Wolves Silence Aces at Home: Santos' Late Heroics Seal 98-95 Victory
Santos' Clutch Play Downs Aces in Nail-Biter
LAS VEGAS – The Chicago Wolves stole a dramatic victory on the road, upsetting the Las Vegas Aces 98-95 in a thrilling February matchup. After a back-and-forth affair that saw multiple lead changes, it was a late surge from Chicago, spearheaded by Julian Santos, that ultimately decided the contest.
The Aces came out firing, trying to establish an early rhythm. However, the Wolves’ defense, particularly their active hands that resulted in 7 steals, kept Las Vegas from pulling away. The first half was a gritty, defensive battle, with neither team able to establish a significant advantage.
In the second half, the intensity ratcheted up. Elara Brooks was a force for the Aces, anchoring their defense with 5 blocks and chipping in 11 points. Finnian Harper also provided a spark, leading all Aces scorers with 16 points. But the Wolves found their offensive backbone in Julian Santos, who poured in a game-high 23 points, including a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter that swung momentum.
Jett Alcantara was another key contributor for Chicago, flirting with a triple-double with 17 points and 9 rebounds, while also adding 2 crucial steals. “We knew this was a tough place to play, but we stuck together,” said Santos after the game. “We executed when it mattered most.”
The final minutes were a tense exchange, with both teams trading baskets. A missed free throw by the Aces with seconds remaining proved costly, allowing the Wolves to hold on for the tight win. “We fought hard, but we just couldn’t close it out,” commented Aces coach, on the disappointing home loss. “Give credit to Chicago, they made the big plays.” Elias Bergstrom added a double-double for the Aces with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Key Notes:
- Julian Santos led all scorers with 23 points for the Wolves.
- Elara Brooks had a dominant defensive presence with 5 blocks.
- Jett Alcantara nearly recorded a triple-double with 17 points and 9 rebounds.
- The Aces struggled from the free-throw line, shooting just 50.0% (7/14).
- Both teams showcased balanced ball movement with an equal number of assists (19 for LV, 22 for CHI).