Fever battle back to beat Aces in Game 2 as Caitlin Clark posts double-double: Likes and Dislikes
The Fever kept their season alive on Tuesday night.
INDIANAPOLIS – It was Caitlin Clark's first home playoff game in the WNBA. The Fever were on the brink of elimination. The Aces, the defending champs, were in town for the first time since Chelsea Gray hit two buzzer beaters in an epic overtime game.
It was Fever-Aces Game 2, a do-or-die game for the Fever. These best-of-three series go quickly, and the Fever were humbled in Game 1. They had to bounce back and needed a better defensive game. Ball security would be important, too, as would defensive strategies against MVP favorite A'ja Wison.
In this situation last season, the Fever beat the Dream twice in a row to advance out of the first round. They needed a repeat effort. (Chronological) Likes and Dislikes from Fever-Aces first round Game 2.
Tony East
LIKE: The right focuses early
Even without the scoreboard success to show for it, the Fever's early-game focuses were what they needed to be after a poor Game 1.
Their possessions flowed better, which led to more rim pressure and, in turn, layups. The Fever's first three makes were Makayla Timpson shots right at the cup and Clark hitting a three.
Defensively, the Fever pinched in to crowd the lane as A'ja Wilson screened and were far more combative on the boards. The Aces started the game 5/12 from the field and 2/7 from deep as the Fever upped their physicality.
Those were welcome changes, and even without making jumpers the Fever were keeping up early. It was 13-13 about 6.5 minutes after the opening tipoff.
LIKE: Now THIS is a playoff game
Myisha Hines-Allen, who did not play in Game 1 of this series, entered with 4:37 to go in the first quarter and instantly upped the intensity of the game.
Hines-Allen was guarding Wilson and bumping her on every trip, a clear focus (as noted above) for the Fever. About 100 seconds after Hines-Allen entered the game, she committed a hard foul against Wilson and the two players approached each other for a quick word. Some Aces players intervened. Fever teammates clapped for Hines-Allen.
A few possessions later, Hines-Allen was defending Wilson in the post as Clark came over to provide a double team. Clark forced a jump ball and was amped, celebrating in front of her teammates on the bench.
Some intensity and playoff chipiness is what this series needed. The battling Fever kept up and were down just three points with 41 seconds left in the first quarter – that is, before two hellacious shots from Chelsea Gray dropped through the net and changed things.
Even with better focuses and more physicality, the Fever trailed 26-18 after one quarter. They were 6/17 from the field in the first frame and needed to get their offense going – that's what got them this far in the first place.
DISLIKE: A concerning frontcourt trend
The Aces took an 11-point lead early in the second quarter. At that moment, they were +6 with A'ja Wilson on the bench. The Fever, meanwhile, were -11 with Aliyah Boston in the game.
Boston had to give the Fever more. And the Fever needed to take advantage of the minutes that Wilson sat if they were going to get back into this game.
LIKE: A fiery Caitlin Clark
Clark picked up a technical foul after being whistled for an offensive foul with the Fever down 29-20. She was not happy about the call, with Mai Yamamoto on the other end of the play.
While the technical foul gave Las Vegas a free throw, they didn't score with the extra chance. And they weren't able to score on that possession, either.
Instead, the technical foul seemed to benefit the Fever. They went on an 11-4 run after Clark was whistled for the infraction. Clark herself was playing fiery basketball, pushing into the paint every time she got a chance and playing combative defense. She hit a deep three, too, and celebrated with her teammates as the Aces called a timeout.
Not long after that stoppage, Clark raced ahead in the open floor and hit Kelsey Mitchell with a lob. That led to a layup, and it gave the Fever a 38-37 lead. After falling behind by 11 to open the second period, Clark's intensity got the Fever back on track and back in front of the scoreboard.
LIKE: Defensive resistance
The Aces had 37 points with 4:25 until halftime. They scored just six points during the rest of the half.
Vegas shot 2/5 from the field in that stretch. Notably, they only attempted five shots. The Fever forced five turnovers and used them to get into the open floor. That led to a 17-6 close to the second quarter.
The Fever finally showed some teeth on defense, and it helped them carry a 48-43 lead into halftime.
LIKE: Keeping up the defense
As has been said multiple times, defense will define the Fever's ceiling. And for a long stretch to open the second half, that defense was excellent.
The Fever were sharp against ball screens, connected with their rotations, and used their full-court pressure well. Vegas was often battling time and starting their sets with 16 on the shot clock.
That pressure was present in the first game but did little to change the game flow thanks to poor halfcourt defense from the Fever. Through 2.5 quarters, they were much better in that department on Tuesday and took an 11-point lead during the third quarter, then led by 12 at 72-60 heading into the fourth.
DISLIKE: Disaster to open the fourth quarter
The first 2:02 of the fourth quarter was a mess for the Fever. They had a few empty possessions, and their previously-strong defense tripped for a few minutes.
Those 122 seconds went 11-4 in favor of the Aces, who went 5/5 from the foul line and didn't miss either of their two shot attempts in that stretch.
A three-point jumper from Jewell Loyd with 7:58 to go cut the Fever's lead to five with 7:58 to go. It wouldn't be a Fever game without a blown lead. They still had work to do to close this game out.
LIKE: Aliyah Boston in the fourth
This game was close for long portions of the fourth quarter, but Boston made sure the Fever held their lead by making several important plays.
On one trip, she rushed to the rim the second she felt a mismatch and overpowered her opponent for a layup. On another, she took the ball across halfcourt and perfored a DHO with Clark, which led to a three.
Boston's passing and paint presence was crucial in the Fever extending their lead late. The scoreboard doesn't show her late-game impact well, and she continued to be important after Clark fouled out with a few minutes remaining.
LIKE: Closing it out
Even without Clark, the Fever found just enough answers in the final minutes to pull this game out.
Boston kept scoring. The Fever got a few stops and drew some crucial fouls, vital plays after they earned their spot in the bonus with over six minutes to go.
In the final 60 seconds, the Fever's lead climbed over 10 points once again. As they have been able to do all season, they battled back and found a way to win. This series wil go the distance.
The final score was 99-89. The series is 1-1 with Game 3 in Las Vegas on Thursday.
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