Indiana Fever Explosive Start Keeps Season Alive with Dominant Win

With their backs against the wall, the Indiana Fever came home and delivered a performance for the ages. In front of a roaring capacity crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Fever dominated the Atlanta Dream 77-60 in Game 2, forcing a decisive Game 3 in their first-round WNBA playoff series. The win marks the franchise’s first playoff victory since the 2015 WNBA Finals.

Indiana played with a sense of urgency throughout the game. They never trailed, using a balanced offensive attack and tough defense to build a lead that swelled to as many as 24 points. All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell was electric, leading all scorers with 19 points and draining four three-pointers. 

Now, it all comes down to a winner-take-all showdown in Atlanta on Thursday night.

Fever’s Third-Quarter Surge Breaks Game Open

After Atlanta trimmed the deficit to just three points early in the third, Indiana responded like a team unwilling to let their season end. The Fever unleashed a 7-0 run to regain control. With the clock ticking down, Aliyah Boston muscled her way to a score in the post. On the ensuing inbound, Shey Peddy came up with a massive steal. The ball quickly found its way to Lexie Hull, who drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer, pushing Indiana’s lead to 59-44 and breaking the Dream’s spirit heading into the final quarter and keeping the hometown fans on their feet. 

Boston contributed a well-rounded 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out three assists, consistently making the right plays on both ends of the court.

Mitchell Leads the Offensive Charge

Mitchell was the engine for Indiana’s offense all night. The All-Star guard was aggressive and efficient, pouring in a game-high 19 points while dishing out four assists. She set the tone early, hitting clutch shots whenever Atlanta threatened to make a run. Her 4-for-8 shooting from beyond the arc was critical in stretching the Dream’s defense and opening up lanes for her teammates. It was a captain’s performance from Mitchell when her team needed it most.

The Indiana guard was the offensive star of the show. She led all scorers with 19 points, knocking down four crucial three-pointers and adding four assists in a commanding performance that guided her team to victory.

Natasha Howard’s Veteran Presence Stabilizes Fever

In the pressure cooker of a do-or-die playoff game, Natasha Howard’s veteran leadership was invaluable. The forward made her impact felt on both ends of the floor, finishing the first half with a game-high plus-12 rating. She was a steadying force, contributing 12 points and five rebounds for the game. Her composure and timely plays provided the stability Indiana needed to withstand Atlanta’s pushes and maintain control from start to finish.

 Providing a steady veteran presence, Howard was a key contributor for Indiana. She tallied 12 points and five rebounds, playing tough defense and making her presence felt throughout the game.