Chelsea Gray’s Buzzer-Beating 3 Lifts Aces Over Fever 86-84 in Overtime/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Chelsea Gray hit buzzer-beating 3-pointers at the end of regulation and overtime to give the Las Vegas Aces an 86-84 win over the Indiana Fever. Caitlin Clark scored 20 points and had eight assists but missed two critical free throws and committed a late overtime turnover. A’ja Wilson led the defending WNBA champions with 26 points and 13 rebounds as Las Vegas overcame a 20-point deficit.
Quick Look
- The Aces defeated the Fever 86-84 in overtime.
- Chelsea Gray hit buzzer-beating 3-pointers in regulation and overtime.
- Her first clutch shot forced overtime.
- Her second gave Las Vegas the victory.
- Both shots were upheld after replay reviews.
- Caitlin Clark recorded 20 points and eight assists.
- Clark also committed eight turnovers.
- She missed two free throws with seven seconds left in regulation.
- A’ja Wilson finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds.
- Wilson made the defensive play that set up Gray’s winner.
- Jackie Young scored 22 points.
- Young scored a franchise-record 15 consecutive Aces points.
- Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana with 28 points.
- Aliyah Boston added 21 points and 12 rebounds.
- Las Vegas rallied from a 20-point first-half deficit.
- Both teams return to action Saturday.
Deep Look
Gray Hits Two Buzzer-Beating 3-Pointers
INDIANAPOLIS — Chelsea Gray made two buzzer-beating 3-pointers to lead the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces past the Indiana Fever 86-84 in overtime Thursday.
Gray’s first dramatic shot tied the game at the end of regulation.
She connected again at the overtime buzzer to complete the Aces’ comeback and secure the victory.
Clark’s Late Mistakes Open Door for Las Vegas
Caitlin Clark finished with 20 points and eight assists but made critical mistakes at the end of regulation and overtime.
With Indiana leading by three and seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Clark missed two free throws.
The misses gave Las Vegas an opportunity to tie the game.
With the Fever ahead late in overtime, Clark lost the ball with seven seconds remaining, allowing the Aces to set up Gray’s winning shot.
Clark Finishes With Eight Turnovers
Clark committed eight turnovers during the game.
Her final giveaway came under pressure from A’ja Wilson, who made the decisive defensive stop before Gray’s winner.
The mistakes were unusual for Clark and overshadowed her 20-point, eight-assist performance.
Wilson Leads Aces With Double-Double
Wilson led Las Vegas with 26 points and 13 rebounds.
In addition to producing the game’s strongest statistical performance, she made the defensive play against Clark that created the final possession.
Her effort helped the Aces survive multiple late deficits and complete one of their most dramatic wins of the season.
Jackie Young Scores 22 Points
Young added 22 points for Las Vegas.
She set a franchise record by scoring 15 consecutive Aces points from the end of the first half into the beginning of the second.
Her scoring run transformed the game after Indiana had built a commanding early advantage.
Gray Finishes With 11 Points
Gray scored 11 points and made three shots from beyond the arc.
Two of those 3-pointers came at the most important moments of the game.
Her late heroics allowed Las Vegas to overcome deficits at the end of both regulation and overtime.
Aces Erase 20-Point Deficit
Indiana led 42-22 during the first half.
Las Vegas responded by scoring the final 15 points before halftime, reducing the Fever’s lead to 42-37.
Young scored the final 13 points of the half during the run.
Young Gives Las Vegas Second-Half Lead
Young scored the first basket of the second half.
She also accounted for five of the Aces’ first seven points after the break.
Her surge gave Las Vegas a 44-42 lead and completed the recovery from its 20-point deficit.
Mitchell Leads Indiana Scoring
Kelsey Mitchell scored a game-high 28 points for the Fever.
However, she missed a late free throw in regulation shortly before Clark missed two more.
Those missed opportunities prevented Indiana from building a lead large enough to put the game beyond the Aces’ reach.
Boston Records Double-Double
Aliyah Boston finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Her interior scoring and rebounding helped Indiana control much of the first half and stay in front during crucial stretches.
The Fever nevertheless could not close out the game after leading late in regulation and overtime.
Fever Rally in Fourth Quarter
Indiana regained its offensive rhythm midway through the fourth quarter.
The Fever rallied from a 64-55 deficit with 6:16 remaining.
They moved ahead 75-72 before Gray hit her first buzzer-beating 3-pointer to force overtime.
Gray Delivers Again in Overtime
Indiana again held the advantage during the closing seconds of overtime.
After Wilson forced Clark’s turnover, Las Vegas gained one final opportunity.
Gray converted another 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Aces the 86-84 victory.
Officials reviewed both of her late shots and upheld them.
Las Vegas Salvages Season Series Victory
The Aces overcame a 20-point first-half deficit, a three-point deficit at the end of regulation and another late deficit in overtime.
The victory allowed Las Vegas to salvage one win in the three-game regular-season series against Indiana.
It also reinforced the championship resilience of an Aces team that repeatedly responded when the Fever appeared close to victory.
Security Removes Spectators
Play stopped for several minutes with 4:38 left in the third quarter because of an incident involving spectators seated near the Aces bench.
Security personnel escorted a woman seated in the front row through a tunnel.
She was later assisted back to her seat, while two men who had been sitting nearby were removed.
Fever Says Policy Was Not Violated
The Fever said one fan was initially removed but chose not to return after security determined that the team’s fan conduct policy had not been violated.
Young told reporters that someone had been “chirping” throughout the game.
She said she believed the person had crossed the line but declined to explain what was said.
Both Teams Play Saturday
The Aces will visit the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday.
The Fever will travel to face the Chicago Sky the same day.
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