The Fever stuffed the stat sheet en route to a convincing win over the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday, 81-54. Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell were stars for Indiana as they put together particularly dazzling individual performances – both notched at least 20 points – but the Fever credit their strong defense for the 27-point wire-to-wire win over the 2023 WNBA champs.
The victory marks the first win in 17 games against the Aces, and gives Indiana a winning record through its first 17 games of the season (9-8).
“Defensively we just want to be as sound as we need to be to get whatever we want offensively,” Mitchell said. “I think our coaches have made that clear, that whenever we can defend and do what we need to do, we can get whatever we want [on offense].”
Already solidly etched in the Fever history books, the pair of Boston and Mitchell added to their tome of accomplishments on Thursday. Boston overtook NaLyssa Smith for fifth place on the franchise’s all-time rebounds list as Mitchell recorded her 700th career assist.
Boston started the game in a groove. She’d already recorded 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists by halftime, but was limited in the third quarter due to foul trouble. She finished the contest with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two assists.
Mitchell’s scoring was on full display, and her playmaking surged along with it. Her final statline included 25 points and six assists. Through the last five games, Mitchell is averaging 23 points per game, and has recorded four or more assists in four of those contests.
“I think our players [are] feeling that sense of the reward that comes with buying into being relentless on the defensive end of the floor,” coach Stephanie White said.
Indiana’s defense against the Aces was a testament to the effort the Fever put in behind the scenes. They’re more connected, together, and communicative than ever, and it’s turning into results in the win column.
“I think because of how fast we like to play, at our pace, being able to get stops and letting that spark our offense has been great, but that’s been something we’ve been working on all season,” Boston said.
The Fever leaned on their ability to force stops on Thursday as they forced 19 turnovers, recorded five steals, and three blocked shots. Indiana forced back-to-back shot clock violations by the Aces in the first quarter, and held Las Vegas to just 24 points in the first half. The Aces scored just seven points in the final period of the game as Indiana went on to secure a dominant win.
“Getting deflections and going to play in transition, you get to see the best version of players and pros once we get the defensive stops that we need,” Mitchell said. “…We know that the Aces come with heavy hitters, and you can’t stop greatness, but you can limit it where you can.”
A’ja Wilson recorded a game-high 29 points for Las Vegas, outscoring the rest of the Aces combined. No other Aces player recorded a double-digit scoring total.
The Fever boasted three double-digit scorers as Natasha Howard joined Boston and Mitchell with her 11 points. Howard recorded a double-double as she grabbed 10 rebounds along with those 11 points. Aari McDonald’s eight points, seven rebounds, and seven assists were also critical in Indiana’s win.
“Oftentimes, when you make decisions mid season, it’s one end or the other, typically,” White said of McDonald. “And her impact [is] on both ends of the floor. Offensively, her ability to see the floor, the defensive energy and intensity. She never looks like she gets tired. She makes all the hustle plays. She’s just relentless.”
The Fever look to roll that relentless nature into Saturday, July 5, as they take on the Los Angeles Sparks in the second matchup of their 5-game homestand. With Caitlin Clark on the mend and a three-game winning streak to extend, Indiana is in position to make a run up the league standings before WNBA All-Star hits Indianapolis.
