Indiana Fever snap skid behind NaLyssa Smith’s career night

Rookie NaLyssa Smith had 21 factors and 14 rebounds and the Indiana Fever closed the sport on a 11-4 run to beat the Minnesota Lynx 84-80 on Sunday night time.

Amidst a back-and-forth remaining quarter, the Fever trailed by three factors with somewhat over 3 minutes to play. A sequence of technical fouls initiated by Minnesota’s Aerial Powers noticed each groups up the depth down the stretch.

Kelsey Mitchell, who had been quiet all night, knocked down a jumper to drag Indiana inside one level. After a defensive stand, Victoria Vivians received an open look from 3 and nailed the deep ball to provide the Fever a 78-76 lead. Minnesota got here again with fast pictures to regain a two-point lead.

Whereas the Fever made a pair errors of their subsequent couple offensive possessions, Vivians stayed scorching and hit one other 3-pointer to place the Fever up by one. Because the Lynx appeared to  reply within the remaining minute, the Fever locked in on protection as Smith ripped a defensive rebound away earlier than getting tied up in a leap ball. Nevertheless, Smith  gained the leap by tipping the ball to Vivians who pushed it down the court docket.

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Danielle Robinson put up a shot and missed, however Smith fought by all the Lynx protection to save lots of the ball and knock it out of bonds off a Lynx participant. The Fever strung collectively a pair extra defensive stops within the remaining 30 seconds whereas Mitchell and Robinson mixed for 3 free throws to drag of the 84-80 victory in Minnesota.

Indiana held Minnesota scoreless within the remaining 1:30 of the sport, whereas happening a 6-0 run to snap a five-game dropping streak. The Fever moved to 4-12 and coach Carlos Knox earned his second win on the helm.

4 of the Fever’s starters scored in double figures on Sunday night time with Smith notching a career-high 21 factors on 80% taking pictures from the sector. The rookie’s team-high 14 rebounds earned her a 3rd double-double on the season. Smith additionally had 4 assists, two blocks and a steal towards the Lynx.

Veteran Danielle Robinson had an environment friendly outing with 16 factors on 7-of-12 taking pictures. However her largest contributions had been off the ball as she recorded six assists Robinson additionally had the crew’s greatest plus/minus because the Fever outscored the Lynx by 13 factors when she was on the court docket.

Although Mitchell didn’t lead the Fever on Sunday, she nonetheless put up 15 factors and had 4 assists. Vivians additionally scored 15 factors whereas making three three-pointers.

Nikolina Milic led the Lynx, scoring 23 factors off the bench on 11-of-19 taking pictures. Powers, Bridget Carleton and Moriah Jefferson all scored in double figures as properly.