A’ja Wilson Leads Red-hot Las Vegas Aces Past Phoenix Mercury For Ninth Straight

A’ja Wilson scored 19 points pinch 13 rebounds arsenic nan Las Vegas Aces extended their season-best winning streak to 9 games pinch an 83-61 triumph complete nan visiting Phoenix Mercury connected Thursday.

Dana Evans scored 17 points, while Jackie Young, NaLyssa Smith and Chelsea Gray each scored 12 arsenic nan Aces (23-14) moved past some nan Mercury and nan New York Liberty into 3rd spot successful nan wide WNBA standings pinch 7 games remaining successful nan regular season.

Wilson, nan reigning convention MVP, delivered her 18th double-double of nan play and her seventh during nan winning streak.

Las Vegas won nan play bid 3-1 complete Phoenix.

Alyssa Thomas scored 17 points and Satou Sabally added 15 arsenic nan Mercury (21-14) mislaid to nan Aces for nan 2nd clip successful nan past 4 games. Natasha Mack had 10 rebounds arsenic nan Mercury had a 43-37 advantage connected nan boards.

Phoenix defender Kahleah Copper was held to six points connected 2-of-8 shooting and departed for bully pinch 6:24 remaining successful nan 3rd 4th aft sustaining a near broadside wounded while fighting done a surface by Wilson.

The Aces took complaint early and cruised to nan triumph late, getting disconnected to a beardown commencement pinch a 23-17 lead aft 1 quarter. They took nan lead for bully connected a 3-pointer from Kierstan Bell pinch 1:44 remaining successful nan opening quarter.

Las Vegas led by arsenic galore arsenic 15 points successful nan 2nd 4th and led 43-29 astatine halftime by holding Phoenix to 28.9 percent shooting from nan level complete nan opening 2 quarters.

The Mercury pulled wrong 9 points aggregate times successful nan 3rd 4th earlier nan Aces took a 59-46 lead into nan last period. Last Vegas cruised to nan triumph from location by holding Phoenix to 31 percent shooting and a play debased successful points.

The Mercury’s 61 points were nan 2nd fewest by an Aces force this season.