Balanced scoring results in a pair of double-doubles in Las Vegas win

Future Hall-of-Famers Nneka Ogwumike (#30) and A'ja Wilson (#22) share a laugh after Las Vegas' regular season home finale. Photo Credit: Flash Gordon/Talk that Talk

In its regular season home finale, Las Vegas put a bow on the last four months with a vintage performance highlighted by balanced scoring and its defensive effort.

Serving as the backdrop as the final road game in the Hall-of-Fame career of Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, the Aces beat LA, 89-79, Tuesday, Sept. 23 from Michelob Ultra Arena. That wraps up the regular season home slate for the defending champions where they went 15-7 in front of their fans this year.

“Vegas is fun to play in because the fans show out every night and it’s awesome,” forward Stephanie Talbot. “Not only do I get to play with some of the greatest players in the world but we have some of the greatest fans so it’s always fun.”

With the victory, Las Vegas (30-13) is now locked into a top-three spot in this year’s WNBA Playoffs. It is now two games behind Minnesota (32-11) in the top spot and a game behind Golden State (31-12) for the second spot with only one game remaining.

The Aces will put their five-game win streak on the line in a regular season finale against the Phoenix Mercury in Arizona Thursday, Sept. 24. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

“I think we made some improvements on both sides of the floor,” guard Chelsea Gray said. “I think there’s moments where we can get better and get more consistent but it’s go time so everybody is about to be locked in. We’ve been locked in about it but it goes up another level.”

Aces forward A'ja Wilson blocks Sparks guard Rae Burrell during the team's home win inside Michelob Ultra Arena. Photo Credit: Flash Gordon/Talk that Talk

Four different Aces scored at least 14 points in the winning effort with five players attempting eight shots from the field or more. Former No. 1 overall draft picks A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young both recorded double-doubles in the victory.

Wilson closed the night with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks. Los Angeles went 1-for-12 when Wilson was the closest contesting defender to the shot attempt.

Young added 14 points and 11 assists in a game-high 34 minutes. All 11 of those assists came in the first quarters of the game.

“Teams have thrown a lot of different coverages at her this year,” Hammon said. “And she’s just kind of figured it out. They push or they’re up to touch or they’re blitzing or they’re going under on the re-pick putting her in some “get” actions.

“She’s just been really good at taking what – the defense is always going to give up something and it’s her job to read what that is.”

Gray and Talbot each poured in 17 points and 14 points respectively. Both were members of their national teams during the recent FIBA World Cup with the former winning gold with the United States and the latter averaging nearly 14 points per game and nine rebounds a contest for Australia.

Las Vegas forward Stephanie Talbot goes up for a layup during the team's win over Los Angeles. Photo Credit: Flash Gordon/Talk that Talk

“I think I found a little bit of confidence over there,” Talbot said. “The way I play and the people I’m familiar playing with and [finding] more confidence in my shot and just trying to bring that back here as we try and make our run for the playoffs.”

Las Vegas went up double-digits in the first quarter on a 15-0 run before closing the opening frame on a 22-6 spurt. Reserve center Cheyenne Parker-Tyus beat the buzzer by a hair to put the team up by its largest lead to that point at 13 points.

“We came out of the gates early and we put our foot down defensively,” Talbot said. “I think we had a little bit of slippage in the second quarter and in the fourth, they scored way too many points.”

In the second quarter, the Aces went up by 18 points which would eventually be their largest lead of the game. The Sparks went on a +12 run after going down by those 18 points.

Las Vegas had some success from deep late in the third quarter that put the game out of reach again on the heels of three consecutive made longballs. Before the final buzzer, the team made 11 of its 28 three-point attempts.

“I actually thought the game was kind of clunky,” Hammon said. “There was not a ton of flow to it. I thought the ball moved pretty decently. Defensively, I would’ve liked for us to be locked in a little more.”

Los Angeles made another run in the fourth quarter and would trim the deficit to single-digits just before the end of regulation. The aforementioned Ogwumike led her Sparks with 17 points and nine rebounds.