LAS VEGAS – The Indiana Fever (5-9) fell to the Las Vegas Aces on Monday night, 88-80, in the third and final matchup of the regular season. Despite three losses to Las Vegas this season, Indiana fell by an average of 8.3 points per contest against the Aces. Approaching Monday night, the reigning WNBA champions previously were outscoring opponents by an average of 15.9 points per game, the largest scoring differential in league history after the first 13 games of a season.

Indiana was led in the scoring column by guard Erica Wheeler and WNBA All-Star Aliyah Boston, who both notched 20 points on the night. Both were followed by Kelsey Mitchell with 14 points and NaLyssa Smith with 13 points. Smith also contributed 14 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the season, while Wheeler dished out three assists to go along with her season-high offensive output.

Boston recorded her fourth double-double of the season as she pulled-down 14 rebounds to go along with three assists, two steals and two blocks. The occasion marked only the 13th time in WNBA history a player has recorded a 20/14/3/2/2 stat line and only the second time for a rookie, per Across the Timeline.

After opening the matchup on a 7-2 scoring run, the Fever gained momentum to start the matchup. The Indiana defense forced four Aces turnovers within the first three minutes of play and held Las Vegas to shooting 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from the floor throughout the quarter. Led by Mitchell, who recorded 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting during the quarter, Indiana maintained the lead and finished the first frame ahead, 23-20.

Though the Aces started to find rhythm offensively to begin the second quarter, the Fever offense continued to roll as well. Six Fever players contributed in the scoring column in the second quarter, highlighted by Boston’s seven points and Smith’s six points. After a quarter of back-and-forth play, the Fever were successful in hanging on to a 49-48 lead going into the intermission.

Both teams opened the second half with a quick pace, as the third quarter featured seven lead changes. Boston notched 10 points within the quarter on 3-of-5 shooting and pulled down four rebounds to lead the scoring attack in the pursuit of the Aces lead. Indiana remained in close reach of the lead though trailing the Aces, 69-64, at the end of the third.

Indiana held Las Vegas to only two points within the first five minutes of fourth quarter play as the Aces finished the fourth frame shooting 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from the court. The Fever were successful in erasing an eventual 10-point deficit with a 10-1 scoring run in the fourth quarter. Las Vegas quickly returned the favor and regained the lead, closing out the game on an 11-2 run over the last 2:14 of the game.

For Las Vegas, Chelsea Gray was the leading scorer of the matchup as she notched a season-high 25 points on the night, followed by A’ja Wilson who recorded 24. In addition, Kelsey Plum had 17 points and Jackie Young had 16 points in the winning effort.

Wilson tallied 22 of her 24 points in the first half, which tied her career high for most points in a half, but was held to only two points in the second half by the Indiana defense. The Aces center also recorded a double-double on the night, as she pulled down 10 rebounds while also earning three assists, three blocks and three steals.

Las Vegas, who converts the least amount of turnovers in the league, was forced to 15 turnovers on the night, while Indiana recorded a season-low eight turnovers. The Aces also completed a season-high 27 free throws, shooting 96.4 percent (27-of-28) from the charity stripe.

UP NEXT
The Fever conclude the four-game roadtrip on Thursday at the Phoenix Mercury at 10 p.m. ET. Thursday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page and NBA TV.