In a high-stakes battle, the Las Vegas Aces erased a 20-point lead held by the Indiana Fever during the second quarter and overcame a challenging third-quarter stretch to force overtime, ultimately winning the game. The turning point came thanks to Chelsea Gray, who scored the final five points of the contest with two buzzer-beating 3-pointers. Gray’s heroics capped a dramatic finish in which she first sent the game to overtime and then clinched the victory for Las Vegas. Her ability to deliver in the clutch was the difference in a game that saw both teams trade baskets and momentum shifts throughout. Gray played a game-high 40 minutes and finished with seven assists and a plus-minus of +6 in a two-point win.
Caitlin Clark and Indiana's dominant start
The game started with the Fever in control, as Caitlin Clark orchestrated a key 22-4 run in the second quarter. With her sharp court vision and decision-making, Clark found open opportunities for teammates such as Kelsey Mitchell and Makayla Timpson. By the end of the first half, Indiana had built a commanding 20-point lead, with Clark and Aliyah Boston combining to contribute most of those points. Clark’s leadership was evident as she helped shape the offensive momentum and kept the Fever ahead.
Clark was a standout throughout the game, showcasing her ability to control the pace and create opportunities. She made a critical 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter, helping the Fever stay within range. However, Clark’s night was not without missteps, as her confidence seemed to wane during a cold stretch for Indiana and a late-game sequence that ultimately unraveled their lead. Clark finished with 20 points, eight assists and three rebounds, but she shot just 7-for-20 from the field, 2-for-10 from 3-point range and committed eight turnovers. One of those turnovers proved especially costly, as it led to Chelsea Gray's game-winning 3-pointer in overtime. With seven seconds left in regulation, Clark had the opportunity to potentially put the game away with two free throws as the Fever led 75-72. She missed both free throws, however, setting the stage for Gray to hit a buzzer-beating triple to send the game into overtime. Post-game, Clark took full responsibility for her mistakes, acknowledging that the missed free throws and turnovers "cost my team the game" and that it was her job to "help us win." In the dying seconds of overtime, Clark asked to be isolated against A'ja Wilson and attempted to take the three-time Defensive Player of the Year off the dribble in another bid to ice the win. As Clark realized she wasn't going to get past Wilson, she attempted an ill-advised hook pass into the paint. Wilson swiftly swatted it and hit Gray in transition. And after Gray exchanged passes with Jackie Young, the "Point Gawd" drilled the winner as time expired.
Aces' late surge flips the script
The tide began to turn in the second quarter, around the three-minute mark. Jackie Young led a 13-0 run by the Aces, supported by timely steals from A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray. This momentum shifted the game as the Aces began to close the gap. The run continued into the third quarter, where the Fever went more than nine minutes without a field goal. During that stretch, Indiana managed only two free throws, both by Clark, and the Aces used that window to flip the deficit from 20 points to a five-point lead by halftime. Las Vegas capitalized on the Fever’s struggles, gaining confidence and momentum as Indiana failed to make any shots during that extended drought. The Aces went on a 26-2 run that erased the Fever’s early lead and gave them the advantage going into the fourth quarter. Clark, visibly frustrated, struggled to find her rhythm as her team’s offensive struggles continued, and it seemed to impact her performance.
However, the Aces picked up their defensive intensity and went on a 15-0 run before the halftime buzzer sounded. Las Vegas eventually gained the upper hand with a 7-0 run in the third quarter, and for the rest of the second half, neither team could blow the game wide open.
Final moments unravel for the Fever
With 31 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Aliyah Boston gave the Fever a two-point lead with a putback layup. From that point, things unraveled. Kelsey Mitchell was fouled and made just one of two free throws, extending Indiana's lead to three points with only seconds on the clock. Then, Clark was fouled after an Aces player stepped on the line, allowing her to take a pair of free throws to seal the game. However, Clark, who had otherwise had a solid game, missed both, keeping the door open for the Aces.
On the final possession, Gray was left wide open, a defensive breakdown that proved costly for the Fever. Gray seized the opportunity, drilling a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into overtime. In the extra period, Gray repeated the feat, hitting another buzzer-beating three to secure the victory for the Aces. Her two buzzer-beaters not only defined the game but also marked a major moment in the contest's dramatic conclusion. Gray finished with 11 points, including six on those two clutch shots, while shooting 4-for-10 from the field and 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. It was a historic performance, as Gray became the first player in WNBA history to make a game-tying regulation buzzer-beater and a game-winning overtime buzzer-beater in the same game. Gray also gave Jackie Young credit for her role in the plays, saying both were assisted by her and crediting her for her "faith" in the moment. Gray added that she felt the "basketball gods were on our side."
While Clark’s 20 points and eight assists, along with eight turnovers, along with Boston’s 21 points and 12 rebounds, were significant contributions, the missed free throws and turnovers in the closing moments proved to be the difference. Meanwhile, Kelsey Mitchell added 28 points and four assists, and Jackie Young had 22 points and nine assists. On the Aces' side, Wilson’s 26 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocked shots were key, with Gray finishing with game-high honors, scoring 29 points and delivering the clutch shots that won the game for her team. According to head coach Becky Hammon, Wilson's defense in the final moments was pivotal. With the Fever getting the ball back, Wilson found herself cross-matched against star guard Caitlin Clark. Despite the mismatch, Wilson locked up Clark, forcing a turnover on a bad pass and setting up Gray's game-winner. "I trust A'ja out there. This is why she's the best defensive player in the world. That's because she can guard one through five," Hammon said, per The Sportsnista on X. In the final moments of overtime, Clark turned the ball over, leading to Gray's game-winning shot. Post-game, sports analyst Emmanuel Acho criticized Clark's performance, stating that "heavy is the head that wears the crown or the tiara, whatever you want to wear, and your head is heavy on today" and noting that Clark "cannot do in a must-win game when up by 3 with a matter of seconds left is miss 2 pivotal free throws."}]}]