3 takeaways: Aces knock off WNBA-leading Sun — PHOTOS

The Aces felt they started turning the corner defensively Wednesday, minus the lapses and “silly stuff” coach Becky Hammon thought were too common in the second half.

Against the team with the league’s best record, they doubled down for their best performance of the season.

A’ja Wilson had 26 points and 16 rebounds to push the Aces to an 85-74 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena.

Wilson extended her WNBA record with her 19th consecutive 20-point game and 14th to begin the season. The reigning Finals MVP recorded her ninth double-double of the season to go along with two blocks and two steals.

Guard Kelsey Plum had 18 points, and forward Alysha Clark had 11 points off the bench to help the Aces (8-6) win consecutive games for the first time since May 25-29.

The Aces are just 4-5 since those back-to-back victories over Indiana and Minnesota, but they moved to 2-0 since point guard Chelsea Gray returned to the lineup from a foot injury suffered in the WNBA Finals in October.

“Losses teach you a lot of lessons,” Wilson said. “It brings out a lot of stuff, because winning disguises a lot of stuff. The biggest thing that came out of our losses is we just didn’t want it. The other team wanted it more.”

The Sun (13-2) entered the day allowing a league-best 70.7 points per game and with the second-best defensive rating in the league (93.3).

It was the Aces that turned it on defensively, holding the Sun to 28 first-half points and leading 45-28 at halftime. Connecticut answered and cut the lead to 54-47 in the third quarter.