LAS VEGAS – Megan Gustafson scored a new career high of 24 points and the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces won 98-84 over the Dallas Wings on Thursday evening despite the absence of four regular players.

The fourth-seeded Aces (27-13) open their best-of-three first-round series at home on Sunday against the fifth-seeded Seattle Storm.

Tiffany Hayes scored 21 points for the Aces, who rested MVP favorite A’ja Wilson and fellow Olympians Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Sydney Colson scored 13 points, Kierstan Bell 12 and Alysha Clark 10.

Satou Sabally scored 25 points to lead the Wings (9-31), who were without top scorer Arike Ogunbowale due to illness. Jaelyn Brown contributed 15 points, Kalani Brown and Natasha Howard each had 13 and Maddy Siegrist had 12.

The score was tied 30-30 after the first quarter, with both teams combining for 11 three-pointers. The Aces took control in the second quarter and led 60-45 at halftime. Las Vegas made 11 of 21 three-pointers at halftime.

The Aces extended their lead to 88-68 after three quarters. Hayes scored the first basket of the fourth quarter before the Wings scored 13 points and got within nine points with 4:47 left, but they never got any closer.

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