Fever Vs Aces Game 3 is officially ready for tip-off after Caitlin Clark put together one of the biggest playoff performances of her career Tuesday night. Clark finished with 27 points, 15 assists, and seven rebounds in the Indiana Fever’s 99-89 win over the Las Vegas Aces. Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points, while Aliyah Boston scored 22 as the Fever evened the best-of-three series at one game apiece. The win flipped the entire mood of this matchup after Las Vegas controlled Game 1 in a 102-85 rout. Now the series heads back to Las Vegas with a trip to the next round up for grabs.
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. ET in Las Vegas. The television designation should be confirmed through the WNBA schedule before tipoff. The series opened at Michelob ULTRA Arena, and the deciding game returns to Las Vegas after Indiana protected its home floor in Game 2. Indiana came into the series as the No. 6 seed, while Las Vegas earned the No. 3 seed after finishing 31-13. The Fever went 2-1 against the Aces during the regular season, including two wins in Las Vegas.
Clark did not need to carry every possession by herself in Game 2, but she definitely controlled the pace and made sure the Fever never lost their composure when Las Vegas made its run. Her 15 assists were a huge reason Mitchell and Boston were able to find cleaner looks than they did in the opener. Indiana also got the kind of edge and confidence that was missing after the Game 1 loss.
You can see how much the Fever needed a response by reading Stadium Rant’s look at Indiana’s Game 1 loss. They will need that same aggression when they go to Las Vegas, because playing cautiously against A’ja Wilson is usually a bad idea and a plan that can turn into a loss very easily.
Do not sleep on Las Vegas just because Indiana won one game. A’ja Wilson had 38 points and 16 rebounds in Game 1, showing exactly why she remains the player who can take over this series at any moment. Jackie Young also had 21 points and 10 assists in that opener, while Chelsea Gray kept the offense moving with eight assists. Indiana was much steadier offensively in Game 2 after its 17 turnovers led to 28 Aces points in the opener. That has to continue, because Wilson getting easy points around the basket can change a close game in a hurry.
Boston’s 22 points in Game 2 gave Indiana another answer when Las Vegas tried to put extra attention on Clark and Mitchell. She made the Aces pay for leaving space inside, and that cannot disappear in Game 3. If Boston establishes herself early, the Fever can keep the defense from loading up on Clark at the top of the floor. If Las Vegas wins the paint battle and forces Indiana into difficult jump shots, the pressure will swing right back onto the Fever guards. Boston does not have to outscore Wilson, but she has to make Wilson work on both ends.
This should be a much tighter game than the opener. Expect a brawl in game 3. The Fever proved Tuesday that they can beat Vegas when Clark controls the tempo, Mitchell gets clean looks, and Boston shows dominance in the paint. Still, Las Vegas is back at home with Wilson, Young, and Gray in a win-or-go-home game. The Aces have more playoff experience, and that matters when every possession gets tighter late. My prediction is Las Vegas 92, Indiana 89, but I would not be surprised if Clark gives the Fever another chance in the final minute.
Fever Vs Aces Game 3 is exactly what this series projected from the very beginning. After the two teams traded convincing wins. Clark’s 27-point, 15-assist performance gave Indiana new life, but the Aces are going back home with Wilson still capable of taking over a game by herself. Indiana has already shown it can win in Las Vegas this season, which is why this should come down to the last few possessions. I’m picking the Aces to live to fight another day, but the Fever have made this a real catfight. Give me the Aces to cover, but expect another great game where the stars will be stars.
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