LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson had 31 points and eight rebounds, Jackie Young added 20 points and the Las Vegas Aces beat the first-place Minnesota Lynx 97-87 on Thursday night to set a franchise record with their 13th straight victory.
Wilson scored 30-plus points for 12th time this season to tie a WNBA record.
Las Vegas (27-14) snapped a six-game losing streak in the series, with its last victory over the Lynx coming on May 29, 2024. The Aces moved into a second-place tie with Atlanta (27-14) and Phoenix (27-14), five games behind Minnesota (32-9).
The Aces went ahead 63-55 five minutes into the third quarter after 3-pointers from Jewell Loyd and Young. Las Vegas finished the quarter up 70-66 after a buzzer-beater layup from Chelsea Gray.
Wilson hit her only 3-pointer of the game halfway through the fourth to extend the lead to 81-71.
Natisha Hiedeman scored 22 points off the bench for Minnesota, 11 in the fourth quarter. Courtney Williams added 14 points and Napheesa Collier had 12 points on 5-of-13 shooting.
Las Vegas shot 55.1% from the field, including 11 of 24 from 3-point range.
The Aces, who lost by 53 points to Minnesota in their last meeting on Aug. 2, became the seventh team in WNBA history to reach 13 wins in a row in a single season.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) tries to steal the ball from Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) celebrates after a play against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates after a play against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 35 points in his playoff debut and the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series Sunday night.
Wembanyama's 21 first-half points set an NBA record for the most in the opening half of an NBA playoff debut since the league's play-by-play era began in 1997. His 35 total points set a Spurs franchise record for the most in a playoff debut, surpassing Tim Duncan’s 32 in 1998.
“It is obviously different, but we’ve been really good in the regular season,” Wembanyama said. “So, we have no reason to act differently or do anything different.”
Game 2 is Tuesday night in San Antonio before the series heads to Portland for Games 3 and 4.
Stephon Castle and De'Aaron Fox each added 17 points and combined for 15 assists for San Antonio.
Deni Avdija had 30 points and 10 rebounds to lead Portland, which beat Phoenix 114-110 in Tuesday’s play-in game to earn the No. 7 seed.
Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft behind Wembanyama and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller, added 18 points.
The Spurs responded to the Trail Blazers' physicality while holding them to 10-for-38 shooting on 3-pointers and had a 45-38 rebounding advantage.
“The Spurs put you in tough positions,” Portland coach Tiago Splitter said. “Against them, you've got to shoot the ball well from 3s. We didn't. We've got to shoot the ball better.”
The Spurs and the sell-out crowd — which included Duncan and former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer David Robinson sitting together courtside — at the Frost Bank Center were primed for the franchise’s first playoff game since 2019. The six-season postseason drought came immediately after San Antonio won five NBA championships while appearing in a league-tying 22 straight postseasons.
Spurs fans are again dreaming big — and it’s because of their 7-foot-4 post player from France who is a finalist for the NBA's MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards.
Wembanyama’s highlights included dribbling behind his back to avoid Avdija at halfcourt, backing him down to the top of the key, spinning around him and running free to the rim for a two-handed dunk midway through the first quarter.
San Antonio clamped down defensively to regain their double-digit lead in the third quarter, with Devin Vassell blocking Donovan Clingan and Jrue Holiday while scoring eight straight points.
“That’s what we’ve talked about, just not giving up on the play,” Vassell said. “Every possession matters, whether it’s the first possession in the first quarter or the last possession in the fourth quarter. Play to the whistle.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) celebrates a play against the Portland Trail Blazers during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Portland Trail Blazers center Robert Williams III (35) scores over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) drives against Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet (7) scores over Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) during the first half in Game 1 of a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series in San Antonio, Sunday, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
