WNBA Playoff Preview: Aces vs Sun - Game 4 - 9/27/2020

Photo Credit: CBS Sports

WNBA Playoff Preview: Aces vs Sun – Game 4 – 9/27/2020

#1 Las Vegas Aces (18-4) | #7 Connecticut Sun (10-12)

The Aces look to even up the series in a must win Game 4.

It was a game of mixed emotions as the Aces followed a dominating third quarter with a disappointing fourth quarter that consisted of 4 turnovers in the last 1:30.

A’ja Wilson, the leader of this Las Vegas team, led the scoring for the Aces, putting up 20 points and scoring 6 of the Aces 12 fourth-quarter points. When asked how much of the load she put on her own shoulders, she said,

“I’m guessing a lot… I don’t feel it; I know I just want to be there for my teammates regardless, I want to be the outlet. It came down the stretch, missed a couple shots, missed a lot of shots, but I can’t take myself out of it and continue to push forward and bring the energy for my teammates.”

In the playoffs, turnovers are often the major key to winning and losing games.

In the 83 to 75 Game 2 win, the Aces forced the Sun into 17 turnovers, which was a significant factor in their success. They stressed defense leading into that game, and they executed very well. However, in Game 3, their defense wasn’t necessarily bad, but they committed 15 turnovers; 11 more than the Sun. Whoever can win the turnover battle will have the most significant impact on the rest of the series.

The Aces knew that they had a poor fourth quarter and last few minutes of the game. Even A’ja Wilson spoke about it after the game saying,

“I think it was 100% us not taking care of the ball. It was nothing that they were doing; it was everything that was on us. I think we kinda got sped up in our minds in a way that we should have, and we just turned the ball over. Bill always says playoff games are really about turnovers, offensive rebounds, and free throws, and we lost in all those categories way before the final minutes of that game, so I think it doesn’t even come down to the final minutes of the game, it’s things that led up to that. We have to take care of that from the first play out all the way through 40 minutes.”

Overall the Aces had 15 turnovers, eight offensive rebounds, and 11 free throw attempts compared to Connecticut’s four turnovers, 14 offensive rebounds, and 15 free throw attempts.

The Aces play with their season on the line in game 4 today.

The Aces will head into Game 4 and try to find the rhythm they had in the regular season, where they only lost four times in 22 games.

It won’t be easy as the Connecticut Sun have played them tough. They have had a different leading scorer in every game this series, including Alyssa Thomas, who in Game 3 had 23 points, just two days after dislocating her shoulder in Game 2.

When asked if there was any added pressure now that they are down 2-1 in the series, Danielle Robinson said, “I mean there shouldn’t have ever been pressure honestly, we just haven’t played like we have in the regular season yet, so right now we need to play free, go out there and win the next game. It is not over yet. I wouldn’t say there is pressure at all, just think we need to go do our thing.”

It is a must-win game for the Aces as their season is on the line while the Sun play for a trip to the WNBA Finals.