Las Vegas Aces Beat Short-Handed Phoenix Mercury 79-63

Las Vegas Aces #10 Kelsey Plum (PG) going up for an layup. Photo by Omer Khan/TGSportstv1.

LAS VEGAS, NV - In the first round of the WNBA playoffs on Wednesday night, the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces defeated the undermanned Phoenix Mercury 79-63 behind 22 points from Kelsey Plum and nine of Chelsea Gray's 17 points in the fourth quarter.

The third quarter saw offensive struggles for both teams. In the first six minutes, both teams scored just seven points combined, with Phoenix and Las Vegas each missing nine shots in a row. With 7:15 remaining, Wilson scored the Aces' first field goal of the fourth period to give them a 55-51 advantage.

The eighth seed stars Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi were absent from Phoenix due to personal matters, and the Mercury lost another starter in the third quarter. A non-contact injury required Shey Peddy to be removed from the game with 2:03 left in the third. As Peddy entered the locker room with a towel over her face, her teammates could see that she was inconsolable.

Phoenix Mercury #1 Diamond DeShields (G) going strong towards the basket. Photo by Omer Khan/TGSportstv1.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Las Vegas gained some distance with a five-point possession, taking the lead 60-51. Megan Gustafson was flagrantly charged after Gray was fouled on a drive to the hoop. Gray sank both of his free throws before converting a 3-point attempt.

The Aces gained control, Gray made it 66-55 by twisting her defender in the lane and converting a jump shot from the free-throw line.

For Las Vegas, Jackie Young added 16 points. Phoenix will visit Las Vegas on Saturday for Game 2 of the best-of-three series. Both A'ja Wilson and Kiah Stokes had eight points and a combined 12 rebounds.

For Phoenix, Diamond DeShields had 18 points and 8 rebounds. Gustafson scored 12 points, and Brianna Turner pulled down 16 rebounds.