Chelsea Gray Said No! Aces Survive Atlanta's Fourth Quarter Comeback for 85-84

I need you to understand what just happened in Atlanta.

The Las Vegas Aces were up 19 points in the third quarter. Up 81-64 with two minutes left in the fourth. Then the Atlanta Dream in front of a sellout crowd on NBC went on a 16-0 run, took the lead, and had all the momentum in the world.

And then Chelsea Gray said absolutely not.

With 3.6 seconds on the clock, down by one, Chelsea Gray caught the ball and swished the game winner. Final score: Aces 85, Dream 84. Las Vegas improves to 4-1. The dynasty is very much alive.

How it happened

The Aces controlled this game from the jump never trailing in the first quarter, building a double-digit lead in the second, and stretching it to 19 points midway through the third. At 73-54 it looked like this one was over. Atlanta had other plans.

The Dream's defense clamped down, forced turnovers, and their offense caught fire in the fourth 16 straight points that flipped an 81-64 deficit into an 81-80 nail biter with 2:16 left. The Aces went six minutes without scoring. Six minutes. In a game they were winning by 19.

Then A'ja Wilson ended the drought with a bucket to make it 83-80. Atlanta answered with four straight two from the line and a transition layup to take the lead for just the second time all game. Las Vegas called timeout with seconds left needing a miracle.

What happened next was pure Aces basketball. Chelsea Gray missed the first attempt, Jackie Young secured the offensive board, got tied up with Allisha Gray for a jump ball, tipped it to Stephanie Talbot, who found Chelsea Gray cutting and she knocked it down. 85-84. Cold blooded.

Then on Atlanta's final possession Chelsea Gray stole the inbound pass to seal it. One play wasn't enough she had to do it twice.

Chelsea Gray was THAT girl today

21 points. 5 for 8 from three. 6 assists that led directly to 13 points. A game winning shot. And a steal on the final possession. That is one of the most complete individual performances you will see from a guard this season. Today was Chelsea Gray's sixth career game with five or more made threes and she saved her best for when it mattered most.

She did not come to play with these people today and I need everyone to acknowledge it.

A'ja Wilson keeps making history

Even on a day when the offense struggled down the stretch, A'ja Wilson dropped 20 points and six rebounds and in doing so made history twice.

With her six boards tonight she now has 2,522 career rebounds, passing Swin Cash to move into No. 17 on the WNBA all-time rebound chart. And with her 20 points she passed Aces head coach Becky Hammon on the all-time scoring list, moving into No. 19 with 5,844 career points. She scored 20 or more points for the third straight game and has now scored in double figures in 29 consecutive games the second-longest active streak in the league.

Just a regular Sunday for the best player in the world.

Chennedy Carter and NaLyssa Smith showed up

Carter finished with 20 points and was the Aces' most consistent offensive presence all afternoon leading the team with 8 points in the third quarter and doing exactly what this team needs from her off the bench. NaLyssa Smith added 13 and led the team with 5 points in that wild fourth quarter when everyone else went cold. Jackie Young might not have filled the stat sheet offensively but her 7 rebounds and 7 assists were the connective tissue that kept this offense functioning and her tip on that final jump ball set up the game winner.

The Dream gave everything they had

Let me give credit where it's due. Allisha Gray was incredible game-high 25 points and she had Atlanta right there in the final seconds. Rookie Madina Okot posted the game's only double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds in just her third WNBA game. The Dream are real. They are 2-1 and they are going to be a problem in the East all season long. Her Game Network covers Atlanta and I will be watching them closely.

My take

This game had everything. A dominant first half, a complete fourth quarter meltdown, a 16-0 run by the home team on national television, and then Chelsea Gray reminding everybody why she is one of the coldest players in the history of this league. The Aces have now won six straight against Atlanta and nine of the last ten. But none of them were this dramatic.

4-1. The Aces are right where they need to be.

Up next

Las Vegas heads home and gets a well-deserved break before welcoming the LA Sparks to Michelob Ultra Arena on Saturday, May 23 at 5pm on CBS. Before tip-off the Aces will unveil their third championship banner in the rafters and the first 7,500 fans receive a replica championship banner in what is expected to be the 50th consecutive sellout at "The House." Her Game Network will be there for all of it.

Final: Las Vegas Aces 85, Atlanta Dream 84

Box score highlights

Chelsea Gray: 21 PTS, 5-8 3PT, 6 AST, game winning shot, game sealing steal
A'ja Wilson: 20 PTS, 6 REB — now No. 17 all-time in rebounds, No. 19 all-time in scoring
Chennedy Carter: 20 PTS
NaLyssa Smith: 13 PTS
Jackie Young: 7 REB, 7 AST
Allisha Gray (ATL): 25 PTS
Madina Okot (ATL): 14 PTS, 11 REB (double-double)
Team: 42.5% FG, 37% 3PT
Record: Las Vegas 4-1, Atlanta 2-1