Aces back over .500 out of break with stingy defensive effort against Dream

Las Vegas reserves Dana Evans (#11) and Kiah Stokes (#41) dap each other up near halfcourt inside the Michelob Ultra Arena. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Even with a five-day break in between, the Las Vegas Aces have strung together their longest win streak of the season.

Las Vegas stumped Atlanta, 87-72, Tuesday, July 22 from the Michelob Ultra Arena to pick up a third straight win in the team’s first showing since this year’s All-Star break. Prior to tip, the game was set to feature the fifth and seventh-best teams in the WNBA’s standings with two games separating the two clubs.

Additionally, it was the first meeting of the season between the Aces and Dream with two more contests set for August.

“I would say [a full 40 minutes],” forward A’ja Wilson said. “But I think we were in the 30-ish, early 30s because I feel like that second quarter we kind of let it get away and that ain’t the way to go against a good team like this.

“But I do think we probably sustained their punches and their runs better than we ever have with any other team.”

Aces head coach Becky Hammon seen coaching from the sidelines inside the Michelob Ultra Arena. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

With the win, Las Vegas moves back over .500 for the first time since June 13. As of now, the team sits in the sixth spot now, a single game behind Atlanta for the fifth spot in the league.

The Aces will now head to the road for a four-game road trip that begins in Indiana Thursday, July 24 with a date with the Fever from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.

Active hands saw Las Vegas rip a season-high 13 steals away from Atlanta en route to the lopsided win. The defensive effort saw the group hold its opponent to just under 39% from the field.

“I thought our posts were being really difficult to seal down there,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “We were able to get around, they had to throw some loftier passes and we were able to get our bigs in place.”

A fast 8-for-11 start on offense wasn’t enough for the Aces as they needed a +13 second quarter to begin pulling away from the visitors. Following that 8-for-11 open to the game, the home team was held without a point for the next four-plus minutes, allowing the Dream to close the frame on a 15-3 run which featured a 9-0 spurt.

“It was pretty good,” Hammon said. “We’re marching in the right direction. I think it’s a really bright sign.”

Reserve guard Dana Evans erupted with the first nine points for Las Vegas to start the second quarter and take a, 29-27, lead. She scored 11 of her eventual 14 points in the first half.

“She was certainly a little spark for us,” Hammon said. “We were kind of floundering offensively and she just took that two-minute, three-minute stretch to take over the game. I am constantly on her – I think she’s a very skilled scorer.

Las Vegas guard Dana Evans (#11) is hyped up by teammates Chelsea Gray (#12) and Jewell Loyd. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

“I have a lot of faith in her because we’ve had to try to guard her in the past and she’s cooked us. So I’m like, ‘No, you’re going to go out there and cook others now.’”

Out of halftime, Las Vegas pushed its lead to double-digits. Eventually, it led by as many as 14 points in the win. Guard Jackie Young added 14 points of her own as the final guard to reach double-figure points. She was one of three players with at least five assists tallied in the win. She led the way with seven dimes as part of the team’s 20 helpers.

“We’re still creeping into the right place,” Wilson said. “I think it just comes with continuing to play alongside each other and getting used to each other. I think we’re starting to get our chemistry to form in a better way – in a good way.”

Wilson led the team in scoring with 24 points on 50% shooting from the floor coupled with a game-high 12 rebounds. She had her double-double secured a little more than midway through the third quarter.

Aces forwards A'ja Wilson (#22) and NaLyssa Smith (#3) acknowledge each other during the team's home win over the Dream. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Fellow frontcourt player NaLyssa Smith chipped in with 11 points on a very crisp 5-for-7 from the field.

Both Wilson and Smith were at the heart of a defensive effort that helped hold the Atlanta frontcourt tandem of Britney Griner and Brionna Jones to a combined 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting. At halftime, the pair had made two of its seven total field goal attempts.

“I tell them if they’re going to err, err on the side of aggression,” Hammon said. “I thought everyone was pretty locked in.”