POSTGAME
The Las Vegas Aces officially embark on the road to a three-peat after beating the Dallas Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena 98-84 to wrap up regular season play.
“We’re deep,” Aces Center Megan Gustafson said. “That’s really important especially going into playoffs, you never know what is going to happen especially if there’s foul trouble or whatever it is, we have to be ready and this game showed we can all play together no matter who’s on the floor.”
In the first half, four Aces put up double digit figures with Tiffany Hayes and Megan Gustafson scoring 11 points as well as Alysha Clark and Sydney Colson scoring 10 points giving Vegas a 60-45 lead at halftime.
The Aces kept their lead all the way through the second half with Gustafson leading the night scoring a career high of 24 points and Hayes finishing with 21 points.
Playoffs up next: the Aces host the Seattle Storm in the first round on Sunday.
“I expect nothing but a dog fight,” Aces head coach Becky Hammon said. “If we don’t take care of a few actions and a few peronnel things, they can beat you and they can put a lot of points on the board fast, as usual the name of the game is going to be defense and rebounding.”
Tip off between Vegas and Seattle is at 7 p.m. at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
LIVE UPDATES
4th QUARTER
FINAL: 98-84 Aces win
3rd QUARTER
0:00 - Hayes with the pullup jump shot at one second left to put the Aces up 20, 88-68 Aces
5:45 - Kiah Stokes hits the triple, 69-56 Aces
2nd QUARTER
0:00 - 60-45 Aces
2:29 - Kierstan Bell with the three, 57-42 Aces
6:38 - Megan Gustafson with the jumper, 46-34 Aces
7:56 - Sydney Colson sinks the bucket, 42-30 Aces
8:23 - Clark with the triple, 39-30 Aces
1st QUARTER
0:00 - Game is tied at 30-30
4:09 - Alysha Clark lays it up and in, 20-14 Aces
4:50 - Tiffany Hayes with the three, 18-14 Aces
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Though the Las Vegas Aces had ups and downs this regular season, the two-time world champions go into their final game prior to playoffs as the four-seed.
The Aces host the Dallas on Thursday for their last matchup before starting postseason play on Sunday at home with their bench being the starters against the Wings.
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A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray will all not play as they rest for the first round of playoffs, giving players including Tiffany Hayes and Kate Martin valuable time on the court.
Vegas has a chance to become the three-seed if they beat Dallas and if the Connecticut Sun defeat the Chicago Sky. However, the Aces aren’t worried about becoming a higher seed or home court advantage.
“No matter the number of the seeding, we have to start playing our best basketball at the right time,” Aces center A’ja Wilson said. "I think we’re slowly starting to get there, I think we’re starting to find our identity on the defensive end which is allowing us to translate over on the offensive end.”
The Aces and the Wings tip off at 7 p.m. at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
