Las Vegas deals Sun a tough road loss with late 14-3 run
Las Vegas — The Connecticut Sun were shooting nearly 50 percent and led the Las Vegas Aces with over four minutes remaining in Saturday night's WNBA game. The Sun then crashed and burned. Connecticut made just one field goal the rest of the game as its late seven-point lead devolved into a 9490 loss to Las Vegas before 3,363 at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Jonquel Jones' putback gave the Sun an 87-80 lead with four minutes, 16 seconds remaining. It pushed their field goal percentage to 49.1.
The Sun missed eight of their final nine shots as well as two free throws.
“Give (Las Vegas) all sorts of credit, scoring 29 points in the fourth quarter and showing that energy and toughness,” Sun head coach Curt Miller said. “They were relentless. They ran it at us and hurt us in transition and on the boards.
“There were hustle plays that (the Aces) made during the fourth quarter, and I thought we lost our legs. That's our fourth game in seven days on this four-game West Coast road trip with two starters out.”
Starters Alyssa Thomas and Courtney Williams didn't play again for Connecticut (10-9), which has lost eight of its last 11 games.
Thomas missed her 10th straight game due to a shoulder injury. The Sun's last eight losses have happened since she was hurt during a 95-91 loss to the Washington Mystics (June 13). Williams missed her fourth straight game due to a personal matter.
“(This) one hurts and stings because we thought we could get to the finish line,” Miller said.
“(Las Vegas) just had another gear,” forward Chiney Ogwumike said. “They went into turbo mode. … I know they've been at home quite a bit, and we've been on the road for a bit and the road wears on you. But, at, the same time, we just have to learn in these situations (that) you have to push through.”
A'ja Wilson and Kayla McBride were sensational for Las Vegas (8-12). Wilson, the first overall pick in April's draft, had a game-high 34 points and 13 rebounds. McBride scored 27 with six rebounds and four assists.
“Obviously, our two horses went off again,” Aces head coach Bill Laimbeer said. “It's no question where our bread is buttered.”
Kelsey Plum, the No. 1 pick in 2017, added nine points and 10 assists for Las Vegas.
Ogwumike had 15 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks for Connecticut and reserve Morgan Tuck had 20 points and five rebounds.
Jones had 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three blocks, reserve Alex Bentley had 10 points and six assists, and fellow reserve Betnijah Laney had 10 points and five rebounds for the Sun. Jasmine Thomas also had eight points, eight assists, and six rebounds.
The Aces trailed 87-80 with 4:09 left when Wilson began a 12-0 run with a 13-foot jumper. McBride followed with a floater. Plum's 3-pointer tied the game.
McBride made two free throws to put the Aces ahead for good. Wilson turned an offensive rebound into a three-point play that gave Las Vegas a 92-87 lead with 1:12 left.
“We couldn't answer their runs,” Miller said. “We didn't get anything easy in that fourth quarter. We couldn't turn them over, we couldn't get out in transition, and everything was a grind for us.”
The good news for the Connecticut is that it finished a hellacious stretch in which it played 13 of 16 games on the road over 22 days. The Sun have played the fewest home games (six). They'll play 11 of their final 15 games at home, starting Wednesday morning against New York (11:30).