Preview: Las Vegas
July 19, 2019
HOW TO WATCH
Friday’s home game against the Las Vegas Aces will be locally televised on JOEtv at 7 p.m. PT. and live-streamed on WNBA League Pass. Fans can also follow live stats at StormBasketball.com, or on Twitter by following @SeattleStorm.
LAST TIME OUT
The Seattle Storm picked up a 90-79 road win against the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday. Natasha Howard contributed across the board with a career-high 33 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, two steals and two assists. Sami Whitcomb added a career-high eight assists along with 15 points from beyond the arc.
Starting with a 15-4 run, the Storm found success from deep as Howard and Whitcomb knocked down three in a row from beyond the arc. Though Minnesota started the second quarter trailing by 10, Sylvia Fowles and Danielle Robinson initiated an 11-2 run to pull within six of Seattle. After committing just one turnover in the first 10 minutes of play, Seattle forfeited 12 points off turnovers in the second quarter. However, Seattle continued to shoot above a 50 percent clip and took a 50-40 lead into the locker room.
In the third quarter, Seattle continued to knock down shots from deep as Jordin Canada hit back-to-back threes to help the Storm build a 21-point advantage. Howard tallied 12 third-quarter points including a step-back three-pointer at the buzzer.
After shooting 36.7 percent in the first 30 minutes, the Lynx connected on 10 of 16 attempts in the final 10 minutes. With 10 points from Lexie Brown and 14 points off seven turnovers, Minnesota came within one point of the Storm with 4:12 remaining. Seattle responded with a 10-run to hang on for the win in the Twin Cities.
SERIES HISTORY
Seattle and Las Vegas met nearly a month ago at Mandalay Bay Events Center where the Storm fell just short to the Aces, 60-56. Natasha Howard recorded her fourth season double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds while Shavonte Zellous and Crystal Langhorne tallied 11 points each.
After scoring the first Storm points, Jewell Loyd was forced to exit the game early after sustaining an ankle injury at the 3:35 mark of the first quarter. The Aces pulled ahead to an eight-point lead to open the second frame. Langhorne scored nine points in the frame as Seattle entered halftime within four of Las Vegas.
Out of the locker room, Howard and Alysha Clark combined for all 11 third-quarter points for the Storm. After posting 10 points in the first half, Liz Cambage was held to just four points in the final 20 minutes. A tied game with 1:05 to play, All-Star captain A’ja Wilson made a turnaround hook shot to put the Aces ahead. After making one of two attempts from the free throw line, Wilson blocked the Storm’s potential game-tying attempt on the other end.
SCOUTING LAS VEGAS
Sitting atop the league standings, the Las Vegas Aces narrowly escaped the Washington Mystics 85-81. A’ja Wilson collected 17 points, four rebounds and two assists and Sydney Colson came off the bench for 17 points, four steals and three assists.
The Aces couldn’t find their rhythm in the opening 10 minutes as the Mystics capitalized on 52.9 percent shooting, climbing to a 14-point lead with 1:12 left in the first quarter. Sydney Colson poured in 12 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the charity stripe, to tie the game with just under 30 seconds left in the first half.
Trading blows to open the third period, Kayla McBride claimed the first Aces lead with a three-point play at the 5:42 mark and two consecutive turnovers forced a Washington timeout.
With the game tied heading into the fourth, Liz Cambage scored nine crucial points including a put-back layup for an Aces lead with 1:32 left in regulation. Out of a timeout with 8.7 seconds left, Kelsey Plum scored a pair from the foul line for a four-point Aces lead. Washington couldn’t connect in the final second of play as the Aces brought down the final Mystics miss for the 85-81victory.
UP NEXT
The Storm heads to Las Vegas on Tuesday, July 23, for the second consecutive game against the Aces at 7 p.m. PT. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. PT. following a live broadcast of the All-Star team selections.