Alyssa Thomas scores first triple-double in WNBA Finals historical past as Solar take Aces to Recreation 4 | NBA Information
Alyssa Thomas scored the primary triple-double in WNBA Finals historical past because the Connecticut Solar take the Las Vegas Aces to Recreation 4 within the WNBA Finals.
The historic effort from Thomas imply the Solar prevented elimination with a 105-76 victory on Thursday evening. Las Vegas leads the best-of-five sequence 2-1 with Recreation 4 on Sunday in Connecticut.
Thomas completed with 16 factors, 15 rebounds and 11 assists. The Solar have now received all 4 of their elimination video games in these playoffs, beating Dallas on the highway within the first spherical and Chicago in Video games 4 and 5 to shut out that sequence.
“We have been struggling offensively, and we lastly bought a recreation again at house and my team-mates have been hitting photographs,” Thomas stated. “None of this is able to have been attainable with out them.”
The Aces bought off to a quick begin, scoring 9 of the primary 11 factors and forcing Connecticut to name a timeout. That settled the Solar down and so they took over, outscoring the Aces 32-10 the remainder of the quarter, together with 25 of the ultimate 29 factors.
Connecticut made 14 of their 17 photographs through the interval and DeWanna Bonner stepped up.
Bonner had struggled within the first two video games of the sequence, scoring 5 factors complete whereas lacking 16 of her 18 photographs. She had seven factors within the opening eight minutes on Thursday evening and completed with 18.
“She (Bonner) was enormous. She’s been right here earlier than. She’s received it. So, we lean on her,” Thomas stated. “And she or he’s been struggling offensively, however we had nothing however religion in her and he or she got here out and did her factor tonight.”
Jonquel Jones led the Solar with 20 factors.
Jones, Bonner and Thomas helped Connecticut dominate inside because the Solar set a Finals file with 64 factors within the paint whereas holding Las Vegas to 26.
“A very long time in the past, I talked to Lisa Leslie and he or she stated to win a championship it’s important to win the paint,” Jones stated. “I see it now and really feel it now. I can return to that and see she was proper.”
Connecticut used that benefit to steer 53-34 with 1:44 left within the second quarter earlier than the Aces closed the interval by scoring the ultimate 9 factors, together with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Kelsey Plum from simply inside half-court.
The Solar seized momentum again to begin the third quarter, scoring the primary 5 factors and Las Vegas could not get nearer than inside six for the remainder of the sport.