 – 2022

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (13-2)  |  Minnesota Lynx (3-13)

 

The Las Vegas Aces came away with a 96-95 win on Sunday afternoon against the Minnesota Lynx. The victory extended the Aces’ win streak to four games.

 

DEFENSE GOES M.I.A.

By many accounts, the Las Vegas Aces just played their worst defensive game of the season. They allowed 95 points to the Lynx, their second-most in 15 games played, and a registered a 113.1 defensive rating, which is their worst of the season. And unlike the script of most Aces’ games, the ladies didn’t flip a switch to have that one lockdown defensive quarter. They gave up more than 20 points in all four quarters and had a tough time defending the 3-point line. Aerial Powers and Moriah Jefferson combined for 6 of 10 from deep, while Jessica Shepard put up 22 points off the bench.

A performance like this is unusual for Vegas and is rare this season that it hasn’t completely bit them in the rear end.

 

TURNOVERS WAY DOWN:

The first thing I do following every Aces game is look at the stat sheet. More specifically, my eyes go directly to the turnover section. The number usually indicates how well or poorly Las Vegas’ offense performed. Coach Hammon’s squad recorded a season-low six turnovers on Sunday, so can you guess how the offense looked?

Tremendously — that’s how the Aces’ offense looked on Father’s Day afternoon. They did that thing, again, that they’ve done repeatedly throughout this season, which is to have five different players score in double-figures. Of course, the five double-figure scorers came from the Plum-Gray-Young-Hamby-Wilson starting unit as the bench failed to provide much of a lift (five total points). But that will remain par for the course until Riquna Williams returns from injury or if Iliana Rupert adds some punch.

Speaking of turnovers, the Minnesota Lynx had enough for the Aces to feast off of. Minnesota’s ten turnovers led to 18 Vegas points off of turnovers and 20 fastbreak points.

 

RETURN OF THE 3-POINTER:

On May 23rd, Las Vegas tied a WNBA record by making 18 (of 38) 3-pointers in its 104-76 home win over Liz Cambage and the Los Angeles Sparks. Between then and the start of Sunday’s game against Minnesota, the Aces had shot over 30.0 percent from deep in only one of six games. While their 36.0 percent (9 of 25) against the Lynx wasn’t outstanding, it was a difference-maker between a Father’s Day win and a loss.

In particular, the two late threes were the ones that got the Aces to victory No. 13 on the year — one by A’ja Wilson with around two minutes to play and another by Dearica Hamby to put the game on ice (96-91) with 16.2 seconds remaining. Hamby has made 7 of her last 12 threes and Wilson — four of her last seven.

Perhaps Sunday’s success from distance will bleed into the upcoming games.

TOP PERFORMERS:

A’ja Wilson (Aces) – 25 PTS, 8 REBS, 4 ASTS, 2 BLKS, 2/2 3PT

Kelsey Plum (Aces) – 21 PTS, 4 REBS, 6 ASTS, 2/9 3PT

Moriah Jefferson (Lynx) – 23 PTS, 4 REBS, 7 ASTS, 3/4 3PT

Jessica Shepard (Lynx) – 22 PTS, 19 REBS, 6 ASTS

 

Las Vegas has a quick turnaround and will face the defending champion Chicago Sky at home tonight at 7:00 pm. You can watch the game on CBS Sports Network before checking back with us after the game for a recap and analysis.

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-Cole Huff– Franchise Sports Media