Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points, Caitlin Clark contributed 20 points and 13 assists for her fifth consecutive double-double, leading the Indiana Fever to a 95-86 victory over the short-handed Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.
Phoenix, missing key players including Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, and Natasha Cloud due to injuries, rallied in the fourth quarter with Kahleah Copper scoring 20 of her 36 points to trim Indiana’s 31-point lead to single digits.
Indiana’s Mitchell extended their lead to 81-50 late in the third quarter, but Phoenix mounted a comeback, closing the gap to 81-67 with a 17-0 run. Copper’s layup cut the deficit to 85-76 with 5:02 remaining.
Clark tied the franchise record with her 13th assist, setting up Mitchell for a pivotal three-pointer that extended Indiana’s lead to 92-83 with 1:33 left in the game.
Aliyah Boston contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, while NaLyssa Smith added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite their efforts, Phoenix’s Sophie Cunningham’s 21 points couldn’t prevent their first loss after a three-game winning streak.
Clark achieved her double-double early in the third quarter and also set a franchise record with seven assists in the first quarter alone.
The first half saw Indiana closing with a strong 10-2 run, highlighted by Clark’s three-point play with eight seconds remaining, securing a commanding 55-35 lead. Mitchell scored 17 points in the first half, Clark added 15, and Boston contributed 10.
The game marked a significant challenge for Phoenix without their injured starters, impacting their ability to maintain momentum throughout the match.
