Aces prevail after trading late daggers with Storm

SEATTLE — After buying and selling pictures with the host Seattle Storm within the last seconds of an instantaneous traditional, the Las Vegas Aces made the ultimate basket after which pulled away in time beyond regulation to win an exciting Recreation 3 110-98 on Sunday and take a 2-1 lead within the groups’ best-of-five semifinal sequence.

“This was a hell of a recreation,” Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon mentioned. “I do not know if I’ve ever been part of one thing like that — the back-and-forth and the battle. … Huge shot after massive shot from either side, actually.”

With 11.3 seconds remaining, Seattle had opened up a four-point lead after Jewell Loyd made a pair of free throws. The Aces answered virtually instantly with a 3-pointer from Riquna Williams and had an opportunity to go forward after Tina Charles missed two free throws on the Storm’s subsequent possession.

A’ja Wilson took full benefit with a spinning basket within the paint that gave Las Vegas a 90-89 benefit with 2.9 seconds remaining. Now it was Seattle’s time to reply with Sue Hen, enjoying her last season after saying her retirement, making what appeared just like the game-winning 3-pointer from the nook inside the ultimate second of play.

As a substitute, the Aces compelled time beyond regulation with Jackie Younger scoring on the buzzer.

“I believe that this was in all probability the sport the place there have been so many back-and-forths — oh they will win it, oh no they will win it, now we will time beyond regulation,” Las Vegas guard Chelsea Grey mentioned. “That is what playoff basketball is all about. It felt fairly good.”

Based on the Elias Sports activities Bureau, there had by no means earlier than been a case of WNBA groups making three go-ahead or game-tying pictures within the last three seconds of regulation throughout a playoff recreation. It hasn’t occurred in an NBA playoff recreation in at the very least the previous 25 postseasons.

The stunning end to the fourth quarter satisfied the Aces they’d the sting getting into the additional session, one thing Storm gamers and coaches conceded in all probability had an impact.

“We mentioned within the huddle that the momentum is on our aspect proper now,” Grey mentioned. “That was deflating to the house crew that we have got to enter time beyond regulation. We got here out locked in for these 5 minutes.”

No one was extra locked in than Grey, who outscored Seattle 8-6 all by herself in time beyond regulation. The Aces’ 18 factors had been essentially the most ever in a playoff OT.

Each Grey (29 factors) and Wilson (34) recorded new profession highs for playoff scoring — Wilson surpassing her 33 factors in Recreation 2 of the sequence on Wednesday. Their 63 mixed factors had been the second most by WNBA teammates in a playoff recreation, trailing the 65 totaled by Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd in opposition to Las Vegas in Recreation 1 of the 2020 WNBA Finals.

Including in Grey’s 12 assists, she was chargeable for creating 59 of the Aces’ 110 factors, in accordance with ESPN Stats & Data analysis. Wilson, who performed all 45 minutes, contributed 11 rebounds for her second consecutive 30-10 playoff recreation, tying Candace Parker for essentially the most in WNBA postseason historical past.

Whereas Las Vegas moved a win away from returning to the WNBA Finals for the second time in three years, the Storm had been left lamenting missed alternatives.

“We had been up 4 with not plenty of time left and that is actually to me [was] the place we misplaced the sport,” Hen mentioned. “Letting them take the lead — they in all probability scored 5 factors in three seconds? That, to me, is the place we actually let this one go. I perceive the final performs are going to stay out as a result of they’re dramatic and thrilling and I am certain it was nice TV, however we had been up 4.”

“We had the sport, and we gave it to them,” echoed teammate Stewart.

Seattle completed the fourth quarter with a foul to provide and was unable to put it to use. Hen mentioned the crew mentioned probably fouling on the Aces’ last inbound play, which began with 0.8 seconds on the clock, however the move going on to Younger within the capturing movement made that unimaginable with out risking a three-point play that would have allowed Las Vegas to win in regulation.

“She made the basket,” Hen mentioned. “There wasn’t any magic that occurred.”

Storm coach Noelle Quinn additionally mentioned afterward that Wilson traveled on her go-ahead rating within the last seconds, which might have given Seattle the ball again with a one-point lead if referred to as.

It wasn’t, and the Aces ended up on high in a recreation memorable for each the dramatic final result and the caliber of play.

“That was simply actually high-level basketball,” Hammon mentioned. “Either side.”