Fever stunned by Aces as Chelsea Gray hits two buzzer beaters: Likes and Dislikes

INDIANAPOLIS – Hello! I am back from a vacation and the Fever are back from a road trip. Just in time to host Las Vegas – it's the only trip to Indianapolis of 2026 for the reigning champion Aces.

The Fever beat the Aces twice on the road back in July and have generally fared well against A'ja Wilson and company. Past success does not guarantee future results, though. The Fever's consistency was going to be key.

It was the Fever's first home game since July 22. Likes and Dislikes from Fever vs Aces.

Circle City Spin

The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, up close

Circle City SpinTony East

LIKE: Tempo, even without instant results

The Fever were behind 12-10 at the game's first stoppage, but they were shooting 50% from the field (42% for the Aces) and had just one turnover.

A few bad bounces, plus an offensive rebound, had the Fever behind. They weren't playing perfect basketball. But their pace was quite good. They kept the Aces moving on defense and were opening up good shots.

Early, they weren't falling. They started to as the quarter progressed, and the Fever – despite being spread out – were getting into actions with solid timing. Their rapid-tempo style has always been a challenge for the Aces.

As the frame wound down, the Fever's pace continued to be the defining feature of the game. They scored 16 points in about six minutes to close the opening period and led 20-18 after the first quarter.

LIKE: Aliyah Boston's second quarter

Aliyah Boston had a solid first quarter and finished a few plays around the basket. But it was the second quarter when her offense began to be the story of the game.

She popped out after a screen to open the scoring in the frame, then drilled another triple in the corner a few minutes later. Her defense was strong too, and she helped the Fever open up a 10-point lead.

Vegas called a timeout trailing 30-20, and the Fever's first possession after the stoppage was... a Boston three. She was up to 15 points at the time – the Aces had 20 as a team. It was a dominant run from Boston.

LIKE: Caitlin Clark passes

Caitlin Clark had three assists in 32 seconds in the middle of the second quarter, and two of them were absolutely gorgeous.

One of the two went to Kelsey Mitchell, the other to Makayla Timpson. And 51 seconds after the dime to Timpson, Clark logged another assist.

She had eight in total with 2:53 to go in the first half. Her passing was a big part of the team's first half offensive success, and their lead reached 20 during her brilliant passing display.

DISLIKE: Poor close to the first half

The Fever led by 20 with 3:09 to go in the first half. Then, a disaster to close the second quarter.

It started with a missed shot from Timpson in close. Then: turnover, turnover, a missed Mitchell 3, turnover, a missed Clark three, and a missed Boston shot at the basket.

Yuck. The Aces kept scoring, and their run was 15-0 in total. It came in barely over three minutes. The Fever spent 17 minutes building up a 20-point lead yet led by just five at halftime: 42-37.

DISLIKE: Goodbye, pace advantage

The Aces run reached 22-0 thanks to a 7-0 run to start the second half. It took just 97 seconds for Vegas to take the lead early in the third quarter.

The Fever's shot selection and turnovers continued to be major issues. Not only are those generally poor outcomes to a possession, but in tandem they eliminate the Fever's pace advantage by letting the Aces hit the open floor.

Smarter play was needed on offense, and just about any resistance was needed on defense with the Fever now behind.

DISLIKE: The final tally

Clark hit two free throws to end the Fever's scoring drought. In total, it was 7:36 without points for the Fever. They were fortunate to be tied when it ended.

From the 4:00 mark of the second quarter to the 6:30 mark of the third quarter, the Fever went 0/10 from the field and had six turnovers. Las Vegas, meanwhile, scored 22 points on 9/15 shooting and owned the glass. Jackie Young was spectacular for the visitors. It was a disaster for the Fever. Their next made shot didn't come until the 4:18 mark of the third quarter.

That, obviously, was the story of their third quarter. The Fever scored nine points in the frame and were down 56-51 heading into the fourth quarter. They completely fell apart after the strong first 17 minutes.

DISLIKE: Not getting on track

With seven minutes left in the game, the Fever had 53 points. That meant they had scored 11 points in the last 17 minutes of basketball. Even just scoring one point per minute in that stretch would have made the game tied.

Instead, they were behind, and less than a minute later their deficit nearly reached double figures at 64-55. It was an almost 30-point turnaround.

LIKE: Finding some footing

After the Fever fell behind by a game-high nine points, they changed their fortunes thanks to defense. Across the next two minutes of play, the Aces didn't score at all while the Fever scored 10 points, and every basket was created by Mitchell or Clark.

With 4:09 to go, the Fever were somehow back in the lead despite poor play for the last ~18 minutes of action. They still had work to do and needed to sustain their defense.

LIKE: Caitlin Clark, with confidence

Clark missed her first six threes of the game and hadn't made a single shot from beyond the arc with just over four minutes to go.

With 4:14 left in the game, she drilled a bold, daring three in transition. It gave the Fever a lead. With 1:48 remaining until the final buzzer, Clark rose up for another triple and canned it, giving the Fever a 72-70 edge.

Despite early inaccuracy, Clark was fearless late. It was huge for the Fever, who were winning going into the final minute.

LIKE: Aliyah Boston in crunch time

With the game tied and about 35 seconds to go, Boston attacked ex-Fever forward NaLyssa Smith in isolation. Boston got all the way to the rim and was able to score after rebounding her first missed shot.

On the other end, Boston held up well defensively against a Wilson iso and got a stop. That gave the Fever the ball with the shot clock off and the lead. And yet...

DISLIKE: A disaster in the final 10 seconds

Mitchell went to the foul line with the Fever up two and 10.9 seconds to go. She hit the first, then missed the second.

The Fever were gifted another chance thanks to the rebound bouncing out of bounds, and Clark was then fouled. She, too, missed at the line, going 0/2. That meant the Fever missed three in a row at the charity stripe. They were still up three but opened the door for the Aces.

And Las Vegas stepped right into that opening. Chelsea Gray found herself open at the buzzer after a broken play, and she met the moment.

So the Fever missed three chances to put the game away, then were burned by a bad bounce. A mess of an ending, and this game had five more minutes of basketball coming.

DISLIKE: Missed foul shots

Missed free throws were the reason the Fever were in overtime in the first place. Then, Mitchell missed another one early in OT.

After three minutes of play in the extra period, the Fever were down one. That free throw was huge, just like the ones late in regulation.

DISLIKE: The last two possessions

The Fever had the ball and the lead with about 29 seconds to go. Clark wisely dribbled out the clock, then less wisely attacked while being defended by Wilson.

She tried to get the ball to Timpson but turned it over. The Aces, given one last chance, gave it to Gray again.

She delivered at the buzzer for the second time. This time, it decided the game. Gray's second incredible triple gave the Aces an 86-84 win and handed the Fever a loss, dropping their record to 19-12.

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