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Las Vegas Aces defeat Phoenix Mercury 94-73

Las Vegas Aces - Chelsea Gray
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PHOENIX (AP) — A'ja Wilson scored 30 points, Chelsea Gray had 14 points and 12 assists and the first-place Las Vegas Aces coasted to a 94-73 win over the last-place Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.

Sug Sutton had the first triple-double in Mercury history, with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

The Aces (33-6) took a one-game lead over New York into the regular-season finale on Sunday, when they play the Mercury (9-30) at home. The Liberty close with Washington.

In an otherwise dismal season for the Mercury, Sutton added to the highlight of 20-year veteran Diana Taurasi reaching the 10,000-point plateau. Sutton is the first player drafted after the first round to record a triple-double. The third-round pick, 36th overall, by the Mystics in 2020 played 12 games that season.

Kelsey Plum added 18 points and Jackie Young 17 points for the Aces, who shot 54%. Las Vegas set a WNBA record with its 14th win of at least 20 points, surpassing Connecticut's 13 20-point wins in 2019.

Megan Gustafson scored 14 points, Moriah Jefferson had 11 points and Brittney Griner, on her bobblehead night, had 10 points but the Mercury shot just 35%.

Las Vegas had a 17-2 run in the second quarter to pull away from the short-handed Mercury, who were tied at 20-20 after one quarter. The Aces' firepower made it 48-31 at the half.

Phoenix was missing guards Taurasi (toe), Sophie Cunningham (jaw) and Shey Peddy (concussion).

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Nick Walters

Nick Walters

Senior Sports Reporter

Alex Eschelman

Alex Eschelman

Sports Multimedia Journalist

Taylor Rocha

Taylor Rocha

Sports Multimedia Journalist

Rochelle Richards

Rochelle Richards, senior sports producer

Rochelle Richards

Senior Sports Producer