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By Cassandra Cousineau of LVSportsBiz.com
The Las Vegas Aces forced a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Phoenix Mercury with a decisive 93-76 win over Phoenix Wednesday.
With the series deadlocked at two games apiece, Friday’s Las Vegas vs Phoenix showdown at the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay will determine the team that plays the Chicago Sky in the WNBA Finals.
With the Aces facing elimination, the Aces turned up the intensity and clawed their way back into the series. Aces coach Bill Laimbeer issued his consistent lukewarm praise. “‘That’s how we play basketball.”
When asked how he’s processing the team’s win, Laimbeer added, “It’s 2-2. What it’s supposed to be.”
The Aces outscored Phoenix, 29-11, in the third quarter en route to the clutch win over a Phoenix team that was trying to reach the finals behind stars Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi. The Aces’ 24-0 run in the third quarter was second-longest scoring run in WNBA postseason history. The only one longer was 26 straight points by Atlanta in a Round 1 game on August 27, 2010 against Washington.
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The game started off with the Aces down, 8-0. They worked their way back and only trailed by five in the first quarter.
Quiet for most of the series, Aces’ forward A’ja Wilson made a statement early and earned a double-double by game’s end, with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
“When I’m aggressive we look like a different team,” Wilson said.
Phoenix dominated Games 2 and 3. In fact, Las Vegas did not have a lead over the Mercury since Game 1. That changed with Wilson putting them up, 35-34, in the second quarter. The Aces never looked back.
Throughout these WNBA Semis, Laimbeer told his team, “It’s a 200-minute season.”
The WNBA’s number two-seeded team found itself in a hole heading into Game 4 tonight.
Aces floor general Chelsea Gray had a big game for Las Vegas, dropping 22 points on Phoenix. Gray was 4 for 7 from three-point land.
Tonight’s Game 4 had the feeling of Game 1. It also almost mirrored the Aces’ guards pouring in 68 of the team’s 96 points in that opening series win.
Wednesday, Aces’ off-the-bench ignitor, Kelsey Plum contributed 20 points. “There’s a level of focus you have to play with when you hit the playoffs. We were just lacking that,” Plum said. “I’m just looking forward to getting back out there. You don’t get these opportunities all the time. You have to take them when they come.”
The Aces’ guard trio of Gray (22 points), Plum (20) and Riquna Williams (17) combined to score 59 points
Center Liz Cambage is still playing limited minutes and was in foul trouble early. She finished with nine points, three assists, and four rebounds. The elite center also sank her third three in this series. Void of three-point buckets in Games 2 and 3, Las Vegas shot 50 percent from beyond the arc.
The Aces entered the game with a “We’ve been here before mentality,” having lost their first and third games of the 2020 Best-of-5 Semis before defeating the Connecticut Sun. (The Sun was eliminated by Chicago in four games today.)
“This was a win-or-go home moment and we just had to play till the end,” said Gray, who was both relieved and focused after the victory.
Phoenix were missing the production of several key role players. Namely, Kia Nurse, who left the game just a minute into the game.
Las Vegas was 24-8 in regular season, while Phoenix was 19-13. Friday’s game in Las Vegas will be the biggest game of the year for both squads.