Storm's Tumble Continues, Lose 90-86

After another loss, the Storm have fallen to the 7th seed in the standings.

(Las Vegas, Nevada) - The Seattle Storm (16-15) lost yet another game on Friday night. This time against one of their main rivals, the Las Vegas Aces (17-14), by a final score of 90-86. Seattle dropped their 4th game in a row. It’s also the third consecutive game where they’ve lost by four points (90-86, 91-87, and 78-74). The loss before that? It was 108-106 in double-OT. Yes, the Storm have lost four games in a row by a combined 14 points. This loss hurt even more than the ones against Indiana and Minnesota, because the Storm own the Las Vegas Aces’ first-round draft pick. Every time Seattle beats Las Vegas, it helps them two-fold. As it is, they’ll have to settle for the season split. Each team won two times, including once on the opposing team’s home court. Seattle trailed by 19 points in the 2nd half before rookie Dominique Malonga rallied the Storm to tie the game at 75-75.

Seattle used a balanced attack as they had five players score in double figures. They were led by their rookie sensation, Dominique Malonga. Malonga (19 years old) is the youngest player in WNBA history to have a 20+ point double-double per Across the Timeline. Dom finished with 22 points on 8-11 FG, 6-7 FT, and 12 rebounds. She got most of her help from Erica Wheeler (16 points) and the newly acquired Brittney Sykes. Sykes finished with 14 points and six assists. Malonga and Sykes combined for 36 points off the bench, which was also a season-high for the Storm.

Nneka Ogwumike finished with 12 points on 5-7 FG and nine rebounds. She played just 26 minutes due to both being in early foul trouble, and because Malonga was playing so well, Coach Quinn couldn’t sit her. Gabby Williams added 14 points, four assists, and two steals. Skylar Diggins was held completely scoreless as her struggles continue.

The Storm outshot the Aces overall 48% (32-67 FG) to 45% (31-69 FG), but the three-point shot was key to Las Vegas’s victory. Vegas made 46% of their field goals behind the arc (10-22 FG) compared to just 29% (6-21 FG) for Seattle. Seattle had a narrow advantage with points in the paint (38-34) and fast break points (8-6). The road team also forced Las Vegas into 13 turnovers and outscored the Aces 15-8 in points off turnovers.

Las Vegas Aces

A’ja Wilson had one of her typical MVP-type performances. She scored 18 of her 29 points in the first half. She also had 12 rebounds. NaLyssa Smith also had a double-double with one of her best games of the season as she put up 10 points and 12 rebounds. Jackie Young was masterful with 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Young also hit the dagger three-pointer in the final minute to secure the victory for the Aces.

Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd each made solid contributions. Gray finished with 13 points and five assists. She had 10 of her 13 points in the first half as the Aces extended a double-digit lead. Loyd finished with 10 points off the bench, but made 3-7 FG from the three-point line, including a couple of crucial triples when Seattle was making a big push in the second half.

Las Vegas out-rebounded Seattle 38-29. They also had a massive 11-4 advantage in offensive rebounds and outscored Seattle 13-4 in second-chance points. They were 18-23 from the free throw line and a plus-two over the Storm at the foul line.

This was a gigantic win for Las Vegas as they’ve started to really build some momentum lately. It was their third win in a row, and they are 5-1 in their last six games. By winning this game, they also avoided losing the season series 3-1 to Seattle. The Storm had a 2-1 advantage heading into this contest. With the win, Las Vegas moves ahead of the Storm in the standings and sits in 6th place as of tonight.

Game Breakdown

A’ja Wilson scored the game’s first around basket. Nneka Ogwumike matched her with another difficult shot. NaLyssa Smith was fouled after making a basket down low, but missed the free throw. Ezi Magbegor knocked down a three-pointer. Wilson scored again. Magbegor scored off the pick-and-roll with Skylar Diggins. Smith hit a difficult shot to put the Aces ahead 8-7.

Brittney Sykes checked in around the 6:30 mark of the first. Jackie Young knocked down a three-pointer, but Ezi matched her on the other end. Seattle got a stop against A’ja, and Ogwumike scored in transition with a midrange jumper on the other end. Chelsea Gray drilled a three-pointer. After Skylar Diggins missed a three-point attempt, A’ja Wilson scored an AND1 to put the Aces ahead by five, 17-12. Erica Wheeler subbed back in and quickly got to the rim for two.

