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Las Vegas inches closer to another Finals appearance after first win of season inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse
- Terrel Emerson
- Sep 26
- 3 min read
Las Vegas is one win away from clinching another WNBA Finals appearance.
In a pivotal Game 3 from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Aces took down the Indiana Fever, 84-72, Friday, Sept. 26. Entering Friday, Las Vegas had lost three of its five meetings against Indiana this season with two road losses coming by 10 and 27 points respectively.
“It was the consecutive stops leading up to [the fourth quarter] that allowed us to get the cushion,” head coach Becky Hammon said. “Again for us, it’s all about the defense.”
With one more road game to play in Indiana, the Aces will look to wrap up the series Sunday, Sept. 28 from Gainbridge Fieldhouse with tip-off set for 12 p.m.
“Same [mindset] as it was today,” Hammon said. “We’re not looking for a Game 5. We want to come in, take care of business, have the appropriate mentality. Obviously, we’re happy with the win but we have to move on.”
The Fever didn’t hold a lead until the second half in the most recent game of the series but would trail the Aces by just three points heading into the fourth quarter. Just before the final third quarter horn, the latter went on a 6-0 run to regain the lead.
In that final frame, Las Vegas went on a 12-2 run while holding its opponent without a field goal for more than eight minutes.
“Being able to get stops down the stretch,” Hammon said. “I think they scored three points in the last maybe three and a half. We’re a team that really relies on their defense. That was helpful.
“I thought [guard Dana Evans] had a really good second half for us on both ends.”
Evans was instrumental down-the-stretch including that final run as she finished with 10 points, four of which came during that run.
However, it was forward A’ja Wilson who hit double-digit scoring in the fourth quarter after an uncharacteristic shooting night. After draining her first field goal of the game, a three-pointer in the first quarter, she missed her next 11 shot attempts before connecting on her second make late in the third quarter.
“I think she got hit a lot tonight,” Hammon said. “To shoot one free throw in 38 minutes – I know they told me not to say anything but you know I can’t.”
Wilson finished with 13 points on 6-of-20 from the field to go along with eight rebounds and four assists. Regardless of whether her shot was falling or not, she excelled on the defensive end to the tune of three blocks and a steal.
“A’ja works really hard to not let [Indiana center Aliyah Boston] touch it,” Hammon said. “When you talk about adjustments that they were going to make, you had to figure they were going to try to get Boston more looks.”
As a team, Las Vegas held Indiana to just 36% from the floor including a 30%-mark from three-point range. On the other end, the visitors shot better than 50% from the field and knocked down four of its 10 three-point tries.
Moreover, the Aces won the points in the paint battle by 14 points despite being out-rebounded by 13. Even in the win, the team allowed 16 offensive rebounds to the Fever.
Guard Jackie Young led all scorers with 25 points on a very efficient 9-of-14 shooting while adding five rebounds and four assists. The 25 points scored are the most in any of the first three games of the series.
“We know they want to limit our ball movement,” Hammon said. “Just getting the ball off point-five passes and actions, [dribble hand-offs], stuff like that where we can get a little bit of a head of steam.”
Forward NaLyssa Smith followed up her 18-point playoff career night with 16 more points on 8-of-13 from the floor against her former team. She also added four blocks which was good for the game-high.
Guard Chelsea Gray was the final player in double-figures with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 36-plus minutes to go along with a game-high six assists.