Chennedy Carter scores 34 and Angel Reese records another double-double as the Sky beat the Aces

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chennedy Carter scored 34 points, Angel Reese had 13 points and 10 rebounds for her 16th double-double in the last 17 games, and the Chicago Sky beat the Las Vegas Aces 93-85 on Tuesday night.

Chicago led 42-21 at the midway point of the second quarter and held the advantage until Megan Gustafson made a 3-pointer from the corner with 8:16 remaining in the fourth to give the Aces their first lead of the game at 72-71.

Carter put Chicago ahead for good, 80-79, on a basket while being fouled with 3:23 left. She missed the free throw, but Chicago grabbed the offensive rebound and Carter made another shot for a three-point lead. Carter also scored on Chicago's next two possessions to make it 86-81.

Reese secured her double-double with 1:32 left in the fourth when she elevated to grab a rebound and put up a shot before landing on the floor for an 88-81 lead. The Sky made 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch to seal it.

Carter was 14 of 24 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free-throw line to come within one point of tying a career high, set during her rookie season in 2020. Marina Mabrey added 15 points for Chicago (10-14).

A’ja Wilson had 28 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and three steals for her sixth straight game this season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds for Las Vegas (16-8). Wilson moved into third in franchise history for career steals. Tiffany Hayes added 19 points off the bench and Jackie Young scored 11 of her 17 points in the second quarter.

Carter made her first five shots of the game and scored 14 in the first quarter, while Las Vegas only had 12 points after going 5 of 13 from the field. Carter’s first points of the second quarter came with 25 seconds left to give Chicago a 44-37 lead at the break.

Mabrey completed a three-point play with 1:49 remaining in the third to give Chicago a 69-56 lead, but the Aces closed the quarter on a 7-0 run, capped by a jumper by Kelsey Plum just before the buzzer.

Las Vegas rookie Kate Martin slipped on the court with 1:19 left in the first quarter and needed to be helped to the locker room. She later returned to the bench but did not play again.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Usher, left, watches an WNBA basketball game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Chicago Sky Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon reacts to an official's call during the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Chicago Sky, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon reacts to a basket by the Sky during the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Las Vegas Aces, Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) defends against Chicago Sky forward Isabelle Harrison (20) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray (12) shoots between Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) and center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Hayes (15) drives to the basket against Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) steals the ball from Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) during the first half of an WNBA basketball game Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter, right, steals the ball from Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) steals the ball from Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray, center, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was charged Tuesday with sedition over a speech he made that allegedly questioned the integrity of the country's previous king.

Muhyiddin, who led Malaysia from March 2020 until August 2021, pleaded not guilty in a court in northeast Kelantan state. According to the charge sheet, Muhyiddin made the seditious remarks last month during a by-election campaign in Kelantan.

Nine ethnic Malay state rulers take turns as Malaysia’s king for five-year terms under the country’s rotating monarchy, which began when Malaysia gained independence from Britain in 1957. The monarchy plays a largely ceremonial role, but are revered by the nation's majority Muslims.

In his speech on Aug. 14, Muhyiddin had questioned why then-King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah didn't invite him to be prime minister following a hung Parliament in November 2022. Muhyiddin had claimed he had the backing of majority lawmakers.

Muhyiddin's Islamic nationalistic bloc received stronger-than-expected support from Malays, who account for two-thirds of Malaysia’s 34 million people. Sultan Abdullah appointed then-opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister after Anwar cobbled up support from rival parties to form a unity government.

Sultan Abdullah from central Pahang state, who ended his reign on Jan. 30 this year, didn't comment on the case. But his son issued a strong rebuke to Muhyiddin, saying his remarks were dangerous and could divide the people and undermine the royal institution.

Muhyiddin was questioned by police following complaints against him. He had denied insulting the royalty, saying his remarks were factual and that he had handed in sworn oath of support by 115 lawmakers in the 222-member parliament.

Zaid Malek from Lawyers for Liberty, a human rights and law reform group, slammed the use of the colonial-era Sedition Act against Muhyiddin. He said questioning or criticizing the exercise of constitutional power by the king wasn't seditious.

The law, introduced by the British in 1948, criminalizes speech or actions with an undefined “seditious tendency,” including that which promotes hatred against the government and monarchy or incites racial discord.

“The king is a constitutional monarch, and not a feudal ruler. His exercise of his power can thus be debated, questioned or criticized. This is the very bedrock of our system of constitutional monarchy,” Zaid said. Anwar had backtracked on his pledge to repeal the Sedition Act, which has long been used to suppress dissenting voices, he added.

Muhyiddin, 77, faces up to three years in prison or a fine or both if found guilty. He is also still battling corruption and money-laundering charges that he claims are politically motivated.

Muhyiddin was the second former leader charged with crimes after ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak, who received multiple charges after losing a 2018 general election. Najib began a 12-year prison term in 2022, with several more graft trials underway.

FILE - Malaysia's former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin poses for media outside courthouse, after charged with corruption and money laundering, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)