Sykes set up Gabby Williams for an open three-pointer that GW knocked down. After a couple of empty possessions, Jewell Loyd knocked down a three-pointer. Sykes missed a three-pointer. A’ja scored again. At the end of the first quarter, the Las Vegas Aces led the Seattle Storm 23-17.

Wheeler knocked down a dribble pull-up. Dominique Malonga did a good job of securing some rebounds. Gabby was fouled on a jump shot and made both free throws. Wheeler scored again as the Storm started the second period on a 6-0 run. Chelsea Gray answered back with a jumper. Wheeler tied the game. Dana Evans hit a floater that rimmed in. Smith scored down low, and then A’ja hit another shot as the Aces responded with a 6-0 run. With the Aces leading 31-25, Coach Noelle Quinn called a timeout.

Nneka was fouled and made one free throw. Jackie Young got to the rim to put the Aces ahead by seven. Brittney Sykes hit a corner three to score her first points in a Storm uniform. A’ja Wilson drilled a triple on the other end to put Las Vegas up 36-29. Out of the timeout, Chelsea Gray was fouled by Ogwumike on a three-point attempt. Gray made two of three. Nneka was popped in the face again and split the pair of free throws. Wilson scored down low and was fouled. She was unable to complete the three-point play, but her made basket to put the Aces ahead by double-digits (40-30).

A’ja and Jackie scored a couple of baskets for the Aces. Nneka and Dominique Malonga scored for Seattle. Skylar Diggins fouled Chelsea Gray on a three-point attempt right before the end of the first half. Gray made all three free throws. Las Vegas led Seattle 47-36 at the midway point. Seattle shot 38% (13-34 FG) in the first half, and the Aces made 49% (18-37 FG) of their shots. The Aces outscored the Storm 22-8 inside the paint and out-rebounded them 21-15.

Young found NaLyssa Smith cutting to the rim for two. Gabby Williams drove to the rim. Chelsea Gray countered with a corner three-pointer. Williams did her best to keep the Storm in the game despite falling behind by 15 points. Gabby hit a midrange jumper and was fouled on a reverse layup. She helped cut the 15-point Aces’ lead down to 10 points. However, Las Vegas responded with an 8-0 run that was capped off by a Jackie Young three-ball.

Seattle fell behind by 19 points with a Jackie Young AND1, but the Storm responded with an 11-0 run. Wheeler and Sykes each hit three-pointers. Gabby also had an AND1 during that run. That forced Coach Becky Hammon into a timeout. After the timeout, Jewell Loyd knocked down a corner three. Wheeler and Malonga helped lead a 17-6 run to end the third period. The Storm trailed 71-63 at the end of the quarter.

Brittney Sykes got to the rim to begin the final frame. Wheeler made one free throw. Malonga scored on back-to-back possessions. That cut Seattle’s deficit down to one, forcing Becky Hammon to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Seattle double-teamed A’ja Wilson, but she was able to find NaLyssa Smith under the rim for two.

Dom Malonga was fouled on the other end and made both. Malonga was then called for three consecutive fouls in one possession. Then another foul, a play or two later, picking up her 5th foul. It was the only way they could stop her momentum. Jackie Young made two free throws and then hit a triple to put the Aces back on top by five points.

Brittney Sykes was fouled and split the pair. Erica Wheeler had two great looks, including one with a three-on-one transition, and missed both shots. That was very costly, as Seattle would be whistled for more fouls, which put the Aces ahead by eight (84-76).

Nneka scored. Brittney Sykes got an AND1 with a speedy drive to the rim. A’ja got another whistle and split the pair. Sykes scored on a pull-up in the paint. Jackie Young hit a dagger three-pointer to put Las Vegas ahead by six with 51 seconds to go in the game. Sykes found Ogwumike on the pick-and-roll. Sykes took a contested three with five seconds to go, but missed. Seattle’s comeback fell short as the Las Vegas Aces won the game 90-86.

Final Box Score

Up Next

The Seattle Storm (16-15) will travel to Los Angeles to play the red-hot LA Sparks (14-15) on Sunday, August 10th at 5:00 PM. Los Angeles has been the polar opposite of Seattle over the past month. The Storm are 3-7 over their last 10 games and have lost four in a row. The Sparks are 8-2 over their last 10 games, have won three in a row, and are 7-1 in their last eight games.

Part 2

Part 2 will include additional thoughts and discussion from Friday’s game against the Las Vegas Aces. It’ll be sent exclusively to paid subscribers.

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