Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
New York Post
Liberty clinch playoff berth after impressive win over Aces
By Associated Press,
6 hours ago
LAS VEGAS — Sabrina Ionescu had 23 points, Breanna Stewart scored 18 and Jonquel Jones added a double-double as the New York Liberty cruised to a 79-67 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday to earn their fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs.
Ionescu made 9 of 21 shots — 3 of 10 from 3-point range — and grabbed six rebounds as New York (23-4) maintained the best record in the league with its second road win over Las Vegas this season.
The Liberty posted a 90-82 win in Las Vegas on June 15.
Sabrina Ionescu, who scored a team-high 23 points, shoots a jumper during the Liberty’s 79-67 playoff-clinching victory over the Aces on Aug. 17, 2024. Getty Images
The Aces beat the Liberty in last season’s Finals to win their second straight championship.
Stewart added seven rebounds for the Liberty, which earned their sixth straight victory.
Plum’s three-point play gave Las Vegas an 11-point lead, but Ionescu hit a jumper and a 3-pointer in the final 39 seconds to cap a 7-0 run and get the Liberty within four.
Ionescu had 12 points in the first 10 minutes.
Kayla Thornton hit a turnaround jumper to begin the scoring in the second period and Ionescu followed with a 3-pointer to put the Liberty up 29-28.
The Liberty pushed their advantage to eight on an Ionescu floater, but Alysha Clark answered with a basket to get Las Vegas within 42-36 at halftime.
The Aces hit 6 of 7 from beyond the arc to begin the game then missed 11 in a row heading into intermission.
Jonquel Jones, who had a double-double, puts up a shot between two Aces defenders during the Liberty’s playoff-clinching win on Aug. 17, 2024. Getty Images
The Liberty held Las Vegas to eight points in the second quarter.
Clark ended Las Vegas’ 3-pointer drought — after 12 straight misses — with 3:52 left in the third quarter to pull the Aces within 50-47.
Kennedy Burke sank a 3-pointer, Ionescu scored off a rebound, and the Liberty held the Aces scoreless over the final 2:04 to build a 59-51 advantage after three quarters.
Stewart buried a 3-pointer 41 seconds into the final period to push New York’s lead to double digits.
Kiah Stokes and Gray made back-to-back 3-pointers and the Aces closed within 67-63 with 6:24 left to play.
Fiebich answered with a 3-pointer, Ionescu sank two free throws, and Thornton connected from beyond the arc as the Liberty upped their lead to 12 with 4:46 remaining and weren’t threatened from there.
It was the Aces’ first game since the league took a month-long break for the Paris Olympics.
For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Comments / 0