The Aces have escaped the fiery heat of the Las Vegas summer and are now in the frying pan, facing the Fever in Indy. With the series tied at 1-1, this game is crucial for both teams. The Fever hold a balanced 12-12 record, while the Aces have a slight edge at 12-11. Tonight's game will show who can take the lead in this important matchup.
Caitlin Clark Out
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus Out
Even though Clark won’t be on the court tonight, we’re not lacking any star power between these teams. After seeing Wilson, Boston, Young, and Mitchell all earn spots as All-Star along with Clark, it’s clear both sides have plenty of talent. With so much skill on the court, this is going to be a razor-close game.
For Indy, they’ll need to improve their shooting. Even without Clark, Hull, Mitchell, and Cunningham have kept teams honest from three-point range, but their shooting percentage has struggled. They’re only shooting just under 33% from beyond the arc, which isn’t enough most nights. However, with Mitchell and Boston’s ability to attack the paint, this team has put together a decent offense. They’re currently third in the league for points per game, just behind the Lynx and Liberty. While their defense isn’t anything too exceptional, they have enough to make Vegas’ life difficult.
For the Aces, they actually track fairly close with the Fever. They’re not elite from the perimeter, doing most of their damage inside. They have a solid defensive ranking right next to Indy in points allowed per game. Overall, these teams are almost the same, except for one thing the Fever don’t have: Wilson. A’ja is the engine behind everything on this team. She continues to be an unstoppable force, dominating everywhere on the court. For the Fever to stay competitive in this one, they’re going to need to use Boston and Cunningham effectively against her. The Fever do have some size they can throw at her, but it’ll be risky, as the rest of the Aces, especially Young, have been heating up lately.
With things so close between these two, it’s a tough one to call; however, I’ve got to go with the home team tonight. Even though they’re missing Caitlin, and Wilson continues to be a dominant force, they’ve shown they can get it done against the Aces. With their last game ending in a blowout win for Indy, I see them holding strong again on their home court.
Money line: LVA (-135) / IND (+114)
Total Points: 164.5
Spread: -2 LVA (-112) / +2 IND (-108)
With Clark still sidelined tonight, I expect to see a lot from Mitchell. Even when Clark was playing, she led the team in scoring for the last month. 19.5 is a steep line, but I think she can hit it against the Aces. They’re allowing nearly 82 points per game, giving Mitchell plenty of chances.
Even with Wilson's recent streak on the boards, she’s still averaging under 10 rebounds per game. She’s dominated in her last three games with 16, 10, and 12, but against the Fever this season, the rebounds haven’t been as favorable. In both of their games, Wilson has fallen short of 10 rebounds, and with the Fever’s front court looking solid, I think we’ll see the same thing tonight.
I'm betting the over on Boston tonight. She’s been dominant against the Ace this season, scoring 20 and 26 points in their recent matchups. Averaging 15.5 points per game overall, I don’t see why her line is set so low. Yes, Wilson is tough on defense, but Boston has proven she can produce consistently. Especially with more opportunities available with Clark out, this line seems solid.