Dual 30-point performances by Young, Wilson lifts Las Vegas past Golden State

Las Vegas guards Chelsea Gray (#12) and Jackie Young (#0) acknowledge each other during the team's two-point win over Golden State. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Off a disappointing road trip to fall to 4-7 on the road, the Las Vegas Aces returned home with an explosive offensive performance they’ve been waiting all season long for.

On Alumni Day, Las Vegas outlasted Golden State, 104-102, Saturday, July 12 from the Michelob Ultra Arena. Entering play, the club has lost back-to-back games and four of its last six.

“Well, we were able to close tonight,” guard Jackie Young said. “Making good decisions down the stretch and just being smart with the ball.”

From two games under .500 to one game below now has the Aces with an overall record of 10-11 this season. In this newly-extended WNBA season, the club has hovered between the seventh and ninth spots in the league’s standings.

The home cookin’ was short-lived as Las Vegas will head to Dallas for a date with the Wings Wednesday, July 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.

After missing a couple of point blank layups in the team’s last loss, Young more than made up for her last outing with a fantastic finish in this latest win. After the game was tied at 94 apiece, she scored the final 10 Las Vegas points en route to the win.

“[Head coach Becky Hammon] just trusts us to have the ball in my hands,” Young said. “So I try to make the right reads, make the right decisions, get downhill, drive-and-kick. Whatever it looks like and at the end of the game, they were fouling so just being able to get up there and knock down free throws.”

Young finished with 30 points on 9-of-14 from the floor to go along with six assists that shared for the team-high. Twenty-three of her 30 points came in the second half including 13 in the third quarter.

“I actually didn’t even know I was close to that,” Young said. “But it’s cool to be able to look back and see all that I’ve accomplished and just see how far I’ve come since my rookie year and my first three years in the league.”

Aces forward A'ja Wilson sprints down the court after missing a game due to a right wrist sprain. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Ultimately, both teams shot over 50% from the field as both clubs tallied respective season-high point totals.

Forward A’ja Wilson returned to action after missing a game with a right wrist sprain. She came out on fire to the tune of seven points on 3-of-5 shooting at the first stoppage in play on her way to 13 first quarter points.

Wilson recorded 25 of her game-high 34 points in the first half coupled with 16 rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. It’s her seventh double-double of the season and her first since June 29.

“I’ve got to credit our medical staff,” she said. “It is very hard for me to sit out games, it’s very hard for me to follow directions sometimes because I want to be out there for my team.”

Guard Jewell Loyd scored all 15 of her points in the second half of the team’s win, finishing with double-figures points for a third straight game.