Author: psushawn
Aces rebound with win over Phoenix, 85-79
By Shawn McCullough
The Aces bounced backed from a home loss to Los Angeles with an 85-79 win over the Mercury in Phoenix.
“Overall, it was a very solid team effort,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “A good win all the way around.”
Guard Jackie Young had a career high 27 points, going 10 for 15 from the field.
“I am glad that Jackie had a good day,” said Laimbeer. “She came back today with a vengeance with a career high for her.”
“She is consistent and she is getting better and better every game,” said forward A’ja Wilson about Young.
Wilson added 16 points along with nine rebounds, while Chelsea Gray scored 15.
“We just executed,” said Wilson. “We understood that this would be a dogfight.”
With the win, the Aces improved to 3-2 on the season heading into their next game on Friday at home against the Indiana Fever.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 44% from the field.
- Las Vegas pulled down 11 offensive rebounds.
- The Aces got only eight points off the bench.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
Aces rally late, come up short to Sun, 72-65
By Shawn McCullough
After a strong performance on Friday against Los Angeles, the Aces came out flat and lost to the Connecticut Sun, 72-65, at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.
“We had players that didn’t get on track,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “Our energy level just wasn’t there.”
“We lacked energy and some lacked effort too,” said A’ja Wilson.
The Aces shot just 21.4% from the field in the first quarter, scoring just eight points.
Las Vegas also wasn’t able to take care of the ball, committing 14 turnovers.
“Some of our turnovers, they were just throwing the ball away,” said Laimbeer.
A’ja Wilson led the Aces with 14 points, while Chelsea Gray added 13.
“I’m human, I am going to miss shots,” said Wilson after shooting 4 for 13 from the field. “I just need to produce in other ways.”
With the loss, the Aces fell to 2-2 on the season and will next play the Mercury in Phoenix on Wednesday, before returning back home on Friday to face the Indiana Fever.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot just 40.7% from the field.
- Las Vegas was out-rebounded by the Sun, 44-26.
- Forward Jackie Young was just 2 for 9 from the field for four points.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
Aces roll over Sparks, 97-69
By Shawn McCullough
The Aces played their first game of the season in Las Vegas, beating the Los Angeles Sparks 97-69 at Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.
Las Vegas got balance scoring from its starting lineup with five players in double digits, led by former Sparks guard Chelsea Gray with 18 points.
“Once we got on a court, it’s team against team,” said Gray. “As a competitor, you want to win against the team that you left.”
Center Liz Cambage record a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Dearica Hamby each added 17 points.
“That’s who we are,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer on the team’s balance scoring. “We have so many weapons offensively. You can’t set your defense for any one player.”
In her third season in the WNBA, Jackie Young continues to improve her game.
“I am just trying to do whatever I can to help my team win,” said Young.
In the first three games of the season, A’ja Wilson is averaging 19.7 points per game.
“Three games in, I am please of where we are so far, but we still have a long ways to go,” said Wilson.
With the win, the Aces improved to 2-1 on the season heading into their next game on Sunday against the Connecticut Sun at Mandalay Bay.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 53.2% from the field, while holding Los Angeles to just 36.5%.
- Las Vegas out-rebounded the Sparks 44-28.
- Guard Kelsey Plum missed her first of likely six games while away playing for USA Basketball’s 3 on 3 team.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
Aces win first game, 96-80, over the Storm
By Shawn McCullough
The Las Vegas Aces got their first win of the 2021 season in a 96-80 win over the Storm in Seattle.
The Aces fell in the season opener against the Storm on Saturday, but came out much more focused in the second game.
“Every game, the last thing that I put on the board is ‘have fun’,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer. “The last game wasn’t fun for us, but today it was clear that they came from the start and was engaged mentally.”
Jackie Young led the Aces with 21 points and 10 rebounds, with both A’ja Wilson and Liz Cambage adding 18.
“I really just tried to go out there and be aggressive,” said Young. “I am just trying to go out there and help my team win.”
“Jackie [Young] just showed a little glimpse of what she can do,” said forward Riquna Williams. “It is just the beginning.”
The Aces starters accounted for 78 of the 96 total points with only 18 points coming off the bench.
With the win, the Aces improved to 1-1 on the season heading into their next game on Friday at home in Las Vegas against the Los Angeles Sparks.
“It will be good to see some people who I spent some great years there with,” said Chelsea Gray on facing her former team on Friday.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 53.6% from the field and went 6 for 15 from three-point range.
- A’ja Wilson, Liz Cambage and Jackie Young combined for 29 rebounds.
- The Aces snapped a four game losing streak to the Storm.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
Aces fall to Storm in opener, 97-83
By Shawn McCullough
The new look Las Vegas Aces lost their season opener to the defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm, 97-83, in Seattle, WA.
“It was a good first game for us to get our feet wet, but this is one that we know is a learning experience,” said head coach Bill Laimbeer.
The Aces had just one starter, A’ja Wilson, who was in the starting lineup last season.
