Breanna Stewart scored 34 factors and Sabrina Ionescu had 21 to assist the New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 87-77 on Sunday in Recreation 1 of their semi-finals sequence.
Jonquel Jones added 13 factors and 12 rebounds for the Liberty. Recreation 2 of the best-of-five matchup is Tuesday evening in New York. Kelsey Plum scored 24 factors and A’ja Wilson added 21 for the Aces.
This was a rematch of final season’s WNBA finals that the Aces gained in 4 video games, together with clinching the championship in New York. The Liberty stated they’ve had a scar from that loss and have used it as motivation all season. New York had the very best report within the league and earned the highest seed within the playoffs.
Final season the Aces had been the No 1 seed, so New York needed to journey to Las Vegas for the opening two video games of the Finals. The Liberty returned house down 0-2 and had been unable to get well their momentum.
New York got here out robust on Sunday behind Stewart and led 28-21 after one quarter. Las Vegas closed to 37-34 with 4:11 left within the half earlier than New York ended the second quarter with a 11-4 run to go up 10 on the break. Stewart, who had 20 factors within the opening 20 minutes, had six factors in that spurt. She hit eight of her 10 photographs within the first half.
The Liberty scored the primary 5 factors of the third quarter and the lead ballooned to 62-44 on a three-pointer by Stewart. After a timeout, the Aces scored the subsequent 12 factors to get inside six. Courtney Vandersloot lastly ended the drought for New York with a layup that sparked a run to revive a nine-point benefit on the finish of the third.
Las Vegas hung round and solely trailed 75-67 till Ionescu hit a three-pointer with 7:34 left within the recreation and shortly turned to level to Spike Lee, who was sitting courtside sporting her jersey. In Recreation 2 of the opening spherical sequence win over Atlanta, the basketball superfan gave the Liberty guard a high-five that she stated felt like “New York was injected into my veins.”
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