The Golden State Valkyries are one win from the WNBA Finals. Veronica Burton hit a deep 3-pointer with 41 seconds left, then made two free throws in the closing seconds, as Golden State beat the Las Vegas Aces 83-81 on Wednesday night at Chase Center, AP reported. The Valkyries lead the best-of-five semifinal 2-0.

It was Burton's only basket of the night. She had sat down early in the third quarter of Sunday's 71-60 Game 1 win and did not return. "I was just saying I had to do something out there," she said.

The finish was wild. Jackie Young missed the second of two free throws with six seconds left, giving Las Vegas one more chance. Chelsea Gray grabbed the rebound and drove for a layup, but Kiah Stokes blocked it and Burton corralled the ball.

Tiffany Hayes led Golden State with 21 points against her former team. She missed last year's playoff run with a left knee injury. Gabby Williams added 20 points and five rebounds, and Kayla Thornton scored 16.

The Aces nearly stole it. They trailed 66-55 going into the fourth quarter, and Gray's 3-pointer tied the game at 74 with 2:10 left. A'ja Wilson then scored to put Las Vegas up two, the Las Vegas Sun reported, before Golden State scored the next five points. Wilson finished with a game-high 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Gray had 19, and Young added 14 points and eight assists.

The run is a big step for a young team. Last year, Golden State became the first expansion team in league history to make the playoffs in its first season. Now it is in its second season and close to the Finals.

For Las Vegas, the season is on the line. Coach Becky Hammon had said a split on the road was important. "I can't convince them that this is not a must-win, because if we lose we go home, and we stay home," she said.

Game 3 is Friday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

What we know: Golden State leads 2-0 and can close out the series Friday.
What we don't: The tip time and TV channel for Game 3 were not in the recaps we reviewed.