Aces fall in standings with blowout loss to Minnesota Lynx

The good news for the Aces: The Connecticut Sun lost on Sunday.

The bad news for the Aces: So did they.

Las Vegas failed to close the 1.5-game gap with Connecticut by losing 98-77 to the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center in Minneapolis. In doing so, the Aces (19-11) fell to fourth in the WNBA standings and trail the Washington Mystics (21-8), the Sun (20-9) and the Los Angeles Sparks (18-10), who beat Connecticut on Sunday afternoon.

The Aces still lead the fifth-place Chicago Sky (18-11) by a half-game. The top two seeds receive double byes into the semifinals of the playoffs, and the third and fourth seeds receive a bye through the first round and into the second round of the eight-team tournament.

“Tonight, it seemed like we were a step slow,” Aces guard Tamera Young said. “We have to learn from that and be more aggressive from the start to the finish.”

With just four regular-season games remaining, the Aces are running out of time to chase a top-two seed. They lacked urgency and energy in the first quarter against the Lynx, trailing 25-10 a mere six-plus minutes in after a combination of stagnant offensive possessions and careless defensive possessions.

“They ran the ball down the floor on us. They got layup, layup, layup, layup,” Las Vegas coach Bill Laimbeer said.

But the reserves checked in and played with energy in the second quarter, fueling a 13-0 run that gave the Aces a 42-39 lead at the half.

It was all for naught.

Las Vegas opened the second half by surrendering a 20-4 run, largely because slow defensive rotations and more carelessness in transition. Minnesota’s guards probed the paint for easy baskets. They delivered timely passes to post players and shooters who were primed to capitalize on Aces mistakes.

“They were just hitting shots,” Las Vegas guard Sugar Rodgers said after scoring 11 points. “They just played hard.”

For the Lynx, who shot 58.8 percent from the field, Danielle Robinson and Napheesa Collier scored a game-high 23 apiece, and all five starters scored in double figures. With the win, the Lynx improved to 15-15 and clinched a playoff berth.

Rookie guard Jackie Young scored 14 to lead the Aces, who conclude a three-game trip Tuesday against the Indiana Fever.

“They played harder than us. They wanted it more than us,” Laimbeer said. “We’re a very tired basketball team right now. We need some practice time. We need some rest. Unfortunately, we’re still on the road and we have more games. We have to find it.”

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Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.