There aren’t many sure things in Vegas. But one thing is for certain— you can always bet on the Aces.

Today’s Lineup

🎉 Happy birthday Jonathan Kuminga, Bronny James, Sylvia Fowles, and Rebecca Lobo! 🎉

Around the Association

Young’s record quarter helps Aces down Mercury 91-78 for 2-0 WNBA Finals lead

Las Vegas is two games away from becoming a title town once again.

On Sunday, the Aces took a commanding 2-0 lead in this year’s WNBA Finals with a double-digit Game 2 win over Phoenix. Two-time-champ Jackie Young showed her experience in the championship series, dialing up a 32-point day that included a Finals-record 23 PTS in the third quarter, while MVP A’ja Wilson added 28 PTS and 14 REB.

After trailing by three at the end of the first quarter, Vegas outscored the Mercury by 18 over the second and third quarters thanks in large part to Young’s stellar play. The Aces are loaded up and down the lineup, and now, Phoenix faces an uphill battle to keep Vegas from their third title in four years. We can’t wait for Game 3 on Wednesday… 🍿

Familiar faces, young stars make headlines in early preseason action

NBA preseason action has officially arrived, and we’ve got you covered with the biggest storylines to watch. Here are a few quick hits from this weekend’s matchups:

• OKC may feature one of the best big threes in the league, but they’ve also got a deep bench full of hungry up-and-comers. In a wire-to-wire 135-114 win over the Hornets, the Thunder got 17+ PTS from Aaron Wiggins, Jaylin Williams, and Ousmane Dieng, all under the age of 26. The rich get richer!

• Jalen Brunson and Nikola Jokic each dropped solid performances, with Brunson scoring 14 in a 113-104 win over Philly and Joker also notching 14 in a 126-116 loss to Minnesota. While plenty of stars sit out preseason, it’s great to see a few big names suiting up.

• Lots of rooks are getting their first taste of non-Summer League action, and it’s safe to say they’re making the most of it. Kon Knueppel had 18 for Charlotte, Jase Richardson came off the bench and led all scorers with 13 against Miami, and UNC legend RJ Davis had 11 for the Lakers against Golden State. Welcome to the league!

Pick a Side

Two great shooting guards. Two storied careers. One choice to make: who’s your pick between the scoring machine and the three-time champ: James Harden, or Dwyane Wade?

The case for Harden: The man who redefined the term “scorer” in the modern era, few peaks in NBA history can match The Beard’s top production. An MVP in 2018, the author of the league’s first-ever 60-point triple-double, and a three-time scoring champ, Houston Harden and his legendary step-back were something to behold. And don’t forget his early days in OKC where he brought home 6MOY, or his later acts in Brooklyn, Philly, and L.A., where he had some of his most memorable postseason performances.

The case for Wade: When it comes to winning, few have done it like D-Wade. After leading Miami to a title in just his third season, the Marquette product allowed his own production to take a backseat as LeBron James played Batman for another two championship runs. A tenacious driver and dogged defender, Wade finished his career with 13-time All-Star appearances, a scoring title in 2009, and three big pieces of jewelry. An icon in Miami, and across the league!

Three in the Key

Signing Off

And we out! Thanks for spending a portion of your day with us. This week, try to find time in your routine to think, relax, and reflect. In the bustle of daily life, even just a few minutes can be a meaningful reset and help improve your headspace. See you soon!

Walker Carnathan