A'ja Wilson Double-Double Lifts Aces Over Sparks, Locks Up No. 3 Seed

Las Vegas beat Los Angeles 89-79 on Tuesday behind 18 points and 10 rebounds from A'ja Wilson, securing home-court advantage in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

A'ja Wilson posted 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Las Vegas Aces defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 89-79 on Tuesday night at home. The win, Las Vegas' sixth in a row, clinched at least the No. 3 seed in the WNBA playoffs and guarantees the Aces home-court advantage in the first round of the best-of-three series, which begins Sunday.

Chelsea Gray added 17 points for Las Vegas (30-13), while Stephanie Talbot scored 14 and Jackie Young finished with 14 points and 11 assists. If the standings hold, the Aces would meet the No. 6 seed Washington Mystics (27-16) in the opening round.

Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks (16-27) with 17 points, and Erica Wheeler chipped in 16. Ogwumike, an eight-time All-Star and the 2016 MVP, was honored before the game with a flower bouquet and a standing ovation. She announced on Aug. 19 that she will retire after this season and also serves as president of the players' union.

The Aces jumped ahead 17-5 on a 15-point first-quarter run. Los Angeles answered with an 11-point spurt in the second quarter to pull within 35-29 but never got closer. A 10-0 burst in the third quarter extended the Las Vegas lead to 63-45.

The short-handed Sparks were without Dearica Hamby (left knee) and Cameron Brink (right ankle). Los Angeles closes its season Thursday night at home against Golden State, while the Aces finish the regular season Thursday at Phoenix.