Red-hot Aces top Lynx 97-87 for 13th consecutive victory

Since a 53-point loss to the Lynx a month ago, the Las Vegas Aces have not lost a game.

On Thursday night, the host Aces extended their winning streak to 13 games — the longest in the WNBA this season — with a 97-87 victory over the Lynx. The Aces avoided a four-game season sweep by the Lynx and ended a six-game losing streak to the Lynx dating to last year.

The Aces’ winning streak began after a 111-58 loss to the Lynx on Aug. 2 in Las Vegas, a game where the Lynx set a WNBA record for largest margin of victory on the road. That loss left the Aces with a 14-14 record and in danger of missing the playoffs altogether.

Now the Aces are second in the league standings, behind only the Lynx, who clinched the top seed in the WNBA playoffs last week.

Three-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson scored 31 points, and Jackie Young added 20 as the Aces pulled away in the second half.

“It’s disappointing to waste a pretty solid shooting performance,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said in her postgame comments. “We shot 53.7 percent from the field and 41 percent on threes. But our defense didn’t rise to the occasion.”

The Aces shot 55% from the field and 46% from three-point range. Wilson was 12-of-15 and Young was 8-of-12, including 4-of-6 on three-pointers.

The Lynx were led by Natisha Hiedeman, who came off the bench to score 22 points. Courtney Williams scored 14 points, Alanna Smith 13 and Napheesa Collier — who suffered an ankle injury in that previous game in Las Vegas that sidelined her seven games — added 12 for the Lynx.

“We can’t just rely on our offense,” Hiedeman said. “We just didn’t play defense. It’s hard to win games like that.”

The Aces, who led 47-44 at halftime, opened a 63-55 lead midway through the third quarter. The Lynx, sparked by Hiedeman’s seven consecutive points, pulled within 63-62 with 2½ minutes left in the quarter. They had a chance to take the lead, but Jessica Shepard missed two free throws.

The Aces (27-14) got a three-pointer from Young and a buzzer-beating layup from Chelsea Gray in the final minute of the quarter to take a 70-66 lead into the final period.

BOXSCORE: Las Vegas 97, Lynx 87

Las Vegas scored the first six points of the fourth quarter to open a 10-point lead. Kayla McBride’s three-pointer and Smith’s layup got the Lynx within 76-71, but the Aces responded with an 11-3 run to open their biggest lead of the game at 87-74 and held on from there.

In her pregame comments to the media, Aces coach Becky Hammon said her team wasn’t looking at the game against the Lynx as an opportunity to avenge the 53-point loss.

“I don’t think it’s a revenge game,” Hammon said. “It’s just another game and a chance to do it better. They have been the best team in the league all year, no doubt. We’re still trying to get better every day.”