All for one and one for all as the Las Vegas Aces celebrate their win over the Atlanta Dream and move into the post season clinching at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Tue Aug 1, 2023 (@LVAces photo)

Aces Blister Atlanta 93-72

By Barbara Mason

Tuesday evening the Las Vegas Aces (24-2) took on the Atlanta Dream (14-12) at Michelob ULTRA Arena. Las Vegas has been having another “dream” season. There are only 15 games left in the regular season and the Aces have their sights set on another post season run that will hopefully end with a second title. That dream continued with the Aces 93-72, 21 point win over the Dream.

The Dream challenged Las Vegas in the first quarter. Atlanta led for the first three minutes of the game coming out strong in the opening minutes. The Aces turned the slow start around tying up the game 8-8 at 7:08. The two teams remained close for the remainder of the quarter. Las Vegas took a five point lead in the final minute of play and led after one quarter 25-22.

The Aces began to pull a bit of a lead winning the second quarter 29-21 and leading at the half 54-43. Las Vegas has been a second half team all season. The second half is when they typically pull out all the stops and they would need that against this feisty Atlanta team that refused to back down.

The Dream won the third quarter 16-15 but still trailed 69-59. Atlanta kept plugging away and a minute into the fourth quarter, the Aces lead had been cut to seven points 69-62. Las Vegas turned that around in record time taking a 75-62 lead.

As the fourth quarter wore on, the Aces got this game under control leading 80-62 with four minutes left in the game. The Dream called a timeout when this game began to go south but there was no stopping Las Vegas. This game had turned into a real nightmare for the Dream. The final was 93-72.

Las Vegas powered their way through the fourth quarter. Jackie Young finished the game with 24 points and A’Ja Wilson had 20 points and 11 rebounds. The high for the Dream was Cheyenne Parker with 19 points.

The Aces will take on a tough team in the New York Liberty next Sunday. Tipoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM.