Clark, Mitchell Shoot Lights Out Leading Fever Over Mercury

Source: Justin Casterline / Getty

INDIANAPOLIS — Fresh off a month off due to the Olympic Games, the Indiana Fever started off their final push for a playoff spot on the right note in front of a once again packed house inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

A sharpshooting clinic by the Fever propelled them to a 98-89 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday.

Kelsey Mitchell tied her season high of 28 points shooting 50-percent from the field leading the Fever in the winning effort. Caitlin Clark added 29 points to go along with 10 assists, equating to her 10th double-double of the season, and is now one shy of the WNBA rookie record.

“We didn’t crumble. We had a few lapses but we always found a way to respond,” Clark said. “Kelsey (Mitchell) is awesome. She has stepped up in big moments all year.”

Indiana came out of the gate as any team eager to get back to playing after a long break would: they came out hot. Shooting 61-percent in the first quarter alone, the Fever jumped out to as much as a 28-point lead as one point midway through the 2nd quarter.

Clark scored 16 points and hit three trays in the first half as part of Indiana’s superb shooting effort. Mitchell was key as well hitting several shots from inside and outside.

Appearing to be in control, Indiana took a 54-37 lead into the halftime period. It was an elusion of grandeur as Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and Kahleah Copper, all three of whom won a gold medal with Team USA in Paris, led a scrappy effort by the Mercury who went on a 31-13 run well into the 3rd quarter.

With 2:42 left in the 3rd quarter, Phoenix found themselves up 62-61 as turnovers and empty possessions plagued the Fever offense. The quarter was also marred by an altercation between Mitchell and Natasha Cloud who were issued a technical apiece for getting in a small shoving match.

Needing a high note to end the quarter, Katie Lou Samuelson hit a clutch three-pointer allowing Indiana to keep a 73-65 lead going into the final quarter.

Phoenix kept their pulse in the latter stages of the game, but Mitchell and Clark, along with some help from Lexie Hull from deep, kept hitting crucial (and tough shots) when they needed them. Aliyah Boston also had a solid night contributing 14 points and nine rebounds. NaLyssa Smith was steady as well with 13 points.

The victory is also the first time Indiana has beaten Phoenix three times in a single season. The Fever have also swept Phoenix for the season as this was the last time the two faced each other

“This sets the tone for the rest of the season,” Clark said. “We have to stay resilient and know every game helps get us to where we want to go.”

Where they want to go is the playoffs and Friday’s victory keeps Indiana two games ahead of Atlanta in the WNBA standings. They sit eight and a half games back of the league-leading New York Liberty but are still in a good position as they hope to secure one of eight available playoff spots.

The Fever have 13 games left to make their aspirations a reality, especially knowing that they have not made the playoffs since 2016.

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