Las Vegas Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer gives the thumbs up sign coaching against the Washington Mystics at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on Tue Aug 17, 2021 (photo from the Las Vegas Review Journal)

Aces Handle the Mystics 93-83

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday night the Las Vegas Aces took on the Washington Mystics a second time after winning an amazing game against them on Sunday The Aces had to fight and claw their way back into that game and so tonight’s game was expected to be another marathon.

The Aces won Sunday’s game by a single point 84-83. Las Vegas had a slow start in that game that put them completely behind the eight ball and set up a near loss for the team.

Tonight the Aces came out of the gate and had the lead after one quarter 23-21. Although the Mystics played Las Vegas tough in the quarter they could not get on top of them.

Washinton really turned things around in the second quarter. At the half the Mystics had taken the lead 49-41. The Mystics were taking charge in this game, at least in the first half. They would have to keep the pressure on in the second half of this game which had all the makings of another nail biter.

In the third quarter the Aces got back on top and going into the fourth quarter they had taken a slim lead 69-67. This game could not have been any more competitive between two seemingly equal opponents.

It was the fourth quarter that sealed the deal for the Las Vegas Aces. They outscored the Mystics 24-16 and cruised to a 93-83 win.

We saw a determined Las Vegas in this game. They refused to entertain another one point game. Four of the Aces starters shot in double digits. A’ja Wilson had 19 points, Liz Cambage shot 15 along with 13 from Chelsea Grey and 10 from Riquna Williams. The team got an amazing 24 points from Kelsey Plum off the bench.

The Aces now have a 17-6 record and sit at the top of the league with the Storm still to play tomorrow. Next up for the team will be the Connecticut Sun. Tipoff is schedule for Tuesday August 24 at 4:00 PM