ChasingRatDogmaSalade
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Posts: 587
Location: Las Vegas, NV
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 Posted: 05/21/24 12:39 pm ::: |
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LAS VEGAS (May 20, 2024)—The Las Vegas Aces continue their four-game, season-opening homestand this Tuesday with a 7 pm PT tip against the Phoenix Mercury. The game is being broadcast locally on the Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network.
The Aces improved to 2-0 on the year over the weekend with an 89-82 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks. Two-time M'VP A'ja Wilson led the Aces in scoring for the second-straight game with 22 points. She ranks third in the WNBA in scoring (26.0 ppg), second in rebounding (11.5 rpg) and fourth in blocked shots (2.50 bpg).
Jackie Young matched Wilson's 22 points against the Sparks and added a career-high 11 assists for her first career point-assist double-double. She ranks seventh in the league in scoring (22.5 ppg), and second in assists (8.5 apg).
Las Vegas boasts the fourth most efficient offense in the WNBA in the early going (107.2 OER), while leading the league in lowest turnover percentage for the fifth-straight season at 13.9 percent. That figure would establish a WNBA record should Las Vegas maintain it through season's end. Atlanta is the second-best team in the league at taking care of the ball, committing a turnover on 16.5 percentage of the team's offensive possessions, followed by the Aces' Tuesday opponent, the Mercury, at 17.2 percent.
Las Vegas ranks 7th in the W in defensive efficiency (96.4 DER), sending the opposition to the free throw line a league-low 12.5 times per game, while grabbing the 5th highest percentage of defensive rebounds in the league (.714).
The Mercury (1-1) dropped their season-opener to the Aces, 89-80, but bounced back with an 88-85 home win over Atlanta, Saturday night.
The ageless Diana Taurasi is averaging 19.0 points per game while connecting on 42.1 percent of her 3-point field goal attempts. Offseason trade acquisition Kaleah Copper has been even more impressive, averaging 28.5 points per game (2nd in the W), and making 50.0 percent of her shots from distance, while free agent signee Natasha Cloud is averaging 10.5 points and 6.0 assists per game.
Phoenix has the fifth most efficient offense and the 10th most efficient defense. In addition to taking great care of the basketball, the Merc are the fifth best offensive rebounding team in the league, snagging. 31.1 percent of all available Phoenix missed shots. The Mercury are holding opponents to 40.9 percent shooting from the field, and 30.8 percent from the 3-point line, but sending the opposition to the free throw line a league-high 28.0 times per game.
This is the second of four meetings between the clubs. They square off against one another again on June 13 and September 1 in Phoenix.
The Aces conclude their four-game homestand with a Saturday, May 25, tilt against the Indiana Fever.
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