NaLyssa

Smith

While Young didn’t score a ton in the first quarter, she poured it on in the second scoring nine of her 21 total points in the second quarter alone. Young was one step ahead of Monique Akoa Makani and found a way to take advantage of the smallest bits of space coming off of ball screens to be able to make her shots. After a slow third quarter scoring, Young came alive in the fourth and scored 6 of the Aces’ total 14 fourth quarter points. Also, Wednesday night was another evening that put Young’s playmaking on notice as she led the Aces with nine total assists. She found four different teammates including NaLyssa Smith, Jewell Loyd, Dana Evans and A’ja Wilson. Four of Wilson’s 11 field goals came on passes from Young as the combo guard has perfected not only her pick-and-roll chemistry with Wilson but her timing with Wilson. Young can easily get the ball to Wilson right in the spots she likes the most on the floor.

Young was once again efficient offensively for the Aces, shooting 60 percent from the field and tying for the team-high in assists in Game 4. However, she only attempted two shots, both makes, during the first half. While Indiana’s Lexie Hull deserves some credit for her defense, the Aces need Young to be more aggressive, especially as NaLyssa Smith (eight points, two rebounds and one blocked shot) and Jewell Loyd (six points, three rebounds, one steal, one block and two three-pointers) offer limited offensive production. Las Vegas returns home for a decisive Game 5 on Tuesday night.

On the heels of an 18-point Game 2, Smith came up big on both ends of the floor for the Aces on Friday. Using a combination of strength and finesse, the midseason trade acquisition finished as the team’s second-leading scorer on the night. Her six-point fourth quarter felt especially massive as the contest remained competitive down the stretch. While her scoring the rest of the way will be beneficial, Smith’s interior toughness and physicality will be equally as important alongside Wilson in the frontcourt. Smith tallied five stocks on Friday and will have a chance to land two-way production again on Sunday in an attempt to help close out her former team with a Game 4 win.

Smith scored a career playoff high on Tuesday night. She was Aces’ most efficient player scoring the basketball, shooting 77.7% from the field. Smith was excellent at finding her spots on the floor and moving without the basketball. All of her field goals were assisted as Kiersten Bell, A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Dana Evans all found her for scores within the paint. Second to Wilson who has nine, Smith provided a lot of support rebounding the basketball, providing seven for the Aces.

While Gray has not offered much scoring in the first two games of this series, totaling 12 points, she’s been effective as a playmaker for others. The “Point Gawd” has tallied 15 assists and three turnovers, an excellent and unsurprising ratio for a player of her caliber. However, if the Aces are to defend home court in Thursday’s series decider, they may need a little more scoring from Gray and NaLyssa Smith. Smith was relatively quiet in Game 2, finishing with seven points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Smith returned to the Aces lineup after sitting out Sunday’s win over Chicago. With Tuesday’s rematch being a blowout, she only logged 23 minutes and finished a blocked shot shy of a complete stat line. Megan Gustafson, who started on Sunday, only played three minutes while Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Kiah Stokes logged eight apiece. Depending on what Atlanta does in its game against Connecticut on Wednesday, the Aces will know whether they need to beat the Sparks on Thursday to secure the two seed for the playoffs. If Atlanta loses, Gustafson, Parker-Tyus and Stokes could handle most of the rotation minutes in Los Angeles.

While Smith returns to the lineup after sitting out Sunday’s win over Chicago due to concussion protocols, the Aces will be without Kierstan Bell (leg). Instead of going back to Jewell Loyd, Aces head coach Becky Hammon has tabbed Nye to fill the void. The rookie starting means Loyd can remain in the reserve role, which has worked so well for the Aces since she was moved to the bench in late July.

After sitting out Sunday’s win over the Sky, Smith has cleared concussion protocols and will play in Tuesday’s rematch. Her return means Megan Gustafson heads back to the bench, where he streaming value takes a significant hit.

Smith was held out of Sunday’s win over the Sky, with Megan Gustafson logging 17 minutes as her replacement in the starting lineup. While Smith is questionable for Tuesday’s rematch, she remains in concussion protocol, which is not good news regarding her availability. Gustafson may make another start if Smith sits, but this would also mean more playing time for Kiah Stokes off the bench.

Gustafson will make her first start of the season, replacing NaLyssa Smith (concussion) in the Aces’ opening lineup. Gustafson began the season sidelined with a leg injury, but returned in early July and has posted averages of 2.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks in the 17 games she’s appeared in. With her promotion to the starting unit on Sunday, Kiah Stokes figures to be a reserve player who could see more action as the Aces look to win their 14th straight game and reclaim the second spot in the WNBA standings.