Wilson Scores 36, Aces Close Out the Fever 94-83
Aces 94, Fever 83. Wilson goes 11-of-18 and Las Vegas takes the series 2-1.
A'ja Wilson scored 36 points as Las Vegas closed out Indiana 94-83 to win the first-round series 2-1. The Fever cut the lead to 82-80 with three minutes left, but the Aces finished on a 12-3 run, scoring 10 of those points at the free-throw line.
Indiana opened with a 10-2 run, but Las Vegas recovered to tie the first quarter at 31 and led 54-48 at halftime. The Aces stretched the margin to 12 in the third before the Fever cut it to five entering the fourth.
Kelsey Mitchell's seven-point burst brought Indiana within 82-80. Chelsea Gray then made two free throws and a pull-up jumper. The Fever scored only three more points, and Las Vegas protected the lead at the line.
Quarters and the shot profile
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fever | 31 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 83 |
| Aces | 31 | 23 | 16 | 24 | 94 |
Indiana won points in the paint 36-22 and rebounds 38-34. Las Vegas made up the difference with more accurate perimeter shooting and free throws: the Aces went 8-of-20 from three and 28-of-35 at the line, compared with Indiana's 9-of-32 and 14-of-20.
Both teams committed 10 turnovers. This finish turned on the Aces' scoring efficiency rather than a turnover advantage.
Key performances
- A'ja Wilson, Aces: 36 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks, 11-of-18, 2-of-3 from three, 12-of-15 at the line, 37 minutes. In Game 1 she had 38 on 15-of-19 with 16 rebounds. In Game 2 she had 22 on 5-of-11.
- Chelsea Gray, Aces: 23 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 8-of-15, 6-of-6 at the line, all 40 minutes.
- Jackie Young, Aces: 18 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, all 40 minutes. She had 31 in Game 2.
- Jewell Loyd, Aces: 11 points, 3-of-10, 3-of-6 from three.
- Kelsey Mitchell, Fever: 23 points, 7-of-23, 3-of-11 from three, plus the 7-point push that made it 82-80. She took 23 shots after 16 in Game 2, when she scored 26.
- Aliyah Boston, Fever: 19 points, 10 rebounds, 8-of-16, 2-of-4 from three.
- Caitlin Clark, Fever: 18 points, 4 assists, 6 turnovers, 2 steals, 4 blocks, 6-of-18, 3-of-12 from three, 37 minutes. The 4 blocks were her first of the series. She had none in Game 1 or Game 2. On Tuesday she had 27 points and 15 assists on 5-of-11 from three.
- Myisha Hines-Allen, Fever: 12 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, 5-of-9 in 20 minutes.
Las Vegas advanced to the semifinals. Wilson finished the three games with 96 points; our Aces-Fever series breakdown compares her efficiency with Indiana's advantages inside.
Related: Bloody Teeth, No Whistle.
Box score: ESPN.
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