“We have been playing with each other for maybe a week,” said Wilson. “It’s just team chemistry. We need to come together.”
Wilson finished the game with 24 points and five rebounds.
After sitting out the 2020 season, center Liz Cambage returned to the Aces and added 16 points.
“I had a lot of jitters tonight and I came out a bit nervous,” said Cambage. “I want to do my best for this team.”
Former Los Angeles guard Chelsea Gray made her Aces debut, scoring seven points.
Guard Jackie Young moved into a starting role this season going 6 for 15 from the field for 12 points.
With the loss to Seattle, the Aces have now lost four straight games to the Storm dating back to last season’s WNBA Finals.
Las Vegas will next have a rematch with the Storm in Seattle on Tuesday night.
Las Vegas Aces – http://aces.wnba.com
Game Notes:
- The Aces shot 43.8% from the field and went 3 for 12 from three point range.
- Las Vegas turned the ball over just six times.
- The Aces scored just 14 points in the second quarter.
Game Starters:
F – 22 A’ja Wilson
F – 3 Riquna Williams
C – 8 Liz Cambage
G – 0 Jackie Young
G – 12 Chelsea Gray
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Raiders finish season with big win over Broncos, 32-31
Photo: Michael Clemens/Las Vegas Raiders
By Shawn McCullough
The Raiders needed a late touchdown drive and a two point conversion to beat the Broncos, 32-31, in Denver.
Down 31-24, Las Vegas drove 77 yards on seven plays ending in a one yard rushing touchdown by Josh Jacobs with 24 seconds left in the game.
Instead of kicking the extra point to likely send the game to overtime, the Raiders went for a two-point conversion as Derek Carr hit Darren Waller to win the game.
“When we get down there and score the touchdown by Josh, we knew what we were going to do,” said Carr. “You couldn’t draw it up any better.”
Carr finished the game throwing for 371 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Darren Waller and Bryan Edwards.
“I am just glad that we won the football game,” said head coach Jon Gruden. “But more than anything, I am really proud of our team. We battled our brains out as much as we could.”
With the win, the Raiders finished the season 8-8, their best season since going 12-4 in 2016.
“We may have not been perfect, we may not have won 10 games this year, we may not have been in the playoffs, but there is something about this group,” said Carr. “Just the kind of character is why I feel it’s different [this season] .”
“We wanted to finish the year the right way and just come out and play our best football,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs finished the game rushing 15 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
The Raiders finished the season 4-2 in the AFC West.
“We’re really a couple of plays away from winning every game in the division,” said Gruden. “So we made some progress, but we still have some long strides to make.”
Game Notes:
- The Raiders outgained the Broncos, 465-446.
- Darren Waller finished the game catching nine balls for 117 yards and a touchdown.
- After starting the season 6-3, the Raiders lost 5 of their last 7 games.
Raiders lose late, eliminated from playoffs by Dolphins, 26-25
Photo: Raiders.com
By Shawn McCullough
The Raiders slim playoff chances officially ended in a heartbreaking loss.
Miami Dolphins’ kicker Jason Sanders nailed a 44 yard field goal with six seconds left to beat the Raiders, 26-25, at Allegiant Stadium.
“Terrible way to lose a game,” said head coach Jon Gruden. “I really admire the way we compete, but until we start closing out games, we will continue to be disappointed.”
“To watch it go like that, I am sick for our organization, I am sick for our defense, I am sick for our team,” said quarterback Derek Carr. “My heart feels for them, my heart feels for our fans”.
Down 23-22, the Raiders purposely did not score a touchdown to milk as much time off the clock as possible and later kicked a 22 yard field goal with 23 seconds remaining to take the lead, 25-23.
The ensuing kickoff went into the end zone and the Dolphins got the ball at the 25 yard line still with 23 second remaining and no timeouts.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a long sideline pass to tight end Mack Hollins for 34 yards to the Raiders 41 yard line, but defensive end Arden Key was also flagged for a personal foul for hitting Fitzpatrick in the facemask which took the ball to the Raiders 26 yard line.
The Dolphins later kicked the game winner.
“It’s all about execution,” said linebacker Raekwon McMillan about that Dolphins final drive. “We can’t put ourselves in that situation. We have to finish strong.”
Carr threw for 336 yards and an 85 yard touchdown to wide receiver Nelson Agholor late in the 4th quarter. Agholor finished catching five balls for 155 yards and the touchdown.
With the loss, the Raiders fell to 7-8 on the season and are now officially eliminated from playoff contention.
“We just need to always remember that playing football is fun,” said tight end Darren Waller. “We have one more opportunity to do that”.
The Raiders will finish off the 2020 season on Sunday against the Broncos in Denver.
Game Notes:
- The Raiders outgained the Dolphins, 418-383.
- Tight end Darren Waller finished the game catching five balls for 112 yards.
- The Dolphins will clinch a playoff berth with a win on Sunday in Buffalo against the Bills.
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