Recap: Second-half comeback fuels Sun to 89-85 win over Aces

The Connecticut Sun might not have been the first team to clinch their playoff spot, but in Friday night’s 89-85 win over the Las Vegas Aces, they showed they’re more than game to grab the No. 1 overall seed.

Thanks to a Mystics loss later in the evening that gave the two teams identical records, Connecticut would be the one-seed if the playoffs began today by virtue of owning the tiebreaker. Friday’s win also sealed a potential tiebreaker in the Sun’s favor over the Aces.

It wasn’t always so cut-and-dry, though. While the high-scoring first quarter saw Connecticut with a four-point advantage over Las Vegas, the Aces erupted for a 33-point second quarter and led 56-47 at the half.

But that lead wasn’t meant to be, as the Aces would score just 29 points the rest of the way.

Alyssa Thomas scored 13 of her 27 points in the pivotal third quarter that saw the Sun take back a two-point lead entering the final frame. The Aces tied it up twice in the fourth quarter, but never led again.

Along with Thomas’ 27-point, 12-rebound double-double — game-highs in both areas — Connecticut was led by Courtney Williams’ 24 points, Bria Holmes’ 8 points and Jonquel Jones’ 7 points, 9 rebounds and career-high 6 blocks.

Liz Cambage led Las Vegas with 18 points, A’ja Wilson had 17 and Dearica Hamby added 14 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.

The Sun extended their league-best home record to 14-1, and their four-game winning streak also ascended to league-best status by the end of the night.

Plus: Connecticut retired Lindsay Whalen’s jersey Friday night, two months after the Minnesota Lynx did the same. Whalen played for the Sun from 2004 to 2009.

Up next

The Sun take on the Sparks in Los Angeles on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 5 p.m. ET (NBA TV).

The Aces head to Minnesota to face the Lynx on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m. ET (NBA TV).

Friday’s other action

Atlanta Dream 90, New York Liberty 87

The Dream’s 12-game losing streak finally came to an end as they defeated the Liberty 90-87. All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures, led by Tiffany Hayes’ 19 points, Renee Montgomery’s 18 and Jessica Breland’s 11 points and 12 rebounds. Bria Hartley tied her season-high 17 points to lead New York.

Up next: The Liberty face the Washington Mystics on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 3 p.m. ET (NBA TV). The Dream play the Dallas Wings on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 4 p.m. ET (WNBA League Pass).

Chicago Sky 85, Washington Mystics 78

The Sky may have clinched their playoff spot while inactive, but they put an exclamation point on the affair against the first-place Mystics in an 85-78 win. Diamond DeShields led Chicago with 22 points, Stefanie Dolson added 18 and Courtney Vandersloot scored 15 points and dished 9 assists. Elena Delle Donne’s 16 points and 7 rebounds paced the Mystics, who lost to the Sky for the first time since acquiring Delle Donne from them in 2017.

Up next: The Mystics host the New York Liberty on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 3 p.m. ET (NBA TV). The Sky take on the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m. ET (WNBA League Pass).