The Aces returned home after a victory in Phoenix on Wednesday night to face the Indiana Fever in the first game of a mini-series. Vegas scored a franchise-best 113 points en route to a 36 point thrashing of the Fever.
RECAP:
Photo Credit: WNBA
If there were any questions of if the Aces would have sluggish legs after returning home from a road game on Wednesday night, they certainly had the answer. Behind some elite defense and explosive offense, Las Vegas raced out of the gates to an early lead. Indiana made life easier for the Aces by turning the ball over five times in the quarter; but even when they weren’t turning the ball over, the Fever kept missing shots — allowing the Aces to rebound and find some early offense.
Speaking of early offense, Gray thrived there in the first quarter; seemingly at the end of every Fever missed shot, she was there to rebound or receive the outlet and speed the ball down the court to find her teammates for easy baskets. Often on the end of those seven first-quarter assists from Gray was A’ja Wilson who dominated in the paint. Vegas took a 30-13 lead into the second.
The Aces kept throwing the punches on offense to start the second, and it was all kicked off by a deep Chelsea Gray three-pointer to beat the shot clock. Vegas held the Indiana offense mostly in check until Kelsey Mitchell and Danielle Robinson converted on back-to-back possessions to make the score 41-18. Tierra McGowan made things difficult for the Aces’ defenders — drawing fouls on every big defender that challenged her physicality in the paint.
However, Indiana’s defense repeatedly failed them. Dearica Hamby raced to the rim and behind the defense on several occasions, which led to multiple layups and free throws. The game grew longer and longer, though, as the Aces’ fouls continued to stack up, and the Fever inched their way back into the game. The quarter ended at 59-47 Aces.
Vegas righted their wrongs after the half and came out of the break in a way that rivaled the opening quarter. A’ja Wilson scored from the left block and then Chelsea Gray took over from that point on — nailing consecutive threes and then getting a couple to go from inside the arc to push the Aces’ lead to 24 points. The story remained the same for the rest of the third and the lead blossomed to 87-58.
With the difference being 29 points at the start of the final frame, the only thing that the Fever could do was make the game more respectable. And while that may, or may not, have been their intent it’s not what happened. From 29, the lead expanded to as many as 43 before the final horn sounded and the Aces found themselves with a 113-77 win.
POSITIVES:
Photo Credit: WNBA
As was the case in many of the Aces’ wins thus far, they took an early lead and controlled the game from there on out.
Offense – En route to a 113 point performance, Vegas had six players score in double digits — including two players above 20 points and two on the fringes of it. And all eight of the available Aces scored.
Free Throws –Indiana’s defense had no idea how to guard the Aces and they resorted to fouling. Vegas shot 30-39 from the charity stripe — adding to the cushion that they played with all game long.
NEGATIVES:
Looking back on the film of this game, the Aces are going to tune some things up going forward. Here’s one:
Fouling – Las Vegas had built themselves up a 20+ point lead during that second quarter and were clicking offensively until a series of fouls slowed down the game. Indiana had attempted 20 free throws, making 17 of them, before the half ended. It’s what ultimately kept them in striking distance.
The Aces stay home to face Indiana once again on Sunday, May 30th. Follow the action live on My LVTV at 3:00 p.m., and remember to check back for the next recap.
Aces vs Fever Aces vs Fever Aces vs Fever Aces vs Fever Aces vs Fever Aces vs Fever Aces vs Fever
