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The final score of Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals between Las Vegas and Phoenix came as no surprise, as the Aces were victorious 96-90. But the path to that final score did not go as planned.
How to watch: Mercury vs Aces
Game Date: September 30, 2021
Game time: 10 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Live stream of Mercury vs. Aces on fuboTV: Start with a 7 day free trial!
On the one hand, the Mercury got off to a good start in Tuesday’s loss. The Mercury led 30-21 after a quarter-game, with Diana Taurasi scoring nine points.
A hobbled Taurasi scored 20 points in the loss, but it was clear she was feeling the effects of an ankle injury. His use was almost exclusively behind the three-point line, with 14 of his 17 deep field goal attempts.
Brittney Griner also added 24 points, as the Aces struggled to contain the finalist for the 2021 MVP award. But Phoenix’s lack of depth came into play. A foul issue for Brianna Turner meant Kia Vaughn had to. spend time at four, and the bench as a whole only made four shots.
As for Vegas, an Aces team best known for their inner play ended up relying on guards. Three Ace perimeter players – Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Riquna Williams – took more shots than last year’s MVP A’ja Wilson. Liz Cambage only played 10 minutes on the bench as she got back into shape after missing time from COVID-19. The Aces got 25 points off Plum’s bench.
Vegas are a tough team to stop for Phoenix. Over the past few seasons, Bill Laimbeer’s squad has been a bit one-dimensional, relying heavily on the inside bully teams. But while this year’s Aces team won the under three points in the league, they placed second in three-point field goals percentage.
There’s more versatility for the Aces this season and that’s a big reason they’re heading into Game 2 with a 1-0 lead in the series.
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