Sabrina Ionescu’s big fourth quarter lifts Liberty to 75-71 win over Aces

NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu scored seven of her 14 points in the fourth quarter to help the New York Liberty hold off the short-handed Las Vegas Aces 75-71 on Sunday.

The Aces were playing without A’ja Wilson, who was sidelined with a right ankle injury she suffered on Friday against Connecticut. Wilson was in a walking boot. It was the first game she had missed since Aug. 3, 2019.

The Liberty remained three games in front of Minnesota for the No. 1 seed in the WNBA playoffs. New York has five games left to play. With the loss, Las Vegas remained in the fourth spot, one game in front of Seattle.

Breanna Stewart scored 21 points and had a big block late to lead New York (29-6). This wasn’t an easy win for the Liberty, who blew a 20-point late third quarter lead.

Las Vegas went on an 18-1 run to get within 64-61. The Liberty went without a point from the 1:39 mark of the third quarter until Ionescu hit a layup with 4:53 left in the fourth. The Aces kept coming and tied the game at 68 on Kelsey Plum’s 3-pointer with 2:36 left. Ionescu answered with a corner jumper. Sydney Colson’s 3-pointer with 1:54 left gave the Aces their first lead since the first quarter.

Neither team scored until Ionescu hit a pull-up jumper with 43.6 seconds left that gave New York a 72-71 lead. Plum, who finished with 25 points, had a chance to give the Aces the lead back, but her layup fell off the rim with 28 seconds left.

Ionescu was then fouled and hit one of two free throws to make it 73-71.

Las Vegas had one last chance but Stewart blocked Jackie Young’s drive down the lane. Jonquel Jones sealed the win with two free throws with 2.5 seconds left.

This was the first meeting in New York between the teams since Las Vegas won the WNBA championship last year at Barclays Center. The Liberty won the first two meetings between the teams in Las Vegas earlier this year.

Without their star, the Aces (22-13) turned to more of a perimeter game, hitting six of their first seven 3-point attempts to take a 22-14 lead on New York early in the first quarter.

Then the Liberty took over, going on a 31-11 run the rest of the half to take a 12-point lead at the break. Stewart had 14 points and seven rebounds in the first half for New York.

The lead ballooned to 63-43 late in the third quarter as Aces coach Becky Hammon emptied her bench and Las Vegas started its rally.

The finals rematch brought out the stars as Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Dawn Staley, Jordan Chiles and Paige Bueckers were all in attendance.