The Aces hadn't spent a lot of time working on zone defense, so what better time than the fourth quarter of a WNBA Finals game?

It worked out perfectly for Las Vegas.

The zone cooled off hot-shooting Phoenix just enough to allow the Aces, who received 21 points each from A'ja Wilson and Dana Evans, to rally for an 89-86 Game 1 victory Friday night.

Wilson scored 12 points over the final 14 minutes, and Phoenix’s Satou Sabally missed a long 3-pointer with 2 seconds left that would have tied it.

Game 2 is Sunday in Las Vegas.

The Mercury made 6 of 18 shots in the fourth quarter, including 2 of 12 from 3-point range. They entered that period shooting 52.1%, including 50% from 3.

“I was seeing them score too much against our man (defense),” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “I thought them g

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