A’ja Wilson registered a double-double in her return to the Las Vegas Aces‘ lineup Friday, however her staff nonetheless suffered a 90-83 loss to the Seattle Storm. The Aces continue to struggle and at the moment are on a three-game shedding streak whereas dropping to 5-7 within the season.
Though the Aces entered halftime with a 44-38 benefit after overcoming an early 10-point deficit, the Storm, now 8-5, gained the sport with Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins combining for 49 factors.
Jackie Young led the Aces’ efforts with 22 factors whereas Wilson tallied 20 factors and 14 rebounds. Wilson stated she was nonetheless “getting again into the swing of issues” after lacking three video games whereas in concussion protocol, but additionally admitted she was not content material along with her efficiency.
“I really feel good. I simply gotta honesty begin placing the ball within the hoop and cease giving it away to the opposite staff,” Wilson stated postgame. “That is unacceptable on my finish, so I gotta be higher on Sunday and shifting ahead for my staff as a result of that’s not how I needed to come back again.”
The Aces will probably be again on the courtroom Sunday after they host the Indiana Fever. Earlier than that, listed below are three takeaways from the Aces’ loss to Seattle.
Wilson made uncharacteristic errors
Wilson obtained the 104th double-double of her profession whereas additionally including two assists, two steals and three blocks. These are good stats for a participant who has missed the final three video games, however there have been actually some areas that might have been higher.
Wilson had a season-high seven turnovers Friday. She additionally went 8 of 13 from the free throw line, which is uncharacteristic for her as a result of she had been taking pictures 91.4% from there.
The free throw woes have been notably hurtful late within the sport as a result of with underneath 40 seconds remaining within the fourth quarter, Wilson drew a foul whereas the Aces have been down 88-83. It was alternative for one final punch from Las Vegas, however she missed each makes an attempt and the Aces did not rating once more.
“I assumed she was a bit rusty at present,” Aces coach Becky Hammon stated. “Seven turnovers is extraordinarily uncommon for her. She will get somewhat little bit of a grace interval on this one, coming off and never having performed for some time.”
Third quarters nonetheless a wrestle for Aces
One of many largest struggles for Las Vegas this season is it might probably’t keep constant for 40 minutes. Though the staff discovered some momentum late within the first half, the Aces allowed Seattle to come back again within the third quarter with six turnovers in these 10 minutes.
“It is greater than an Achilles’ heel. It is a factor,” Hammon stated when requested about her staff’s sample of struggling in third quarters. “Possibly I will simply begin a distinct 5 within the third quarter, we’ll see. Something is on the desk at this level as a result of it is gross.”
The coach was notably bothered by her staff’s protection.
“Our protection was atrocious, once more within the third quarter, and that was the primary 5, not that second unit,” Hammon stated. “I truly thought our second unit had run there from the top of the primary into the second. It could possibly’t get worst than that first 5 within the third quarter. I’ll focus on it with a few of my coaches, however yeah, I’d change who we begin within the third quarter.”
The rookie tied her profession excessive with 13 factors Friday whereas going 5 of 9 from the sphere and three of 4 from past the arc. She was one of many gamers who helped spark some runs for the Aces along with her vitality. Hammon noticed her effort within the first three quarters and began her within the fourth.
Her protection continues to be a piece in progress, however Nye appears to be constructing chemistry with the veteran gamers on her staff and in addition gaining extra belief from the teaching workers.
“She will get minutes as a result of she performs laborious,” Hammon stated. “Her effort is there each time. I can not say the identical down the road.”