August 15, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; The official WNBA Wilson Evo NXT basketball approaches the rim and internet at Crypto.com Area. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities Sabrina Ionescu scored 23 factors, Jonquel Jones had a double-double and the visiting New York Liberty used a fourth-quarter surge to beat the Las Vegas Aces 79-67 on Saturday The group turned the primary WNBA group to lock in a playoff spot this season.
Jones completed with 10 factors, 17 rebounds and 7 assists for New York, and Chelsea Grey’s three-pointer helped Las Vegas pull inside 67-63 with 6:24 left within the fourth quarter. Chasing to 67-63, New York scored 12 factors in a row.
Grey scored 13 factors for the Aces (16-9), and A’ja Wilson had 24 factors and 11 rebounds.
Breanna Stewart added 18 factors and 7 rebounds for league-leading Liberty (23-4), which received its sixth straight sport.
After Grey’s three-pointer introduced Las Vegas inside 4 factors, Leonid Fibic hit a three-pointer from the highest of the important thing to place New York forward 70-63.
Ionescu made two free throws, and Jones discovered Kayla Thornton in the suitable nook for a three-pointer, making the rating 75-63 with 4:46 left within the sport.
Stewart’s 12-footer at 2:56 capped a 12-0 run and gave Liberty a 79-63 cushion.
New York shot 40.5% to 36.9% and rebounded 46-30.
Las Vegas seemed rejuvenated from the beginning of its first sport since July 16. Scored the primary 5 three-pointers to guide 25-15.
Kelsey Plum’s conventional 3-pointer put the Aces up 28-17 with 2:13 left within the first quarter. New York shortly suppressed and tied Ionescu, who led all scorers with 17 factors within the first half.
Ionescu went on a 13-0 run within the first and second quarters, hitting a 16-footer and two 3-pointers to offer Liberty a 30-28 lead. New York held Las Vegas to eight factors within the second quarter and led 42-36 at halftime.
The Aces held on within the third quarter, making it 50-47 on Alysha Clark’s 3-pointer with 3:52 left. This was Las Vegas’ first three-pointer since 2:43 of the primary quarter.
Kennedy Burke hit a three-pointer and Ionescu hit a floater to finish the third inning, giving Liberty a 59-51 lead.
–Scene-level media
