In a decisive home victory on Tuesday night, the Indiana Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx 96‑77, preserving a slim chance to clinch the No. 4 seed and secure home‑court advantage for the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
Clark and Mitchell lead the way
Rookie sensation Caitlin Clark delivered a near‑triple‑double performance, tallying 27 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. Veteran scorer Kelsey Mitchell contributed 20 points, extending her league‑record streak to 27 consecutive games with at least 20 points by sinking a crucial three‑pointer with just over two minutes remaining.
Aliyah Boston added 17 points and seven rebounds for Indiana, while the Lynx’s Chloe Bibby scored all 15 of her points from beyond the arc. Minnesota’s Liatu King posted 12 points in a game that saw them play without key rookie Olivia Miles, who was sidelined with a left calf injury.
Fever dominate early, hold lead
Indiana seized control early, opening the first quarter with a 14‑2 run and establishing a 31‑16 lead. The Fever expanded the margin to 38‑18 early in the second quarter and led by as many as 57‑28 at halftime.
Although the Lynx rallied in the second half, cutting the deficit to single digits late in the third period, the Fever responded with a strong fourth‑quarter push. Monique Billings’ two free throws, followed by baskets from Clark, Mitchell and Boston, pushed the lead to 82‑66, and Indiana never looked back.
Implications for the playoff picture
The win keeps Indiana’s faint hopes of earning the No. 4 seed alive for at least another day. The Lynx, meanwhile, have already secured the No. 1 seed after Golden State’s overtime loss to Portland earlier in the evening.
Looking ahead, the Lynx will host Indiana on Thursday in their regular‑season finale, while the Fever close out their road schedule on Thursday at Minnesota.
Coaches’ comments
Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve noted that the team chose to limit minutes for starters in the final 2½ quarters to protect players from further injury after Indiana’s fast start. She also mentioned that Olivia Miles was a late scratch due to her calf issue, a factor that impacted Minnesota’s performance.
Indiana’s coaching staff praised the balanced effort from their stars and role players, emphasizing the importance of maintaining focus as the regular season draws to a close.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
