LAS VEGAS – The Indiana Fever (5-8) were defeated by the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday night, 101-88, in the second of three regular season matchups. Indiana will take on Las Vegas for the final time during the regular season on Monday at 10 p.m. ET.

Indiana’s four players who ended the night in double figures were led by forward NaLyssa Smith’s 26 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Smith recorded her seventh double-double of the season and 15th of her career with 11 rebounds to go along with two steals. Smith is now tied with Natalie Williams for the fourth most double-doubles recorded in franchise history.

Fever rookie center Aliyah Boston finished with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and three steals. She compiled 14 of her 18 in the first half alone where she shot 6-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line. Prior to tonight, there had been only 15 instances in WNBA history where a rookie shot 6-of-6 or better from the court in a half. Boston began the night shooting 8-of-8 from the field.

Smith and Boston’s offensive combination marked only the fifth time in WNBA history two teammates each had at least 15 points, nine rebounds and two steals on 55 percent shooting or better, per Across the Timeline.

Fever guard Lexie Hull contributed a season-high 15 points and shot 3-of-5 from behind the three-point arc, tying her season high for completed three-point field goals. Kristy Wallace came off the bench to pitch in 13 points and tied a career-high six assists.

In addition, the Fever shot a collective 14-of-15 from the charity stripe to record the best free-throw percentage of the season at 93.3 percent.

Though Las Vegas took the lead roughly two minutes into the game off of a completed three-pointer from A’ja Wilson, her first of the season, the Fever never trailed by more than seven points throughout the first quarter. Indiana’s scoring attack to start the game was led by three players, as all 20 of Indiana’s first quarter points were recorded by Boston (8), Smith (7) and Kelsey Mitchell (5). The Aces led the Fever at the end of the first ten minutes, 27-20.

Two minutes into the quarter, the Las Vegas defense dropped into a 2-3 zone, which allowed Hull to shine as she punched in two three-pointers in the second frame. The Aces started to pull away at the beginning of the second quarter and held onto the lead going into halftime ahead of Indiana, 57-43.

To help with the comeback effort, six Fever players contributed to the Indiana scoring column in the third quarter, highlighted by Hull and Wallace, who each pitched in five points to go with Smith’s four points and five rebounds. Indiana matched Las Vegas’ 21 points in the quarter, but continued to chase the Aces going into the final frame, 78-64.

After trailing by as many as 20 at one point, Indiana was able to bring the Aces lead to 11 in the fourth quarter. Indiana outscored Las Vegas 24-23 in the fourth quarter and were led by Smith with 10 points and Wallace with six points in the final frame, but the deficit was ultimately too much for the Fever to overcome.

For the Aces, Wilson led all scorers in the matchup as she notched a season-high 28 points to go along with 10 rebounds and two blocks on the night. Kelsey Plum followed right behind as she also recorded a season-best 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting. Chelsea Gray added 13 points and a season-high 12 assists. The Aces offense was also supported by Candace Parker, who had a season-high 15 points and Jackie Young’s 10 points.

Las Vegas collectively shot 53.1 percent (34-of-64) from the floor and 47.8 percent (11-of-23) from behind the three-point arc.

UP NEXT
The Fever take on the Las Vegas Aces again on Monday at 10 p.m. ET. Monday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page and CBS Sports Network.