Young, Wilson post double-doubles to lead Aces over Sparks 89-82
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jackie Young and A’ja Wilson both scored 22 points and finished with double-doubles to power the Las Vegas Aces to an 89-82 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday.
Young sank 8 of 18 shots, including 4 of 9 from 3-point range, and added 11 assists and six rebounds for two-time defending champion Las Vegas (2-0). Wilson hit 9 of 20 shots with a 3-pointer, grabbed 10 rebounds and added three steals. Kelsey Plum made three 3-pointers and scored 17 with five assists and three steals. Alysha Clark scored 13 on 5-for-7 shooting with three 3s.
Dearica Hamby finished with 29 points to lead Los Angeles (0-2). Hamby hit 12 of 16 shots from the floor and 5 of 11 from the free-throw line. She added nine rebounds and three steals. Lexie Brown had 16 points. Kia Nurse and reserve Rickea Jackson contributed 13 points apiece.
Nurse scored half of LA’s 18 first-quarter points to lead the Sparks to a two-point lead. Nurse, who scored 23 points in LA’s 92-81 loss to the visiting Atlanta Dream in the season opener, sank all four of her shots with a 3-pointer.
Jackson hit 3-pointers on back-to-back trips down the court and Zia Cooke added a basket to give the Sparks a 32-25 lead with 4:37 left in the second quarter. Young, Clark, Kate Martin and Wilson all hit 3-pointers in a 15-0 run as the Aces took a 40-32 lead with 53 seconds left before halftime and never trailed again.
Las Vegas led by as many as 12 on three occasions in a 29-point third quarter, taking a 71-59 lead.
The Aces opened the season with an 89-80 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.
Las Vegas will host Phoenix for a second time on Tuesday in the third game of four straight at home to begin the season. Los Angeles returns home to play the Washington Mystics on Tuesday.
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