New York Liberty vs Las Vegas Aces player stats and box scores for Oct. 4 | Game 3 WNBA playoffs

The Las Vegas Aces hosted the New York Liberty on Friday and dominated to win Game 3 95-81. After a tightly contested first half, the two-time defending champs clamped down on defense in the third quarter. They limited the visitors to six points while dropping 21 to cruise to a lopsided victory.

Becky Hammon's star-studded core of A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young answered the bell. They took turns in helping their team hold the lead in the first half before sprinting to the finish line.

Breanna Stewart had another solid game, but the Las Vegas Aces contained Sabrina Ionescu. The Game 2 star finished with four points, five rebounds, five assists and five turnovers.

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New York Liberty vs Las Vegas Aces: Player stats and box scores

New York Liberty's player stats and box scores

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
B. Laney-Hamilton	7	3	3	1	0	1	2-8	1-4	2-2	-13
B. Stewart	19	6	1	0	0	0	7-17	2-4	3-4	-24
J. Jones	11	6	1	0	1	2	4-8	1-3	2-2	-9
L. Fiebich	10	4	2	0	0	0	4-8	2-6	0-0	-17
S. Ionescu	4	5	5	0	1	5	1-7	1-2	1-1	-23
K. Thornton	3	1	0	1	0	0	1-2	1-2	0-0	-5
K. Burke	1	2	1	0	0	0	0-1	0-1	1-2	+1
N. Sabally	11	2	0	2	1	3	3-4	1-1	4-4	-5
C. Vandersloot	9	3	5	0	1	1	2-8	1-3	4-4	-6
J. Sherrod	0	1	1	1	0	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	+8
M. Davis	0	2	2	0	0	0	0-1	0-0	0-0	+5
I. Dojkic	3	0	0	0	0	0	1-1	1-1	0-0	+6

Las Vegas Aces' player stats and box scores

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
A. Clark	5	5	2	1	0	0	2-6	1-3	0-0	+18
A. Wilson	19	14	3	0	1	3	8-14	1-1	2-2	+15
C. Gray	10	1	7	0	2	1	4-10	2-7	0-0	+15
K. Plum	20	3	2	1	0	1	7-11	3-7	3-3	+19
J. Young	24	6	4	0	0	1	10-18	4-10	0-0	+17
M. Gustafson	0	1	1	0	0	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	+1
Q. Egbo	0	1	1	0	0	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	-8
S. Colson	4	0	0	0	0	1	1-2	1-2	1-2	-2
T. Hayes	11	3	2	3	0	2	4-7	1-1	2-2	+14
K. Martin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0-0	0-0	0-0	-2
K. Bell	2	0	0	0	0	0	1-2	0-0	0-0	-8

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New York Liberty vs Las Vegas Aces: Game Summary

Game 3 did not disappoint as the stars dueled right off the bat. A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young sizzled early for the home team but Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones kept the visitors within striking distance.

The Aces took a 26-23 lead after 10 minutes behind the combined 24-point output of Wilson, Young and Tiffany Hayes. New York kept in step as Stewart and Jones had 12 points between themselves. The Liberty bench picked up the slack from the scoreless Sabrina Ionescu.

The New York Liberty started hot in the second quarter before the Aces struck back. Both teams traded baskets and stops as the game continued. New York’s rookie Leonie Fiebich, scoreless in the first period, put up seven points that went with several savvy plays. Courtney Vandersloot and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton combined for 16 points, six assists and four rebounds to help Stewart.

As Hayes cooled off, Chelsea Gray joined Wilson and Young in leading Las Vegas. Plum also came alive in the second quarter to help the hosts take a 52-49 lead at the end of the first half.

The Las Vegas Aces’ third-quarter performance against the New York Liberty in Game 3 was the best from both teams in the series. Las Vegas outscored the Liberty 21-6 to turn a slim three-point edge in the first half to a 73-55 advantage leading to the fourth quarter. The Aces’ Big Four of Wilson, Gray, Plum and Young delivered when needed.

From a tooth-and-nail battle in the first half, the Aces’ defensive masterclass in the third period turned the game around. New York tried desperately to storm back into the game but Las Vegas held firm. Liberty coach Sandy Brondello threw the white towel with under three minutes left by taking out her starters.