Liberty hold off A'ja Wilson-less Aces in tight finish

Jonquel Jones made two free throws with 2.5 seconds left to seal the New York Liberty's 75-71 win over the visiting Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.

Breanna Stewart had 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Jones added 15 points and eight rebounds as the Liberty (29-6) moved closer to clinching the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoffs. Las Vegas (22-13) remained in fourth place despite coming back from a 20-point deficit in the second half to take a brief lead late in the game.

The Aces played without star A'ja Wilson, who arrived at the arena in a walking boot. The Aces got 25 points and six assists from Kelsey Plum, 12 points from Jackie Young and 11 points from Alysha Clark.

Sydney Colson's 3-pointer with 1:54 left to play gave Las Vegas its first lead since the first quarter. Then Sabrina Ionescu's turnaround shot banked off the backboard and spun into the basket with 44 seconds left, restoring the Liberty lead at 72-71.

Plum's layup attempt at the other end hung on the rim and fell away, and Ionescu hit one of two free throws to make it 73-71. The Aces had one more chance to tie or take the lead but couldn't convert and had to foul Jones.

The Aces drew within seven points early in the third quarter before New York surged ahead by 20. Stewart hit a turnaround jumper and was fouled, the free throw making it 60-43, and Nyara Sabally cut to the basket for a layup on a feed from Courtney Vandersloot with 2:35 to play for a 63-43 Liberty lead.

It was 64-51 after three quarters before the Aces fought back.

Stewart had 14 points and seven rebounds at halftime, and the Liberty equaled their largest lead of the first half with a 12-point advantage at the break, 45-33. The Aces made 7 of 14 3-point attempts in the first half but were 4 of 15 on 2-point attempts.

--Field Level Media