Defending champion Aces live up to title against the Storm

Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon knows her team is at its best when it plays sound defense.

Hammon, therefore, loved the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the Aces' first-round WNBA playoff series with the Seattle Storm, when Las Vegas allowed just two points, both on free throws, and rallied for a 78-67 win.

The Aces hope to continue that strong defensive effort Tuesday night at home, where they attempt to close out the best-of-three series and advance to the semifinals.

"We are our best when we run out of our defense and we put a couple of lineups out there that were super fast," Hammon said. "When we're fast, active defensively and just disruptive, we know we can get out to the other end."

Seattle's last made basket in the game was Skylar Diggins-Smith's driving layup and 3-point play with 52.9 seconds left in the third quarter. She had the Storm's only two points in the fourth quarter on free throws with 4:07 remaining.

The Storm missed all 12 of their field goal tries in the fourth quarter, as Diggins-Smith and Gabby Williams each went 0-for-3. Seattle also mixed in six turnovers.

It tied a WNBA record for fewest points in a quarter of a playoff game.

"There's no way you're winning the game with a two-point quarter," Seattle forward Nneka Ogwumike said.

Seattle might have to play Tuesday's elimination game without center Ezi Magbegor (concussion), who has missed the last four games since being injured during a Sept 13 win over Dallas.

It still is not known when Magbegor, who averaged 11.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots, can return.

"She's a closer," Ogwumike said. "She's a big defensive piece that we miss, and we have to fill those gaps someway, somehow. Playing defense is definitely different without her."

Magbegor's absence makes it tougher for the Storm to match up with WNBA Most Valuable Player A'ja Wilson, who was limited to nine made baskets on 21 shots Sunday, while scoring 21 points with eight rebounds. Wilson added five blocked shots.

Seattle received just six points on 2-of-8 shooting from leading scorer Jewell Loyd (19.7 per game), who returned to the lineup after missing the final three regular season games with a knee injury.

Meanwhile, Napheesa Collier scored a playoff career-high 38 points and the Minnesota Lynx blew a 23-point lead before rallying late to beat the Phoenix Mercury 102-95 on Sunday in Game 1 of a best-of-three series.

Minnesota, the Western Conference champions and No 2 seed, turned a 32-19 first-quarter lead into a 50-27 advantage with 5:35 left before halftime. Phoenix whittled nine points off its deficit, trailing 56-42 at the intermission, and closed within 77-69 heading to the fourth quarter.

Kahleah Copper scored five points in a 10-2 run, and her 3-pointer, followed by two free throws by Brittney Griner, gave seventh-seeded Phoenix its first lead since scoring the first four points of the game. Natasha Cloud's layup put the Mercury on top 92-91 with 2:06 left to play, but Myisha Hines-Allen answered with a layup and Bridget Carleton hit a 3-pointer in a 9-0 spurt to clinch the victory.

Collier sank 11 of 19 shots from the floor with three 3-pointers and 13 of 14 free throws for Minnesota. She added six rebounds and four assists. Kayla McBride hit three 3-pointers and all seven of her foul shots, scoring 20. Carleton had 12 points, six boards and four assists, and Hines-Allen added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists off the bench.

Cloud had 33 points, matching her postseason high, and 10 assists to lead Phoenix. Diana Taurasi made half of her 10 3-point attempts and scored 21. Copper added 16 points, and Griner finished with 10 points and six rebounds.

Collier finished four points shy of Breanna Stewart's playoff-record 42-point effort. Stewart scored 42 points while playing for the Seattle Storm in a 97-92 loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinal in 2022.

Minnesota won three of four games — all by double digits — against Phoenix during the regular season. The Mercury beat the visiting Lynx 81-80 for its lone victory.

The Lynx will host Game 2 at the Target Center in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Phoenix will host Game 3 on Friday, if necessary.

Agencies