FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Fever - Game 29 - 2022

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Fever – Game 29 – 2022

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (21-8)  |  Indiana Fever (5-26)

 

The Las Vegas Aces handled business Friday night by beating the Indiana Fever 93-72.

 

RECAP

 

For a good portion of this Friday night matchup, it appeared as though the Aces were involved in a good old-fashioned trap game — a game in which the clearly superior team, typically coming off of an emotional win, overlooks or plays down to its competition’s level. It made all the sense in the world because Vegas had, as recently as a week ago, led the lowly Indiana Fever by as many as 31 points in a win before taking down the Chicago Sky in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship.

Unready for the early start at Hinkle Fieldhouse, the Aces struggled with the Fever‘s aggressive ball pressure on the defensive end and turned the ball over several times. As a result, Vegas led by just one point three minutes into the second quarter.

To Indiana‘s credit, it sustained its level of activity and intensity until the final horn, something the team has done in recent games to help make once-blowouts more reasonable-looking by the game’s conclusion. But at some point in the second quarter, the game became about which team had two MVP candidates and which team did not. And In case you were wondering, that team was the Aces, who have A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum.

Dime piece 💰@cgray209 // @JackieYoung3 pic.twitter.com/pfSNeSqpkY

— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) July 30, 2022

The duo broke the game open in the middle two quarters with their scoring. Wilson dazzled in transition and the low post while Plum did her usual work from the perimeter — stopping and popping from beyond the arc and dashing past defenders with the dribble. The spurt of dominance grew Las Vegas’ lead into the twenties, where it stayed through the finish line.

 

NOTES

 

The Aces went into the fourth quarter with a large enough lead to win the game comfortably. But, as we’ve seen with this team throughout the season, they have been bad in garbage time. Last week, Vegas led this same Indiana Fever team by 31 points and pulled its starters down the stretch. However, Wilson, Plum, Hamby, Gray, and Plum all had to re-enter the game late to avoid squandering a lead.

This night was different. Most of the starters got extended rest throughout the fourth quarter, with Becky Hammon electing to leave one starter in with the bench lineups. The method worked, and, as a result, no Las Vegas player played more than 28 minutes.

 

 

KEY PERFORMERS

 

A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) – 22 PTS, 6 REBS, 3 ASTS, 3 STLS, 1/1 3PT

Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces) – 22 PTS, 1 REB, 2 ASTS, 3/4 1PT

Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces) – 15 PTS, 7 REBS, 5 ASTS, 1/3 3PT

NaLyssa Smith (Indiana Fever) – 9 PTS, 10 REBS, 2 ASTS, 1 STL

Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever) – 12 PTS, 4 ASTS, 2/6 3PT

Queen Egbo (Indiana Fever) – 13 PTS, 6 REBS, 1 STL

 

The Aces will stay in Indiana for another contest against Kelsey Mitchell and the Fever on Saturday, July 31st. Be sure to follow the action live at noon PST on ABC, then come back here for a full game recap.

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-Cole Huff– Franchise Sports Media