LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored a playoff-career excessive 34 factors and the Indiana Fever beat the Las Vegas Aces 89-73 on Sunday in Sport 1 of the best-of-five semifinal sequence.
After seeing their double-digit lead shrink to 3 factors with 2:51 left within the third, the Fever closed the quarter on an 11-0 run to increase their benefit to 14 factors, seizing management of the sport and by no means wanting again.
Mitchell, who completed fifth in MVP voting with 93 factors, scored 17 factors within the first half, setting the tone for the Fever’s offense. The veteran guard, who completed the common season ranked third in scoring with 20.2 factors per sport, shot 12 of 23 (52.2%) from the ground, together with 4 of 6 from 3-point vary in her first-ever semifinal sport.
“I feel what you guys see is simply me making an attempt to simply be a child within the playground,” stated Mitchell, whose scoring tally was the second-highest in franchise historical past.
Odyssey Sims had 17 factors, whereas Natasha Howard completed with a double-double (12 factors, 11 rebounds).
The Fever completed the sport hitting 50% from the ground (34 of 68), whereas the Aces shot simply 29 of 71 (40.8%).
“We wanted to come in and be the aggressor right away to make sure that we were dictating on the defensive end, and we were dictating from a pace standpoint,” Fever coach Stephanie White stated. “We knew that they were going to make runs. They made a big one in the third and we responded with a big one. It’s one game, it’s a long series. … But to come in here and to be able to steal this one was big for us.”
The victory spoiled A’ja Wilson’s celebration for turning into the WNBA’s first participant to win 4 MVPs in her profession. The 29-year-old, who was additionally named the AP Participant of the 12 months, completed with 16 factors and 13 rebounds. Wilson shot simply 27.3% (6 of twenty-two) from the sector.
Jackie Younger led the Aces with 19 factors, whereas Dana Evans got here off the bench to attain 14 factors and Chelsea Grey chipped in with 13.
Las Vegas hadn’t misplaced at dwelling since Aug. 2, when the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx handed the Aces the worst dwelling loss in WNBA historical past, a 53-point beatdown. From that time, the Aces closed the common season on a 16-game win streak earlier than defeating the Seattle Storm within the opening spherical.
The win was much more spectacular, contemplating the Aces got here into the sport and not using a single participant on the injured checklist, whereas the Fever had six.
Already shorthanded with out Chloe Bibby (left knee), Caitlin Clark (proper groin), Sydney Colson (left knee), Sophie Cunningham (proper knee) and Aari McDonald (proper foot), Indiana added Damiris Dantas to the checklist, as she was in concussion protocol.
