Indiana vs. Las Vegas
PHOENIX (Interstat) — Las Vegas will be the home team when it faces Indiana in Game 1 of their WNBA playoff series on Sunday at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz.
The Aces enter the postseason with a 30-13 record. The Fever are 27-16. Las Vegas won the most recent meeting between the teams, 86-84 in overtime at Indiana. Indiana took the two previous matchups this season, winning 109-75 at Las Vegas and 84-68 at Las Vegas.
A’ja Wilson is a player to watch for Las Vegas. The center had 34 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists in a win at Phoenix. She followed with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists against Los Angeles, 30 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists against Seattle, and 29 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists at Seattle. Wilson played 35 minutes in the win at Phoenix and has scored at least 18 points in each of her last four games. She has been a consistent force for an Aces team that won its most recent game 100-82 at Phoenix. Las Vegas also has recent wins over Los Angeles, Seattle and Seattle.
Monique Billings is a player to watch for Indiana. The forward had 6 points and 10 rebounds in the Fever’s most recent game, a loss at Minnesota. She had 6 points and 5 rebounds in a win over Minnesota. In her two prior appearances, she played 4 minutes and grabbed 1 rebound against Washington and played 4 minutes against Toronto. Billings played 17 minutes in the loss at Minnesota and 15 minutes in the win over Minnesota.
Indiana’s most recent result was a 66-86 loss at Minnesota. Before that, the Fever beat Minnesota 96-77, lost to Washington 77-93 and beat Toronto 103-85. Las Vegas’ most recent result was a 100-82 win at Phoenix. The Aces also beat Los Angeles 89-79, Seattle 98-77 and Seattle 114-77 in their previous games. Indiana will need production around Billings as it tries to steal Game 1 on the road.
The series is scheduled to continue with Game 2 in Indiana and Game 3 in Las Vegas. Las Vegas will look to use its home designation and recent form to take the opening game. Indiana will aim to build on its two earlier wins in the season series and quiet the Aces’ offense.
Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Las Vegas 104, Indiana 99. Las Vegas has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -4.5. The over/under for the game is 182.5.