Aces fend off Sparks for 89-82 win

Jackie Young and A'ja Wilson each had 22 points and a double-double as the Las Vegas Aces held off the visiting Los Angeles Sparks for an 89-82 victory Saturday.

Wilson scored 12 in the third quarter after the Aces (2-0) closed the first half on a 17-1 run to lead by nine at the break. She finished with 10 rebounds. Young added 11 assists and drilled a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining in regulation after the Sparks (0-2) got within 86-82.

Former Ace Dearica Hamby had 29 points, on 12-of-16 shooting, and nine rebounds for the Sparks, who shot 51.5 percent but committed 17 turnovers. L.A. allowed Vegas to make 13 3-pointers.

Paced by two baskets from Kia Nurse (13 points) and consecutive 3-pointers from rookie Rickea Jackson (13 points), Los Angeles used a 12-2 run to lead 32-25 with just under four minutes remaining in the first half.

However, the Aces found their form after starting 9 of 30 to score 17 of the final 18 points of the first half.

Young knocked down a 3 and Alysha Clark's own triple tied the game at 32-32. Wilson's bucket with 2:09 left in the second quarter put the Aces ahead.

Back-to-back 3s from rookie Kate Martin and Wilson extended the Aces' run to 15-0 and their lead to 40-32 before Hamby ended the Sparks' drought with a free throw. A pair of free throws from Kelsey Plum (17 points) put Las Vegas ahead 42-33 at the half.

Wilson posted two three-point plays and scored off a steal to give the Aces a 58-48 lead in the third. A Young 3 put Las Vegas up 77-64 early in the fourth, but a 10-2 run from the Sparks made it a five-point contest with under 5 minutes remaining.

Four points from Hamby highlighted a 6-0 spurt that got Los Angeles to 84-80 with 2:35 to play before Wilson stepped up with a basket. Hamby scored again before Young's 3 iced the game for Vegas.

Los Angeles' Cameron Brink, the second overall draft pick last month, had three points, eight rebounds and five blocks.

--Field Level Media