The Indiana Fever bounced back from a disappointing loss on Sunday with a convincing 96-77 victory over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in their final home game of the regular season. The win was made easier by the absence of rookie sensation Olivia Miles for the Lynx, who sat out with a calf injury.
Indiana built a significant lead, handing Minnesota a 23-point deficit before halftime, which marked the Lynx's largest deficit of the season. Caitlin Clark led the way for the Fever, flirting with a triple-double through three quarters and finishing with a game-high 27 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
One notable rotation adjustment made by the Fever was a change in playing time between Sophie Cunningham and rookie Raven Johnson. On Tuesday, Cunningham saw significantly more court time than Johnson, and Indiana's offense ran smoother with her on the floor. The Fever's "Big 3" of Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell combined for 67 points, with Mitchell extending her streak of 27 consecutive games with 20 or more points.
Clark commented on the game, saying "I thought our third quarter was a bit sloppy. You've got to give their bench credit, but overall I thought our pace and intentionality on the offensive end were good." The win gives the Fever a much-needed momentum boost heading into the playoffs and keeps their chances of securing home-court advantage alive.
The Fever will finish the regular season on Thursday with a rematch against the Lynx, this time in Minnesota.
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