The Indiana Fever host the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tip-off is set for 7:00PM ET. Indiana comes in at 12-12 and sits third in the East. Las Vegas is 12-11 and holds fourth place in the West. These teams have split their two meetings this season, each winning on their home court.
Indiana crushed Las Vegas 81-54 on July 3, holding the Aces to their lowest scoring game of the season. The Aces won the first matchup on June 22 by a score of 89-81. Thursday’s meeting is important for both teams, as they are hovering near .500 and looking to gain ground in the standings. Indiana has been stronger at home this year (7-6), while Las Vegas is 5-7 on the road.
Fever Preview – Trying to Bounce Back Without Clark
The Fever gave up 56 second-half points in Tuesday’s loss to New York. They led by four at halftime but couldn’t keep pace in the final two quarters. New York shot over 51% from the field and made 12 threes. Indiana’s defense ranks near the bottom in opponent field goal percentage and three-point defense.
With Caitlin Clark still sidelined due to a groin injury, the team leaned on Kelsey Mitchell. Mitchell scored 29 points on 11-of-21 shooting. Aliyah Boston had 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. NaLyssa Smith and Kristy Wallace are key rotation pieces but haven’t been consistent on both ends.
Indiana’s offense has looked better in some games, ranking ninth in points per game (80.9). They rank first in free throw percentage (83.7%) and second in attempts, but are just 11th in assists per game. The team still struggles to rebound, ranking 11th in both offensive and total boards. Defensive lapses have been a problem during losses.
Aces Preview – Wilson Leads the Way Again
Las Vegas beat Atlanta 87-72 on Tuesday and held the Dream to under 40% shooting. The Aces forced 19 turnovers, which led to 24 points. A’ja Wilson recorded another double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Dana Evans added 14 points off the bench, and Chelsea Gray had nine points and five assists.
Wilson is among the league leaders in nearly every category. She is second in scoring (22.4), second in rebounding (9.3), and first in blocks (2.4). Jackie Young added 14 points last game and continues to play solid two-way basketball. Kelsey Plum and Kiah Stokes did not appear in the starting lineup, with Evans and Smith picking up minutes.
The Aces are second in the WNBA in steals and blocks. Their defense has been inconsistent overall, but Tuesday’s effort was a step forward. Las Vegas also ranks in the top three in free throw shooting. However, they are just 9-14 against the spread and 4-6 in their last 10 road games. They’ve struggled with turnovers at times, but that didn’t show up last game.
Betting Prediction
The spread is Las Vegas -3.5, and the total is 162.5. The under has hit in eight of the last ten meetings between these two teams. Las Vegas has won six of the last ten matchups overall. Indiana is missing their top playmaker and will have to rely on heavy scoring from Mitchell and Boston again.
The Aces looked sharper on both ends in their win over Atlanta. If they keep up that defensive pressure, they should cover the spread. Indiana can hang around if they shoot well, but without Clark, it’s hard to trust them to keep pace for four quarters. Final score prediction: Las Vegas 84, Indiana 77.
Pick: Las Vegas -3.5
