On Thursday night, A’ja Wilson had 23 points and 8 rebounds to help the Las Vegas Aces defeat the visiting Indiana Fever 90-77. For the Aces, Jackie Young scored 16 points, Chelsea Gray added 14, a season-high 12 assists, and three steals (19-8).
In addition, Dearica Hamby had 10 points and 9 rebounds. NaLyssa Smith led Indiana (5-24), who lost its 11th straight game, with 24 points. Kelsey Mitchell scored 10 points and dished out seven assists, while Victoria Vivians contributed 14 points.
Throughout their protracted losing streak, the Fever have fallen by an average of 14.5 points. The Aces only made 8 of 26, 3-pointers while shooting 48.1 percent from the field overall. For the first time this season, All-Star Kelsey Plum failed to reach double digits with her nine point performance.
Indiana was 9 of 26 from beyond the arc and made 41.8 percent of its shots. Smith made 5 of 7 long-range attempts.
Indiana turned the ball over 17 times and was outrebounded 43–33. Since beginning the season with 13 wins in 15 games, Las Vegas had experienced difficulties. The Aces, however, improved to 6-6 on Thursday, so there weren’t many issues.
The Aces lead 52-32 at halftime thanks to 14 points from Wilson and 12 from Gray.
Late in the first quarter, the Fever were behind by four points before Las Vegas scored 11 baskets in a row to take a 34-19 lead. With 2:03 left in the half, Hamby’s driving hoop increased the lead to 20 for the first time, 48-28.
Las Vegas kept up the attack in the third quarter, scoring 11 straight points to push their advantage to 68-37. With 4:44 remaining in the frame, Wilson made a 3-pointer to end the run. Before Indiana started the fourth quarter with a 10-2 surge, the Aces had a 76-52 lead. In the fourth quarter, the Fever outscored Las Vegas 25-14.
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