WNBA Las Vegas Aces

Aces Drop Month-Long "Earthquake Game" to Mystics, 99-70

Published on August 6, 2019 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Las Vegas Aces News Release


LAS VEGAS, NV - One month after an earthquake suspended the Aces vs. Mystics contest at halftime at Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas and Washington finally got back out on the hardwood to complete the game Monday evening, albeit at T-Mobile Arena. The Mystics led 51-36 at the half when the earthquake occurred, and although Las Vegas sliced the advantage to 10 in the third quarter, Washington pulled away for the 99-70 victory.

KEY RUNS

The game was tied at 4 early on, but the Mystics scored 19 of the next 24 points to lead 23-9. They would go on to lead by as many as 18 in the first half, and lead 51-36 at the break.

Las Vegas cut the lead to ten at one point in the third quarter, but couldn't get any closer.

KEY STATS

Washington outshot the Aces 54.8% to 38.9% from the field.

GAME NOTES

The game was completed exactly one month after it was started/suspended (July to August 5).

Liz Cambage scored in double figures, extending her consecutive games streak with at least 10 points to 51 (12 points). That streak ended on July 30.

A'ja Wilson failed to score in double figures for just the second time as a pro (9 points).

Kelsey Plum scored in double figures for the 11th time this season (17 points).

The Aces allowed an opponent to make more than 50 percent of their shots from the field for only the third time this season (54.8%).

The Mystics' 99 points are the most allowed by the Aces in a regulation 40-minute game this season.

NEXT GAME

The Aces are at home for the next three games beginning with a Friday, August 9 meeting with the Chicago Sky. Tip at Mandalay Bay Events Center is slate for 7 pm PT.

POSTGAME VIDEO

Bill Laimbeer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2DfvhdRADA&feature=youtu.be

Kayla McBride - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi9N4EwJirE&feature=youtu.be

Kelsey Plum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtnO3peG9_s&feature=youtu.be

Bill Laimbeer

Opening Statement...

It's a weird day, weird time we had a sliver of a chance there in the third quarter if we made a couple shots and didn't give them open three balls but once that closed it was a little difficult to come back against a team like that.

On difficulty of coming back against a 15 point defecit...

It's not that hard. You are a professional athlete so its a weird thing to put out all the energy in the world to go out in the third quarter but I thought we came out with the energy but didn't make the shots we needed too and made defensive mistakes to give the easy baskets.

On playing without Liz and A'ja...

Those are our two main scorers so not having them is difficult for us but at the same time if we go out and make some of the shots we didn't were back in it. We have to make more jump shots with Liz and A'ja out and become more of a perimeter team. Plum made a couple great shots early to give us a chance but we just couldn't make the rest of them.

On Liz and A'ja time table...

Liz is back at practice with us tomorrow and A'ja is still a couple of weeks out.

Tamera Young

Q: Thoughts on energy before the game?

"Before the game, I felt like our energy was hot. During the game, I felt like we didn't have the sense of urgency that we need. Starting this game, we were down 15, so we needed to pick it up more, and I don't feel like we had that great energy that we needed to pick it up. We had some good moments, but then we had other moments where we let them come down and hit open shots and that's something we need to capitalize on and lock in."

Q: What can you do to prepare for the game on Friday?

"Prepare more, be focused, and have that energy and that sense of urgency. Every day is like a playoff game, and we gotta count them."

Kelsey Plum

Q. You were down by 15 going into this game, what was your thinking as a team going into that third quarter?

"Just trying to be aggressive. Obviously we were down by 15, you have to make something happen and play something fast and get the ball up quickly. Luckily a couple fell, but unfortunately they made a lot of shots and our defense wasn't great we gave them second opportunities and they hit a lot of three balls. They are a really good team and if you give them extra possessions, they'll make you pay for it "

Q. How was your energy going into the fourth?

"It's tough. You try to get wound up to take the 15 point lead. We were down by 10 at one point at that was the lowest we cut it, we couldn't get it any closer. Kind of frustrating but we have to learn from it. They will be a playoff team so hopefully we see them down the line and hopefully we learn from this."

Washington Mystics Headcoach Mike Thibault

Coach Mike Thibault on tonight's game...

"You start the second half with a play ready to go, then you do the anthem and line-ups, and you go back and forth trying to feel what the game is like. It certainly is the longest and the quickest game. Our whole thing going into it was that it was going to feel weird but don't play the scoreboard, play it like it's 0-0. I think for the most part we did that but we made some mistakes on Kelsey Plum when they first got started but after that, we settled down.

On having to encounter similar games in the past...

"Not that way. There was a game when I was in the NBA where there was a protest late in the game about a jump ball situation. We were scheduled to play a game there anyways so we just finish the last four minutes before that one occurred. I don't think I had anything like tonight since coaching high school baseball."

On tonight's game helping for future games...

"I think it helps a little bit. The other part is that we have the best road record and it feels good to get one of those wins, now we only have four road games left in the whole season. We put ourselves in a great position and we have to take advantage of being at home. Winning all of these games is a waste if we don't do it at home."

Washington Mystics Guard Natasha Cloud

Natasha Cloud on tonight's game...

"It was super awkward. This was really hard to prepare for both teams. I think you saw the opening minute where we missed open shots. It's weird to not have a tipped ball. You have to deal with the cards that are dealt your way.

On tonight's logistics...

"It was odd. This is a beautiful arena and the Aces made sure that everything felt like we were playing at Mandalay Bay. Filling the crowd with one side was really hard when you're talking about a really big arena and only one side being filled but I guess it gives that perception that there were a lot of people."

On using tonight as momentum builder...

"It's good to get the ball rolling again, get a win, feel good, especially after a blow out in Phoenix and just to get the ball rolling again. We played 13 of our 17 away games, I think that's the most in the WNBA. We're road warriors and we have the best record out of all the WNBA. Right now is just taking

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