Without MVP Wilson, Las Vegas stumbles in Washington

Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray shoots over several defenders during the team's two-point loss to Washington. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Las Vegas has played three games this season against Washington and two of those games have been decided by three points or less.

Most recently, the Aces fell on the road to the Mystics, 70-68, Thursday, July 10 from the EagleBank Arena. Of the three games played against Washington this year, Las Vegas has dropped two.

“In the third quarter, I thought we didn’t come out and set the right tone,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “The third quarter was kind of where we lost momentum.”

The loss drops the Aces to 9-11 on the year after entering Thursday in a three-way tie for the seventh spot in the WNBA’s standings. Thursday also marked the end of a five-game road trip for the team where it dropped three of those contests.

“Tonight, I thought we played a good first half,” Hammon said. “We just have to put together a full 40 [minutes]. You could feel the wheels start to come off like I said, midway through that third quarter.”

Additionally, Las Vegas played without three-time MVP A’ja Wilson for the fifth time this season. This time around, she’s missing time with a sprained right wrist after being ruled out for four games earlier this year with a concussion.

Aces guard Jewell Loyd attempts a corner three-pointer as Mystics center Shakira Austin closes out. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

In the games played without Wilson, her Aces are 2-3. Las Vegas returns home Saturday, July 12 with a 1 p.m. matchup against Golden State.

“We talk about it all the time,” guard Jewell Loyd said. “All we can do is come back and work. That’s all we know, continue to build our habits. I think our energy, honestly, has been really good. Our vibe as teammates and [as] friends has been really good, now it’s just breaking down the game.”

Washington ended the game on a 12-2 run to come back from double-digits and take the victory from Las Vegas. The home team took the lead with 39.1 left in regulation for its first lead since 15-13 in the first quarter.

“We didn’t get stops when we needed to do that,” guard Chelsea Gray said. “Really the second half, they beat us in the second half – the third and the fourth quarter.”

Inside the last 33 seconds of regulation, the Aces missed three shots inside of two feet including two heavily-contested layups by guard Jackie Young. The team also committed a turnover off an offensive rebound during that stretch as well.

Las Vegas guard Jackie Young goes up for a layup in the final seconds inside EagleBank Arena against Washington. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

Earlier in the second half, Las Vegas led by as many as 15 points before enduring a -8 third quarter ahead of that completed collapse to end regulation.

“I didn’t have enough challenges tonight,” Hammon said. “I thought the officiating was awful. Jackie Young got fouled at 33 seconds on that layup. No call [...] I would’ve challenged seven more calls. And won them. I have no idea what that was.

“Our defense was probably similarly awful though.”

Loyd led the team in scoring in Wilson’s absence with 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting. It’s just her third 20-point game since joining the Aces in the offseason.

Aces guard Dana Evans floats in the air for two points in the team's loss to the Mystics. Photo Credit: Las Vegas Aces

She accounted for both of the team’s first two made three-pointers on the night after the team opened the game with 14 straight misses from downtown. By the final buzzer, the group shot 3-of-25 from three-point range.

With those two made threes, Loyd moved into 10th place all-time on the made three-pointers list.

“I think we missed 17 layups,” Hammon said. “And that’s not even counting the wide-open threes, I mean we shot really poorly. That happens sometimes but I thought our defense gave us a chance.”

Gray added 13 points on 60% shooting to go along with seven rebounds. The aforementioned Young chipped in with 10 points coupled with seven rebounds as well.

Backup guard Dana Evans recorded 11 points on 4-of-7 from the field in 22-plus minutes. Her effort was part of a 19-point effort by Hammon’s bench.

“We’re just going to keep giving her more time,” Hammon said. “I think she’s played great, I thought she played well tonight. This team is so big, it got to be a bit problematic on the defensive end.”

Forward Megan Gustafson made her season debut after missing the first 19 games of the season with a lower left leg injury. She tallied four points and four rebounds in her return to the court.

In her third straight start, recently-acquired NaLyssa Smith fouled out in just 24 minutes after posting six points and four rebounds.