DHJ Quick Take: Paige Bueckers Erupts for Season-High 31 in Wings’ Bounce-Back Win
Paige Bueckers poured in a season-high 31 points on 14-of-20 shooting to lead the Dallas Wings past the Phoenix Mercury, 85-70, two nights after a lopsided loss to Minnesota. She delivered it despite rolling her ankle in the first half, returning to score 7 straight points after a re-tape.
- How did Paige Bueckers spark the bounce-back? She scored 24 of her 31 points in the first half, the second-highest first-half total of her career, setting the tone from the opening tip.
- Why was her scoring so efficient? Bueckers shot 70% from the field and credited her teammates’ screening and off-ball actions for the rhythm she found.
- Did the ankle injury slow her down? She rolled it fighting for a rebound but returned after a re-tape and reeled off 7 straight points, joking that adrenaline is the best drug.
- What’s next? Dallas looks to carry the resiliency Bueckers preached into its next outing.
ARLINGTON, Texas — After suffering their toughest loss of the season, a 100-76 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, the Dallas Wings were looking for a response.
In tonight’s matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, Paige Bueckers made sure they got one.
The sophomore guard erupted for a season-high 31 points on an efficient 14-of-20 from the field, while adding 6 rebounds and 5 assists to lead the Wings to an 85-70 victory.
Sets Tone in Season-High Performance
Bueckers set the tone from the opening tip, recording 24 first-half points, the second-highest first-half scoring total of her career. The only player to score more in a half this season was A’ja Wilson, who scored 28 when she recorded a league-high 45 against the Connecticut Sun.
It was Bueckers’ first 30-point game of the season and the third of her WNBA career.
“I think as a team, we just wanted to respond,” Bueckers said. “It starts with our aggression on both ends of the floor. I thought we had a really good first quarter in terms of what we wanted to execute coming out of our game a few nights ago.”
Powers Through Ankle Scare
Bueckers’ statement performance came despite a brief scare in the first half when she rolled her ankle while fighting for a rebound.
“That’s why I don’t be rebounding,” Bueckers joked afterward.
Bueckers headed to the locker room to have her ankle re-taped before returning, and when she came back she didn’t miss a beat, scoring 7 straight points upon re-entering the game.
“Adrenaline is the best drug,” Bueckers said. “(I) didn’t really feel (the injury) during the game. I just wanted to power through and help the team get a win.”
Once Bueckers returned, Phoenix still had no answer for her production. Head coach Jose Fernandez highlighted Dallas’ ability to move Bueckers off the ball and create favorable matchups as a key to her successful night.
“When she gets going, it’s easy for me to put her in spots,” Fernandez said. “At the elbow, at the nail, post her up. That’s why she’s one of the best in the world.”
Bueckers certainly looked deserving of that title tonight, producing one of her most efficient scoring outbursts so far this season.
Resiliency After Bounce-Back Win
Even after scoring 31 points on 70% shooting, Paige Bueckers was more focused on the 6 shots she missed.
“I still missed 6 shots, so that’s something that I’ll lose sleep over,” Bueckers joked.
“As a hooper, sometimes you kind of get into a flow state,” Bueckers said. “Everything you shoot kind of feels good. But again, it’s just a credit to my teammates. Screening, getting me open, feeding the hot hand and making sure they see me moving without the ball is a huge piece of that.”
But while her 31 points represented a career milestone, Bueckers made it clear the bigger accomplishment was the team’s response.
“We’re trying to be a resiliency team,” she said. “You’re not going to win every game in this league. It’s about what you do the next game, what you do the next possession and how you respond to adversity.”
In tonight’s matchup, Bueckers’ response couldn’t have been much better.
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- ‘Feels Good To Be Back Out There’: JJ Quinerly Makes Long-Awaited Return For Dallas Wings
- ‘Having More Connectivity’: Paige Bueckers Details How Dallas Wings Can Respond After Minnesota Lynx Loss
- ‘They Expose You’: Minnesota Lynx’s First-Half Barrage Sinks Dallas Wings In 100-76 Road Loss
- ‘It’s Nostalgic In The Best Ways’: Jessica Shepard, Alanna Smith Return To Minnesota For First Time Since Joining Dallas Wings
- ‘She Was A No-Go Today’: Odyssey Sims Held Out Of Dallas Wings Practice With Ankle Injury
- Aziaha James Avoids Injury, Returns To Dallas Wings Practice After Los Angeles Sparks Scare
- ‘Total Team Effort’: Paige Bueckers Ties Franchise Assist Record, Arike Ogunbowale Scores 30 As Dallas Wings Beat Los Angeles Sparks 104-96
