Ionescu, Stewart, Jones lead Liberty over Aces 79-67, becoming first team to clinch playoff berth

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu had 23 points, Breanna Stewart scored 18 and Jonquel Jones added a double-double as the New York Liberty cruised to a 79-67 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday to earn their fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs.

Ionescu made 9 of 21 shots — 3 of 10 from 3-point range — and grabbed six rebounds as New York (23-4) maintained the best record in the league with its second road win over Las Vegas this season. The Liberty posted a 90-82 win in Las Vegas on June 15. The Aces beat the Liberty in last season's Finals to win their second straight championship.

Stewart added seven rebounds for New York, which earned its sixth straight victory. Jones scored 10 points and snagged a season-high 17 rebounds. Leonie Fiebich pitched in with 12 points and seven rebounds.

A'ja Wilson finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds to pace Las Vegas (16-9). Kelsey Plum scored 11 of her 13 points in the first quarter. Chelsea Gray totaled 13 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Plum hit all four of her shots — two from 3-point range — to help the Aces take a 28-24 lead after one quarter. Plum's three-point play gave Las Vegas an 11-point lead, but Ionescu hit a jumper and a 3-pointer in the final 39 seconds to cap a 7-0 run and get the Liberty within four. Ionescu had 12 points in the first 10 minutes.

Kayla Thornton hit a turnaround jumper to begin the scoring in the second period and Ionescu followed with a 3-pointer to put the Liberty up 29-28. New York pushed its advantage to eight on an Ionescu floater, but Alysha Clark answered with a basket to get Las Vegas within 42-36 at halftime. The Aces hit 6 of 7 from beyond the arc to begin the game then missed 11 in a row heading into intermission. New York held Las Vegas to eight points in the second quarter.

Clark ended Las Vegas' 3-pointer drought — after 12 straight misses — with 3:52 left in the third quarter to pull the Aces within 50-47. Kennedy Burke sank a 3-pointer, Ionescu scored off a rebound, and the Liberty held the Aces scoreless over the final 2:04 to build a 59-51 advantage after three quarters.

Stewart buried a 3-pointer 41 seconds into the final period to push New York's lead to double digits. Kiah Stokes and Gray made back-to-back 3-pointers and the Aces closed within 67-63 with 6:24 left to play. Fiebich answered with a 3-pointer, Ionescu sank two free throws, and Thornton connected from beyond the arc as the Liberty upped their lead to 12 with 4:46 remaining and weren't threatened from there.

It was the Aces' first game since the league took a month-long break for the Paris Olympics.

UP NEXT

Las Vegas: Aces will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday.

New York: Liberty return home to play the Dallas Wings on Tuesday.

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

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) shoots over New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones, right, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces forward Alysha Clark (7) picks off a pass intended for New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Hayes (15) is fouled and loses control of the ball as she tries to drive between New York Liberty forwards Nyara Sabally (8) and Breanna Stewart (30) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) drives against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, right, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks took steps last season to prevent pitcher Merrill Kelly from cramping up, a plan that allowed the right-hander to play a key role during their World Series run.

A right hamstring cramp derailed Kelly's start in the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, but neither the Diamondbacks nor the right-hander are overly concerned.

“We’ve been sticking to that (routine) pretty much this year and I think that’s one of the reasons why it’s so frustrating,” Kelly said. “That's been kind of the theme: I won't feel anything and it will tag me out of nowhere.”

Kelly had a solid start going against the Rangers, giving up two runs through the first four innings. After a leadoff walk, Kelly winced following a pitch to Marcus Simien with no outs in the fifth inning.

The right-hander leaned forward in an attempt to stretch out the hamstring as Arizona's trainer and manager Torey Lovullo visited him on the mound. Lovullo made a quick decision to remove Kelly from the game, particularly with the Diamondbacks well on their way to a 14-4 win.

“I hate the fact that we have to take them off field and I made the decision on the field,” Lovullo said. "But I think that’s been his track record; he speaks up. We’ve put everything in place to help him."

Kelly dealt with cramps in multiple games last season, particularly at Chase Field, which has a retractable roof but still gets hot on the field even when it's closed.

Kelly worked with the Diamondbacks' medical staff and nutritionist to try preventing further cramping issues and it worked out well. The right-hander played a key role in Arizona's late-season run into the playoffs and all the way to the World Series.

With Arizona in a tight NL playoff race, Kelly's latest cramping issue could be a huge concern, but the Diamondbacks know they have a plan in place that's worked before. Kelly is not expected to miss his next start.

“Just like any other time I’ve cramped, no reservations about making my next start,” Kelly said. “I just do the best I can do to continue to hydrate. Obviously, we’re going to talk to the training staff and our doctors, and start turning over some more leaves and see what we got."

Kelly returned from the 60-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation on Aug. 11 and had gone 4-0 heading into his start against Texas.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly throws against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

An injured Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly walks off the field with a member of the training staff during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)