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The Las Vegas Aces and Indiana Fever locked horns on Friday in their final 2024 WNBA regular season clash. The game started with both teams looking to attack the paint. It seemed like a neck-and-neck contest before the Aces took a 15-11 advantage, riding on A'ja Wilson's six points.
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Meanwhile, the Fever struggled as the first quarter progressed. Caitlin Clark started 0-for-3 from the floor and missed her first two free throws. She also had two fouls in the first six minutes of play and was pulled by coach Christie Sides early into the first timeout.
Aliyah Boston joined her shortly after taking an elbow to the face from Tiffany Hayes on a defensive possession, worsening Indiana's woes.
Las Vegas took a 19-13 lead into the second quarter. A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum had six points each, while Kelsey Mitchell matched their scoring for the Fever. Both teams shot under 40.0%.
The Fever came out swinging in the second quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 20-19 lead into the first timeout for the Aces. Temi Fagbenle scored the first two points, followed by Damiris Dantas' five straight.
Indiana failed to sustain the momentum, though. The Aces hit back with an 11-2 run to go up 30-22, their largest lead at the time.
The flow of the game improved significantly in the second frame, with both teams getting hot from 3.
Kelsey Mitchell's 16 points kept Indiana in the game as it trailed 35-30 with 3:37 minutes left. Caitlin Clark remained scoreless, going 0-for-5. However, she had six assists, breaking the WNBA's single-season assists record. Meanwhile, Kelsey Plum led the Aces in scoring with 13 points.
Clark picked up her third foul with two minutes left in the first half while remaining scoreless as her struggles continued.
The first half ended 43-35 in the Las Vegas Aces' favor. They overwhelmed the Indiana Fever with their movement on offense and physicality on defense. One of the differences in the first half was shooting efficiency, with the Aces going 44.4% to the Fever's 42.2%. They also registered five 3s to the Fever's four and went 6-of-9 from the free throw line to Indiana's 3-of-8.
Caitlin Clark's (zero points) and Aliyah Boston's (four points) quiet nights were another reason behind the Fever's first-half deficit.
The Aces opened the second half with a five-point run, taking a 13-point lead (48-35), forcing Indiana into a quick timeout.
Boston and Clark scored the first points of the half for the Fever after getting in sync with their pick-and-roll game. Clark's first points of the night were followed by her first 3 of the night and a midrange shot, as she showed signs of life after a poor first half.
The Aces didn't let that derail their game, maintaining a healthy lead for most of the quarter.
Clark's 11th point of the quarter brought the Fever to within four with two minutes left (56-52). Indiana finally picked up its pace and got out in transition during that stretch, with Las Vegas looking fatigued as the game progressed.
The lead narrowed to three after another Clark 3-pointer, as she extended her third-quarter scoring to 14 points. Lexie Hull hit two clutch free throws to bring it to one. However, Jackie Young hit a tough jumper over Clark to give the Aces a 60-57 lead heading into the fourth.
Caitlin Clark's 14 and Aliyah Boston's six third-quarter points meant the Fever had a puncher's chance in the final frame.
The fourth quarter began with the Fever tying the game 60-60 behind Damiris Dantas' 3, while the Aces missed their first two shots. However, a few missed shots and turnovers cost the Fever their chance to take the lead as the Aces went on a 5-0 run to go up 65-60.
The Aces maintained a five-point lead or better until the 2:57 mark when Caitlin Clark got fouled by Jackie Young. Clark got it down to three before Aliyah Boston made only the second field goal of the quarter for the Fever with 2:25 left. Clark followed that up with a layup to keep it a one-possession game.
She had the chance to give the Fever the lead with 1:17 left, but the former Iowa star missed a 3-pointer. Kelsey Plum made the Fever pay for their defensive miscue on the other end, making a wide-open corner 3 to give the Aces a 75-70 lead with 56 seconds left.
Damiris Dantas hit a midrange jumper to make it a one-possession game again. The Aces failed to extend the advantage, giving the Fever 23 seconds to tie things up. The shot went to Boston in the corner, but her attempt rimmed out, giving the Aces possession with 13.5 seconds to go and a three-point lead.
Jackie Young iced the game, making one of her two free throws to put the Aces four points ahead with three seconds left. Las Vegas completed the season series sweep over the Fever with a 78-74 win
Chelsea Gray finished with a game-high 21 points, while Kelsey Plum scored 18. A'ja Wilson recorded another double-double with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever in scoring with 20 points, while Caitlin Clark had 18 with 10 assists. Aliyah Boston recorded 14 points and eight rebounds.
The Fever went 11-of-20 from the foul line, which proved costly against the reigning two-time WNBA champions.
Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever Player Stats and Box Scores for September 13
Las Vegas Aces Player Stats and Box Score
Indiana Fever Player Stats and Box Score
