Kelsey Mitchell drops 21, Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark score 17 each as Fever top Lynx 81-74

Minnesota Lynx forward Dorka Juhasz (14) is pressured by Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7), left, and Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the fourth quarter of a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Minneapolis.

Minnesota Lynx forward Dorka Juhasz (14) is pressured by Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7), left, and Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) during the fourth quarter of a WNBA basketball game, Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via AP)


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MINNEAPOLIS — Kelsey Mitchell scored 21 points, and Aliyah Boston and Caitlin Clark finished with 17 points each to help the Indiana Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx 81-74 on Sunday.

Boston grabbed a career-best 16 rebounds and blocked four shots for the Fever. NaLyssa Smith added 11 points.

Indiana (11-14), which lost 10 of its first 13 games, has won eight of 12 since. The team has won back-to-back games and three of its last four.

Clark set up Boston for a layup before Katie Lou Samuelson fed Boston for another basket inside to give the Fever a four-point lead with 2 minutes to go. Kayla McBride cut the deficit to a point with a 3-pointer just 8 seconds later but Clark was fouled and made two free throws to make it 77-74.

Mitchell swooped in to block a layup attempt by Alanna Smith with 22 seconds remaining, was fouled and hit two free throws to make it a five-point game with 16 seconds left. Clark made two fouls shots to cap the scoring 6 seconds later.

Alanna Smith had 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals despite being forced to the bench by foul trouble in the second half for Minnesota (16-8). Bridget Carleton tied her career high with five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Minnesota star Napheesa Collier, who averages 20 points and 10 rebounds, missed her fourth consecutive game with a foot injury.

Courtney Williams made a layup that tied the score at 50 and Dorka Juhasz followed with a layup, Clark was called for a technical foul for swiping at the face of Cecilia Zandalasini, who hooked Clark's arm on a fastbreak. McBride hit the ensuing free throw before Carleton hit a 3 and Williams made two foul shots to take an eight-point lead with a minute to go in the third quarter.

Clark, who made 1 of 9 from behind the arc in the first three quarters, hit a deep contested 3 to open the fourth. Mitchell and Samuelson each added a 3 to make it 63-63 with 8 minutes to play.

Samuelson made a left-hand scoop shot high off the glass with the shot clock winding down and Clark shook her defender with a series of moves for a wide-open layup that gave the Fever a 67-65 lead with 6:44 to go.

Alanna Smith answered with a 3 about a minute later but Mitchell responded with a step-back jumper and then grabbed the rebound of a miss by Clark and made the putback to make it 71-68. Zandalasini made a step-back 3-pointer to tie it again with 4:26 left.

Boston had 11 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in the first half.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

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