Fever offense stalls in Vegas again as season ends with Game 3 loss vs Aces: Likes and Dislikes
The Fever's season is over.
MY LIVING ROOM, Ind. – The Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces found themselves in a familiar spot on Thursday night: In Las Vegas, battling in a win-or-go-home playoff game.
Last year, it was Game 5 of the semifinal round. The Aces took that one in overtime, reaching the Finals before winning the title. This year, the stage was almost as massive. Caitlin Clark was healthy, unlike last time. The top seed is already eliminated from the postseason. It was a huge opportunity for both teams to advance and start a run.
Just before tipoff, it was announced that Aces starting forward Steph Talbot was out due to injury. She's spent a ton of time defending either Clark or Kelsey Mitchell in this series. It was a boost for the Fever's chances that she was out, even with star guard Jewell Loyd starting in her place.
Likes and Dislikes from Fever-Aces Game 3.
Tony East
LIKE: The star guards early
A Kelsey Mitchell three opened the game for the Fever, who drew up a play to get her open.
A Caitlin Clark three earned the Fever their next points after she hit a difficult pullup late in the shot clock.
It was a dreamy start for the Fever and their stars. Clark followed up her early three with two assists, and Mitchell wiggled her way into an open look on an out-of-bounds set moments later.
The Fever needed a strong start after their poor opening minutes in Vegas for Game 1. They were much better to kick off Game 3 thanks to their star guards, and Clark drilled a deep triple to give the Fever a 15-9 lead that capped off a solid first few minutes..
DISLIKE: Fever's early defense
As has been the case so often this season, the Fever's defense was an issue in the first quarter of this game.
The Aces started 10/15 from the field, finding mismatches after switches and playing through those advantages. It was a chess match, and both teams were winning it on the offensive end.
Las Vegas started 9/11 on two-point looks, creating better space for cuts and drives than they did in Game 2. A'ja Wilson went 5/5 in the first quarter. Aces star guards were solid.
And yet, the Fever's guards were tremendous early and made sure the game was even after one quarter. A steal-plus-score from Sophie Cunningham tied the game at 31 just before the end of the first frame.
LIKE: Wings, battling
Role players making little plays is vital in elimination games, and the Fever were getting that from their wings in the first half.
Just before the buzzer of the first quarter, Cunningham made the aforementioned crucial shot to even the score. Her energy was high. And she made a similar heads-up play in the second quarter, saving a ball flying out of bounds and getting it right to Aliyah Boston for a layup.
Lexie Hull was making an impact with her physicality. She was following the lead of Myisha Hines-Allen from Game 2 and battling with whatever Aces player she was matched up with. She was called for three fouls about halfway through the second quarter, which was a concern for the Fever. But that physicality set the tone for her teammates.
The Fever's hot start faded a bit in the second quarter, but their role players helped them keep up. It was 40-38 Aces halfway through the second period.
LIKE: Myisha Hines-Allen, game changer
Hines-Allen had a massive impact in Game 2 with her leadership and physicality. She played well, but the intangibles were her most notable addition to that game.
In the second quarter of Game 3, Hines-Allen's performance was notable, and it was high level. Her defense, particularly right at the cup, was impressive and forced some Aces misses. On offense, she scored eight-straight Fever points.
The Fever tied the game at 42 after Hines-Allen's best run of this postseason so far. She was great in the second frame.
DISLIKE: A cold stretch to end the first half
The score was tied at 42 with 3:54 to go until halftime. Hines-Allen made that happen.
For the rest of the second quarter, the Fever struggled to make shots. They missed seven field goal attempts in a row, only scoring from the foul line as the Aces went on a mini run.
Fortunately, some rim pressure helped Mitchell and Clark score three points in the final 30 seconds of the half at the charity stripe. But the Fever trailed 54-48 halfway through the game and needed to find some offensive answers. Making jumpers would help. Fortunately for the Fever, they are usually good at that.
LIKE: Stopping anyone by Wilson
A'ja Wilson was having another sensational game, but the Fever's early second half defense was solid against every other Aces player.
With about two minutes left in the third quarter, non-Wilson players on Las Vegas were 2/7 from the field with two turnovers. The Fever were handling their perimeter matchups well and trying to hang with the Aces slower-paced game.
It was mostly working, though Wilson was still having a strong quarter herself. Despite the Fever offense continuing to be choppy after their hot first quarter, they were able to put a dent in the Aces' lead throughout the third quarter thanks to their defensive improvements.
LIKE: Attacking the rim
The Fever were persistent with their rim pressure in the third quarter, a needed approach given their 6/21 three-point shooting after three quarters. Getting to the cup was earning them trips to the foul line and creating a few layups.
Clark was pushing when matched up with Mai Yamamoto. Boston was attacking switches and sliding toward the open space in the paint at every opportunity. Even Mitchell and Hines-Allen ventured into the lane during the third frame.
The Fever scored just 17 points in that period. But often this season, this team has resorted to hero ball when jumpers aren't falling. After some lapses near halftime, they re-centered their offensive approach and were down just five heading into the final quarter.
DISLIKE: Fourth quarter pace and fouls
The first four minutes of the final quarter were dominated by the Aces despite the scoreboard showing it as just a 10-5 margin. That seems close, but it wasn't.
The pace of the game massively favored Las Vegas. It was slower. Every possession was in the halfcourt, and the Fever weren't flowing very well on offense.
Las Vegas was. Their stars were rolling early in the last frame and drawing fouls on almost every play. The Fever committed six fouls in 3:50 to open the quarter, putting the Aces in the bonus for the rest of the night.
This game was not over, but the Fever needed to find some offensive answers in the last six minutes of play.
LIKE: A needed push
With the Fever down by 10 points and six minutes to go, they needed to make a run. Over the next two-plus minutes, they were able to.
The Fever allowed just two points in the next 2:27, and they scored seven of their own in the same span. That's a small run, but a crucial one that late in this ball game. With 3:43 to go, the Aces lead was down to five at 82-77. The Fever still had a chance.
DISLIKE: Back to haunt them
The Fever were down four in the final minute, and their four-point deficit came after free throws from the Aces. Las Vegas reaching the bonus early certainly came back to haunt the Fever.
With that four-point deficit and the ball, Mitchell committed a turnover that gave the Aces possession with about 50 seconds to go. She bobbled a pass, then Boston was whistled for a foul moments later that sent Wilson to the foul line – though it seemed as if Wilson simply tripped.
That put the Fever in a position where they needed to foul to stop the clock on almost every play. They did exactly that but couldn't answer on offense, and the Aces kept extending their late lead at the foul line.
For the second-straight year, the Fever's season ended in Las Vegas. They fell 1-2 in the series and have been eliminated. Their season is over after a 9X-8X defeat.
Thank you for reading all of these game stories. The Fever will have exit interviews soon, then expect some offseason and salary cap content on this website. Sign up and it will be emailed right to you.
Comments ()