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The Las Vegas Aces dominated the Indiana Fever winning by a 16-point margin, 87-71, on the road.
The Aces (19-7) are now a game-and-a-half ahead of the Seattle Storm (18-9) and a half-game behind the Connecticut Sun (19-6).
Las Vegas currently sits at second place in the WNBA and will most likely remain there with Connecticut holding the head-to-head and tiebreaker over Las Vegas.
“Last game was a road trip and you're not sure but they’re playing good as of late so we came with the starters and took care of business,” head coach Bill Laimbeer said. “First half was a clinic for us as well, we rebounded the basketball, shot a good percentage and got some solid defensive effort.”
The Aces will return home for a Thursday, September 2 matchup against Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky. Tip off is set for 7pm PT.
Las Vegas forced Indiana to shoot 40% from the field and 26% from three-point range. Defense has also been the Aces calling card and they appear to be turning up the intensity before the regular season ends.
The Fever made four of their 15 three-point attempts while the Aces made 7-of-12.
Las Vegas has made more three-pointers than their opponents in a game 21 times and in those games they have a 19-2 record.
“That will be our focus going forward, hopefully,” Laimbeer said. “It will be our defensive effort on the stretch drive.”
The Aces are now 2-1 in their last three-game road trip.
“I would rather be 3-0 than 2-1,” Laimbeer said. “I get it, it is the last part of the season and any road wins are positive but he comes a big stretch, we got Chicago in the next 3-out-of-4 games with Minnesota sprinkled in, these are the times that we need to really lock in and focus.”
Las Vegas outscored Indiana in the paint through the first three quarters, 30-20.
Also, through the first three quarters the Aces committed 10 turnovers which were in favor of the Fever for nine points, however, Las Vegas did turn the Fever’s 12 turnovers into 15 points.
Forward A’Ja Wilson tallied 11 points and seven rebounds and three steals to go along with her stat line. This came after falling into early foul trouble with three personal fouls.
Center Liz Cambage recorded 12 points and nine rebounds, one rebound short of recording a double-double. She also led the team in block shots with three on the night.
To finish off the night the Aces had six players in double figures, with the addition of Wilson and Cambage, guards Chelsea Gray (13 points), Jackie Young (13 points), Kelsey Plum (14 points) and Riquna Williams (15 points).
Las Vegas’ guard play combined for 55 of the 87 of the Aces’ points.
Forward Dearica Hamby did not play due to a left ankle sprain that ended the second longest streak of consecutive games played, 148.
The streak continues to belong to her teammate Chelsea Gray, who currently has the longest active streak with 155 straight games.