What happened: Wilson had a game-high 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting as Las Vegas opened a six-point cushion late in the first half on USA Network. She did much of the damage early, racing to 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 first quarter.

Why it matters: A fast start from A'ja Wilson mattered with a semifinal berth riding on a winner-take-all Game 3. The scoring burst also came a day after Wilson avoided further discipline from the Game 2 fan confrontation, keeping Las Vegas' top option available for the decider.

What to watch: The next question was whether Wilson could keep that efficiency after the break with the season on the line. A steady second half would put Las Vegas in position to finish the series.