LAS VEGAS — Up 2-0 in the semifinals, the New York Liberty were adamant they hadn’t accomplished anything of note. All the No. 1 seed in the postseason had done was win their home games, which was to be expected.
“We haven’t achieved anything yet,” Liberty coach Sandy Brondello said. “We achieved our goal of finishing No. 1, that was our number one, get home court advantage. Okay? Win at home, okay, we’ve done that. Now, go on the road and let’s win a game here.”
That didn’t happen for New York, which was blitzed in the third quarter, 21-6. What had been a back-and-forth affair, featuring a playoff-record 18 lead changes in the first half, turned into a rout, as the Las Vegas Aces held serve at home, winning 95-81.
This is the first time the Aces have beaten New York this season in six tries, and it came at the most opportune moment, as they extend their season for at least another contest.
Game 4 is on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Jackie Young led the way with 24 points and four assists, as five Aces finished the game in double figures. A’ja Wilson had a game-high 14 rebounds and Chelsea Gray added seven assists, including a couple of sublime passes to Wilson in the lane.
POINT. GOD. 😱
🎥 @WNBA | @cgray209 | @LVAces pic.twitter.com/oAHbGQZpoQ
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) October 5, 2024
Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon bemoaned her team’s paint defense in the opening two losses, repeatedly emphasizing how many layups the Aces conceded. As a result, Brondello and the Liberty expected Las Vegas to congest the paint. That came to fruition.
New York still created a healthy diet of 3-point looks and cashed them at a 41 percent clip, which could have been even higher had the Liberty converted a few more open shots. However, the road team struggled mightily inside the arc, making 14 of 38 2-point shots.
New York was still within striking distance, trailing by three at the half despite the difficulties in the paint. However, that fell apart in the third quarter.
The Liberty were down 56-53 when the Aces reeled off a 16-0 run to break the game open. Las Vegas only scored on half of the next 12 possessions, but New York couldn’t get anything going, settling for contested midrangers, not boxing out, and failing to get back in transition.
The Liberty’s floor balance on the break was terrible, and they conceded several quality 3-pointers to the Aces.
New York’s six points and 14 percent from the field were the worst quarter for the team all season, oddly mimicking another defensive effort from Las Vegas this postseason when the Aces held Seattle to two points in the fourth quarter of their Game 1 victory.
By the time the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart finally made a basket at the rim with 26 seconds left in the period, both teams could look ahead to Sunday.
(Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
