MINNEAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever (5-12) were defeated by the Minnesota Lynx, 90-83, on Wednesday night at Target Center.
Two-time WNBA Rookie of the Month Aliyah Boston was the leading scorer for Indiana in the matchup as she notched 22 points on 8-of-9 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and two blocked shots. Boston recorded 16 of her 22 points in the first half alone, which set a new career best for most points in a half. She was followed in the scoring column by forward NaLyssa Smith, who contributed her ninth double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Lexie Hull and Erica Wheeler both pitched in eight points each to support the offense. Hull tied a career high as she contributed four of Indiana’s season-high 10 steals on the night. Wheeler dished out a team-high seven assists, with four of her assists being recorded in the fourth quarter alone.
In addition, Indiana shot 92.9 percent (13-of-14) from the charity stripe. Indiana scored 46 of its points in the paint and all players who took to the court contributed in the scoring column.
With her first assist of the night, Kelsey Mitchell recorded her 500th career assist to put her in sole possession of fourth place in the franchise ranks for most assists. With 502 total career assists, Mitchell now follows Wheeler, who ranks third with 624 assists in a Fever uniform.
The beginning of the first half was defined by back-and forth play. With roughly four minutes remaining in the quarter, the Lynx started to pull away with a 13-5 scoring run to close out the first frame ahead of Indiana, 26-19. Six players contributed to the scoring column in the first quarter, highlighted by Boston’s eight points and Hull with four points.
Indiana was successful in cutting the deficit as they answered with a 13-6 scoring run of its own to open the second quarter. Boston pitched in eight points and closed out the half with a new career best for most points in a half. In addition, Smith scored her first field goal of the matchup at the 3:56 minute mark and finished the quarter contributing eight points as well. Though never taking the lead, the Fever maintained their momentum to finish out the half trailing, 47-42.
Smith guided the Fever in the third quarter as she added eight more points of her own on 3-of-6 shooting. Indiana brought a nine-point deficit within five in the final minutes of the quarter, but it was two completed free throws from Lynx guard Lindsay Allen with 0.6 seconds remaining that put Minnesota ahead by seven going into the final frame, 71-64.
Though Indiana held Minnesota to 30.8 percent (4-of-13) from the floor in the final frame, the Lynx held on to the lead, extending it to as many as 12 points at one occasion. Indiana inched closer to the lead with the help of Wheeler’s four assists, Boston’s six points, and Hull’s two steals in the fourth quarter, but the Lynx responded to their every move and kept Indiana from overcoming the deficit.
With the win, Minnesota earned its fourth consecutive win on Wednesday night. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier led all scorers in the matchup as she notched 32 points in her fourth 30-point outing of the 2023 season. She was supported by Kayla McBride who contributed 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor and 6-of-6 shooting from the free-throw line. Lindsay Allen pitched in 16 points and dished out six assists.
UP NEXT
The Fever head to take on the Washington Mystics at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night. Friday’s game will be broadcast on ION.
Originally posted on fever.wnba.com