Aces 83-76 Storm (September 24, 2024) Match Summary

LAS VEGAS – Kelsey Plum scored 29 points, A'ja Wilson had 24 points and 13 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Seattle Storm 83-76 on Tuesday night to advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs for the sixth consecutive year.

Las Vegas, which has won 11 straight home games in the playoffs, won the best-of-three series and has a rematch of the 2023 WNBA Finals against the top-seeded New York team starting Sunday. The Aces are looking to become the first team to win three straight titles since Houston won four in a row in the league's first four seasons from 1997-2000.

Wilson set a WNBA record by scoring 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds in 13 career playoff games, passing Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker. The WNBA MVP, who missed her first six shots in Game 1, made 5-of-7 shots in the first quarter and finished 9-of-17.

After Seattle took the lead for the first time with 7:58 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Aces scored the next seven points on a fast break layup by Jackie Young to secure a 71-65 lead.

The Storm had a chance to get within 78-74 with 2:22 minutes left, but Ezi Magbegor missed both free throws. Chelsea Gray responded on the other side with a jump shot from the free throw line to extend the lead to eight points. Tiffany Hayes sealed the deal with a layup in the scrum with 46 seconds left.

Gray had 12 points and nine assists for Las Vegas. Plum, who scored just two points in Game 1, made 11 of 15 field goals.

Gabby Williams scored 20 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Seattle. Magbegor, who missed Game 1 due to a concussion, added 14 points, Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 13 and Jewell Loyd was held to 9 points on 3 of 11 shooting. Seattle hit 6 of 12 three-pointers in the first half and finished 8 of 23.

Las Vegas hit nine straight shots in the first quarter to build an early double-digit lead. Wilson completed a three-point play and Gray sank a three-pointer on the next possession, giving Las Vegas a 15-4 run to open the game. Plum and Gray each hit three-pointers on back-to-back possessions to extend the lead to 23-7.

Wilson, Plum and Gray combined to score all 28 of Las Vegas' points in the first quarter.

Seattle went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter to pull within 39-38 while Las Vegas went more than four minutes without a field goal. But the Aces ended the half on a 6-0 run, capped by Wilson's two free throws with 2.8 seconds left.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball