INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever bounced again from their disappointing loss to the Washington Mystics with a win over Phoenix at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday evening, marking their second-straight win over the Mercury.
However the Mercury did not make it straightforward. Down 23 factors going into the fourth, Phoenix began the quarter on a 16-4 run, then at one level bought inside 4 factors, regardless of lacking Diana Taurasi (out injured) and Brittney Griner (who left within the second quarter with an damage and did not return). The Fever held on for a 95-86 win behind big-time performances from 4 of 5 starters.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 28 factors, whereas Aliyah Boston (21 factors, 13 rebounds), Caitlin Clark (20 factors, 13 assists) and NaLyssa Smith (14 factors, 10 rebounds) every had double-doubles.
It’s the first time the Fever have received the season collection in opposition to the Mercury since 2016; Tamika Catchings’ ultimate 12 months within the league. Indiana has yet another recreation in opposition to Phoenix, which comes as its first recreation after the Olympic break on Aug. 16.
Insider:Caitlin Clark a passing maestro with 13 extra assists. ‘You simply need to be prepared.’
ExtraFever ‘limitless’ when younger core performs prefer it did for many of win vs. Mercury
The Fever are 10-14 with two video games remaining earlier than the Olympic break.
Listed below are three observations:
Fever take down underhanded Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury had been already shorthanded after they flew into Indianapolis on Thursday evening, ruling guards Diana Taurasi, Sug Sutton and Charisma Osborne out a day early for Friday’s recreation.
That meant the Mercury, who normally carry 11 gamers on their roster as an alternative of 12, solely had eight obtainable gamers. So, they waived ahead Liz Dixon and introduced on former Fever guard and 2024 No. 15 draft choose Celeste Taylor for some backcourt depth on Friday morning. Taylor’s solely apply with the workforce was their one-hour shootaround on Friday morning in Indianapolis.
Then, guard Natasha Cloud was a late scratch for the Mercury with a knee damage, giving Phoenix seven gamers to begin the sport. That quantity shortly dwindled down to 6 obtainable gamers after middle Brittney Griner collided with teammate Kahleah Copper within the first quarter and injured her hip. Griner left the sport and went to the locker room, and he or she was formally dominated out round halftime.
Copper and Rebecca Allen ended up being the Mercury’s solely starters obtainable the whole recreation. Cooper performed 35 minutes with a game-high 36 factors, whereas Allen had 4 factors in 25 minutes.
Taylor, who had formally been part of the Mercury for lower than 12 hours, was taking part in significant minutes in opposition to her former workforce. Taylor had solely performed 16 whole minutes in almost half the season with Indianapolis; she exceeded that quantity on Friday.
Extra:Simply hours after being signed by Mercury, Celeste Taylor faces former Indiana Fever workforce
Taylor wasn’t a lot of a scoring side of the Mercury’s offense, however the former Ohio State standout and Huge Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months primarily guarded Fever rookie Caitlin Clark. Taylor performed 24 minutes and completed the sport with 5 assists, three rebounds, two steals, and a +/- of +10.
Caitlin Clark breaks single-quarter help file
The Fever rookie is famend for her assists, and he or she placed on a clinic within the first quarter. Whether or not it was a cross-court lob to Kelsey Mitchell or a bounce move within the paint to Aliyah Boston, Clark was connecting along with her teammates on a distinct degree.
Clark racked up extra factors than assists within the first quarter, ending the opening 10 minutes with 5 factors and 7 assists. It was a Fever franchise file for many assists in 1 / 4. By the third quarter, Clark had her fifth-straight points-assists double-double, which is one off Courtney Vandersloot’s WNBA file of six in a row.
Within the month of July, the Fever rookie is averaging 12 assists per recreation. Her season common of seven.6 is second within the WNBA, solely behind Connecticut Solar ahead Alyssa Thomas’ 7.9 per recreation.
NaLyssa Smith returns to beginning lineup
Fever third-year ahead NaLyssa Smith returned to the beginning lineup after a one-game absence, one thing coach Christie Sides mentioned was due to a “workforce matter.”
Lexie Hull slotted into the beginning lineup in that recreation in opposition to the Mystics, whereas Katie Lou Samuelson moved over to the 4. Whereas Smith got here off the bench (and ended up beginning the second half), the Fever took a loss to the league’s worst workforce.
Extra:NaLyssa Smith got here off bench in Fever loss to Mystics due to a ‘workforce matter’
The ahead returned to type Friday evening, as she rejoined the beginning lineup and Samuelson moved again to the three spot. Smith ended up taking part in 34 minutes on Friday evening, going 6-of-13 from the sphere for 14 factors and 10 rebounds.
What number of factors did Caitlin Clark rating in opposition to the Mercury?
Clark had 20 factors on 8-of-16 capturing (2-of-7 from 3-point vary). She added 13 assists, six rebounds and completed with six turnovers.