Wilson returns as Aces defense stumps Fire on road

After losing two of three games without four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, the Las Vegas Aces got their star back and got back in the win column as a result.

Wilson’s return helped spark an, 88-80, win over the Portland Fire Thursday, July 9 from the Moda Center in the team’s second trip to the newest Northwest team. Prior to Wilson’s absence, the team had won 10 of its last 12 outings.

“It was really good for 38 minutes,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “Just inching closer to what it needs to look like for four quarters. We got a little loose there late in the fourth quarter.”

Las Vegas now has a 10-2 record on the road this year as the club improved to 16-6 on the season. The team sat a half game back of league-leading Minnesota while being a half game ahead of Golden State.

Two home games lie ahead for the Aces beginning with the third meeting of the season against the Phoenix Mercury. That game is set for Saturday, July 11 from the Michelob Ultra arena with tip-off set for 3 p.m.

Wilson cashed in on her first field goal attempt of the night and it was off to the races after that for the reigning league MVP. Soon after, she’d connect on a three-point play as part of her 10-point first quarter.

In the first half, Wilson tallied 20 points on her way to 32 points and 10 rebounds in the win. She now has seven 30-point games while having four 30-point and 10-rebound games on the year.

“I was just testing my ankle,” she said. “I felt like I was ready a couple of games ago but the medical staff said something different.”

Perhaps Wilson’s best effort came on the defensive end that helped Las Vegas hold Portland to a cold shooting start which saw the home team shoot less than 38% through most of the first half. Moreover, the Fire went 11-for-32 from three-point territory.

Despite the final shooting numbers, Portland opened the game with misses on its first five three-point attempts on the night. In totality, the team shot 3-of-15 from beyond the arc in the first half.

Additionally, the Aces forced their opponent into 17 turnovers.

“Defense has been something we’ve been focused on since the start of the year,” forward NaLyssa Smith said. “That’s our focus and we go out there and try to execute every chance we get.”

As a team, Las Vegas shot 51% from the floor including a 40% mark from three-point range. A fast shooting start that resulted in an early double-digit lead led to a fullcourt press defense by the home team.

Ultimately, the Aces led by 19 points in the eventual win.

“[Wilson] was ready to go,” Hammon said. “Once the first couple of ones start going in, she starts feeling really good [...] I actually thought she got hit quite a bit, she went to the line 13 times. It was a physical game down there with her.”

Guard Jackie Young cashed in on a three to give the team its largest lead of the night. She recorded a double-double with 19 points and a game-high 11 assists.

Both Young and teammate Chelsea Gray tallied at least seven assists apiece for the seventh time this season. In total, Las Vegas racked up 23 assists in the win.

“Jack’s going to have the ball a lot for us,” Hammon said. “We need the ball in her hands a lot. She was just making decisions tonight.”

Smith was the final Aces player in double-figures with 16 points on a very efficient 7-of-12 from the field.