ATLANTA — The Indiana Fever eeked out a victory over the Atlanta Dream, 84-79, Monday evening for his or her 14th win of the season — their highest variety of wins since 2016, Tamika Catchings’ closing season and Indiana’s final journey to the postseason.
The Dream (10-19) did not make it simple, although. The Fever practically blew a 14-point lead, with the Dream getting inside two factors on the 3-minute mark of the fourth quarter. However ill-timed fouls by Atlanta saved Indiana in entrance, permitting the Fever simply sufficient respiratory room within the closing minutes.
‘I look actually smooth.’Caitlin Clark brushes off slight ankle harm vs. Dream
‘Tempo and passing’:Lynx coach reveals Caitlin Clark’s greatest property for Fever
The Fever are actually 14-16 and stay seventh place within the WNBA standings, nonetheless within the playoff image.
Listed below are three observations:
Caitlin Clark rolls ankle, rapidly returns to recreation
Fever followers within the constructing collectively held their breath when Fever rookie Caitlin Clark fell, clutching her ankle, in the midst of the primary quarter. She acquired tied up with Nia Coffey close to the free-throw line and rolled her ankle, tumbling to the bottom in ache.
Clark stayed on the bottom for some time, her teammates surrounding her because the Fever referred to as a timeout and had trainers come over to take a look at her ankle. After a protracted pause, Clark ultimately was helped up off the bottom and walked again to the bench.
Evidently, it did not look like it was something to fret about. Clark by no means left the bench, getting taped up as play resumed and Erica Wheeler subbed in for her. She sat on the bench for the remainder of the quarter (about three minutes of recreation time), then checked again in for the second quarter with no limp in sight.
Slight ankle accidents aren’t new to Clark — she rolled the identical ankle towards the Solar again in Could, going again to the locker room to get it checked out. She ultimately returned to that recreation, too, and stated postgame, “each basketball participant has an ankle harm. In the event you do not, you are not a real baller.”
Lexie Hull begins second half instead of Katie Lou Samuelson
For a number of video games at the start of the season, Lexie Hull sat on the bench for full video games. DNP-Coach’s Determination confirmed as much as her identify subsequent to a number of field scores — a stark distinction for somebody who began a lot of the Fever’s video games in 2023.
Now, Hull is getting starter-level minutes off the bench.
She performed half-hour Monday evening, ending with two factors, 4 rebounds and two assists and had +/- of +4.
The third-year guard has performed 20 or extra minutes in every of the Fever’s previous three video games, together with Monday’s contest towards the Dream. She’s identified for her defensive talents, however she additionally has flashes of offensive prowess — together with a career-high 22 factors on 6-of-7 taking pictures towards the Storm final week. She tallied a second-straight double-digit recreation towards Minnesota, placing in 10 factors within the Fever’s loss to the Lynx.
Whereas Hull has been enjoying increasingly more minutes, it means fewer for Katie Lou Samuelson, who sometimes begins on the 3. Samuelson solely performed 14 minutes towards the Lynx on Saturday, whereas Hull performed 26. On Monday, Samuelson was restricted to seven minutes and took only one shot. Samuelson has solely made one shot within the three video games because the Olympic break, going 1-of-11 from the sphere.
Kelsey Mitchell notches fourth straight recreation with 20+ factors
If her latest play is any indication, the Olympic break was nice for Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell. A two-time All-Star, Mitchell is averaging over 24 factors per recreation within the Fever’s 4 video games because the Olympic break.
She’s been a constant scorer your complete season, averaging 17.8 factors per recreation, however her scoring has discovered a brand new degree.
Extra:Kelsey Mitchell ‘excited’ free of charge company — that is if she hits market.
Mitchell weaved round defenders within the 38 minutes she was on the ground Monday evening and shot 10-of-23 from the sphere. Her two free throws with 5 seconds left put the Fever up 5 factors, sealing a victory and giving Mitchell 29 factors.
What number of factors did Caitlin Clark rating towards the Dream?
Clark tied the rookie document for 3-pointers made Monday evening, making 4 to convey her whole to 85. The Dream’s Rhyne Howard set the document in her rookie season in 2022. Now, Clark has 10 extra video games to set her personal document.
The Fever rookie completed the sport with 19 factors on 6-of-14 taking pictures (4-of-8 from 3-point vary), and added on seven rebounds and 7 assists.