The Las Vegas Aces suffered their second consecutive loss on Tuesday night, falling to the Atlanta Dream 97-82 at home. The defending champions struggled defensively throughout the contest, allowing Atlanta to establish control early and maintain it through the final buzzer. The loss marked only the third time this season the Aces have dropped back-to-back games, a concerning trend as the regular season enters its critical final stretch.
Head coach Becky Hammon was ejected midway through the second quarter after receiving two technical fouls while disputing an officiating decision. Despite the team’s efforts to regroup during the second half under assistant coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson, the Aces’ defensive issues proved insurmountable. Atlanta’s offensive efficiency was exceptional, with four starters scoring at least 17 points. Rhyne Howard led the Dream with 23 points, while Angel Reese recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, dominating the paint with 18 of her points coming from inside.
A’ja Wilson delivered an impressive individual performance for Las Vegas, recording 27 points and 14 rebounds. However, the Aces committed 17 turnovers, with 15 classified as live-ball turnovers that resulted in easy scoring opportunities for Atlanta. Jackie Young added 24 points but struggled early, while Chelsea Gray chipped in 13 points. The defeat dropped Las Vegas into fourth place in the playoff standings, behind Indiana and just ahead of Atlanta in what has become an intensely competitive seeding race.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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