News

Aces Score Just Enough to Take W.N.B.A. Finals Lead


LAS VEGAS – The WNBA Finals have many intriguing storylines: two franchises, and two coaches looking for their first title; a strong offensive behavior with a stingy defense.

But those storylines faded into the Sunday afternoon background, and it quickly became A’ja Wilson’s day as she led the Las Vegas Aces to a 67-64 win over the Connecticut Sun in game 1.

Before the game, Wilson received this year’s Player of the Year Award at half-way with her family and league commissioner by her side. The MVP title is the second of her career, making her the seventh player in the WNBA’s 26 seasons to win the award more than once. When the public address announcer called out the names of those who started the Aces, Wilson ran outside, teammates punching high amid the loudest roars for any player.

Then, when the game started, she made it to the basket with ease, missing just one shot on her way to 12 first quarter points. The Aces finished the first half with eight points, then dominated throughout the game by Wilson’s dominant play. She caught up with 24 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals. Game 2 of the best series is scheduled for Tuesday in Las Vegas.

“She can finally score,” Sun Center’s Jonquel Jones said of Wilson, with a laugh. “She can score goals at different levels. I think it’s a tough challenge. She is hitting the belt really hard right now. So it was very difficult.”

Chelsea keeper Gray added 21 points, and Alyssa Thomas led The Sun with a brace of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Las Vegas’ victory came on one of the worst offensive nights of the year, with the team’s lowest overall score in both the regular season and the knockout stages. And the Aces’ keeper Kelsey Plum, who averaged 20.2 points per game in the regular season, struggled with just 6 when shooting 1/9.

“Credit to their defense, and credit to us for missing out,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said with a smile.

Despite the loss, coach Curt Miller and the Sun players were not as depressed as some teams after losing the WNBA final. Miller said he’s “really pleased” with how the Sun has specified a style of play they feel more comfortable with, forcing the league’s top-scoring team to struggle to find the basket. The Sun lost by a tight margin despite only shooting five free throws for the Aces ’19.

“In the end, I’m happy with the game we played,” Jones said, “and we gave ourselves a good chance to come out and win. And it didn’t go our way, but we’re excited for Game 2.”

But the Aces looked at the game from a similar angle. They kept Sun with their lowest point total in the playoffs and, even playing their worst offensive play of the season, they still won.

“We’re very proud of finishing it on the defensive side because that’s the most important aspect,” Wilson said. “They can keep us even though many people; We also have to keep them down. So if we can play on both sides of the basketball and play defensively, I’ve got us anyway. “

Two years ago, Wilson won her first MVP Award, leading the Aces to their first appearance in the final since moving to Las Vegas in 2018 and the franchise’s second overall. commercial rights. But Wilson and the Aces quickly looked like an unprepared team at the moment, as the Seattle Storm beat them by double digits in every game, including a 33-point win in Game 3 to claim the title. Championship 2020. Wilson says they’re “happy to be there” in 2020 but are now less overwhelmed by the glory of the final and more focused on basketball.

“We know that feeling,” Wilson said. “It sucks to get caught up in it. It’s the worst ever, but it’s the chip on your shoulder. That is fire. It’s what you mean, ‘I don’t want to get caught up in it anymore. I don’t even want a cleaning gentleman. ‘ You want to go out there and play for your teammates because of how you’ve felt in 2020, and you hate it.”

On Sunday, the Aces showed their evolution in the two years since the finals appeared. After the Aces’ strong first inning, the Sun reacted by slowing the game down and using their physicality and height to make scoring difficult. The Sun overtook Las Vegas in the second quarter, September 21, leading by four points after halftime.

Hammon was furious in the dressing room at half-time, “lighting up” more than she’s ever been this season, she said, because “everything we talk about, we don’t do anything wrong.” whatever.”

“I don’t even scream in my real life,” Hammon said, adding: “But when you’re out there and you don’t perform, it’s frustrating, but at the end of the day, they know it, OK . They’re smart, they get it. But they beat us in every hustle category. And that can’t happen. You can’t lose a championship or a game or a round in a hurry – that can never happen.”

Gray and Wilson began shaking their heads and laughing before they finished when asked to share what Hammon had said to the team.

“We can’t. It’s unedited. We have kids watching,” Gray said with a laugh, as Wilson laughed beside her, almost unable to control the shake of her head. above us to play defensively in our style. We let them get the counter-attack, score easily, get over the ball,” Gray added. “It was the edited version. I cannot give you everything”.

But the Aces have been in that position before in these playoffs. In their semi-final series win over the Seattle Storm, nearly every game featured dramatic twists and turns. Hammon said the Aces’ ability to “take a punch” in that series was remarkable.

And it showed Sunday as the Aces regained the lead in the second half and carried on, despite a furious protest from Connecticut. The Aces have found a way to beat the Sun in their own basketball style to get one step closer to their first title.

“We struggled a bit tonight, and we’ll play better in game 2,” Hammon said. “I knew what we were going to do. My head was spinning “.



Source link

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button