Game Recap: Liberty 87, Aces 73

The Liberty emerged victorious in Game 3, clinching an 87-73 victory over the Aces. Leading the way for the Liberty was Jonquel Jones, who contributed 27 points to the team’s tally. Breanna Stewart also made a significant impact with 20 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists. On the opposing side, Kelsey Plum led all scorers with an impressive 29 points. With the Aces currently leading the best-of-five series 2-1, Game 4 is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, October 18th at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and will be broadcasted on ESPN.

Video Transcript

– The New York Liberty finds themselves with their backs against the wall in the WNBA finals superstar series, as they strive to survive another exhilarating game. The stage is set for a thrilling clash between Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, with the former leading the Aces 2-0 in this series. However, the Liberty harbor hope of claiming a decisive third win.

Things got off to a promising start for the Liberty as Sabrina Ionescu showcased her skills with a powerful 3-pointer. Ionescu then executed a seamless pass to Jonquel Jones, who confidently secured another 3-pointer. The momentum continued to favor New York as Stewart assisted Ionescu, who delivered nine points and 11 assists throughout the game. With the Liberty holding a comfortable 9-point lead, victory seemed within reach.

In response, Kelsey Plum of the Aces staged a fierce comeback, driving to the basket and finishing with an impressive reverse layup. This narrowed the gap to 21-18. As the game progressed into the second quarter, Stewart displayed her shooting prowess, knocking down a critical 3-pointer that extended the Liberty’s lead to 8 points.

Kelsey Plum continued to make her presence felt by relentlessly attacking the basket and achieving a career-high 29 points in the playoffs, maintaining a one-possession game. Jonquel Jones showcased her offensive skills with a well-executed lay-in and a successful turnaround jumper, concluding the first half with the Liberty leading by a slim margin of 3 points (43-40). The Liberty knew they had to secure a victory to remain in the series.

The third quarter saw Breanna Stewart drive to the basket and confidently execute a layup, increasing New York’s lead to 49-40. Meanwhile, Jones exhibited her defensive prowess by emphatically blocking Kelsey Plum’s layup attempt, followed by a triumphant finger wag. The Liberty maintained their dominance, with Jones also contributing on the offensive end with a reverse layup, widening the lead to 12 points.

Stewart further showcased her skills by blocking A’ja Wilson’s jumper, demonstrating New York’s determination to prevent the Aces from closing out the series. As the game entered the fourth quarter, Stewart continued to shine, executing a runner to once again secure a double-digit lead. Unfortunately, Chelsea Gray suffered an injury during the play and had to leave the game. Updates on her condition will be provided on NBA.com.

Stewart concluded the game with an impressive performance, contributing 20 points and 12 rebounds. Meanwhile, Jones displayed outstanding numbers, accumulating 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks. New York triumphantly secured the victory, narrowing the series gap to 2-1 in favor of Las Vegas.