LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Seattle Storm mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback to defeat the Las Vegas Aces 86-83 on Tuesday, forcing a decisive Game 3 in the first-round playoff series.
Down by 14 points at one point, Seattle outscored Las Vegas 25-14 in the final period, including 16-4 in the final four minutes of the game, to snap the Aces’ 17-game winning streak.
The two teams will return to Las Vegas for a winner-take-all Game 3 at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday, Sept. 18. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley, battling fever and an illness, set the tone on the game’s first play from scrimmage by intercepting Raiders quarterback Geno Smith.
Henley went on to have a big performance — as did the rest of the Los Angeles defense.
They shut down the Raiders, Justin Herbert passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns and the Chargers went on to a 20-9 victory Monday night to give Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh a win over rival Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll.
The Chargers, however, lost defensive end Khalil Mack to a left elbow injury late in the first quarter. He went to the locker room, but returned with his arm in a sling. Harbaugh said Mack will need to undergo imaging tests.
Herbert also led the Chargers in rushing with 31 yards. His two TD passes went to Quentin Johnson and Keenan Allen, who returned to the Chargers on a one-year contract after playing last season in Chicago.
It was Los Angeles’ defense that suffocated the Raiders, holding them to 218 yards, beginning with Henley’s interception.
“It definitely set the tone,” Henley said. “One thing we’ve been preaching with our defense is to start fast. We know it’s a long game and we have three more quarters to go. We just wanted to make sure we finished strong as well.”