Fever Pull Away to Beat Lynx 96-77; Minnesota Needs Thursday Win for Top Seed
The short version
- Indiana beat Minnesota 96-77 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
- Minnesota must win Thursday's rematch in Minneapolis to clinch the No. 1 seed.
- Olivia Miles missed the game with a left calf injury; she averages 19.8 points per game.
- Aliyah Boston led the Fever effort with 17 points and seven rebounds.
- Kelsey Mitchell extended her streak of 20-point games to 27.
Indiana clinched at least the sixth seed with the home win, while Minnesota must win Thursday's rematch in Minneapolis to lock up the No. 1 seed.
The Indiana Fever defeated the Minnesota Lynx 96-77 on Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the first of two straight regular-season meetings between the teams. The result guaranteed Indiana no worse than the sixth seed in the WNBA playoffs.
Minnesota played without All-Star rookie Olivia Miles, who was ruled out roughly 90 minutes before tipoff with a left calf injury. Miles is averaging 19.8 points and six assists per game. Her status for Thursday's rematch in Minneapolis, where the Lynx can clinch the No. 1 seed with a win, was unclear.
Fever coach Stephanie White said before the game that getting All-Star center Aliyah Boston more involved was a priority after slow recent outings. Boston responded with 17 points and seven rebounds, scoring 13 by halftime.
Indiana shared the ball efficiently, recording 17 assists on 18 first-half field goals. Kelsey Mitchell extended her streak of 20-point games to 27 with a three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, and Sophie Cunningham added 11 points off the bench.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve benched all five starters to open the second half after a sluggish start. The reserve lineup outscored Indiana by 16 in the third quarter but could not complete the comeback.