WNBA: Mitchell’s scoring, Boston’s rebounding lead Fever previous Lynx

The Indiana Fever (8-22) rode an environment friendly, well-balanced 2-point scoring effort and a big edge in offensive rebounds to defeat the Minnesota Lynx (14-16), 91-73. The Fever had been led in scoring by Kelsey Mitchell (24 factors) and received double-doubles from Aliyah Boston (15 factors and 13 rebounds) and Erica Wheeler (17 factors and 10 assists). Rachel Banham led the visiting Lynx in scoring with 18 factors off the bench.

Whereas the 2023 WNBA season largely has been a wrestle for the younger Fever, they seemed like a cohesive unit on Thursday, taking pictures 50 % from the sector for the sixth time whereas holding the Lynx to 39.7 %. Most notably, Indiana held star Lynx ahead Napheesa Collier to a season-low eight factors on the evening— a stark distinction to their final assembly, when Collier went off for 32 in a Minnesota victory. The Fever additionally outrebounded the Lynx 39-26.

13 of these rebounds belonged to Boston, who recorded one other sturdy all-around efficiency towards fellow rookie Diamond Miller (11 factors). The No. 1 total choose within the 2023 WNBA Draft set the tone for the Fever on each ends of the court docket, taking pictures 7-of-9 from the sector and anchoring a staff protection that had one in all its higher video games of the season; solely 18 of Minnesota’s 73 factors got here within the paint, which tied a single-game season-low amongst Fever opponents.

Photograph by Ron Hoskins/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

The Fever’s backcourt was equally environment friendly. Mitchell and Wheeler mixed to shoot 14-for-24 (58.3 %) from the ground, with Mitchell hitting the 20-point mark for the tenth time this season. They had been in a position to steadiness their very own offense with that of their teammates—which maybe has not occurred as typically this season because the Fever would love—totaling 14 assists towards simply 4 turnovers. This was a welcome sight for the Fever, who entered the evening ranked tenth within the WNBA in assist/turnover ratio at 1.19.

If Thursday’s recreation was one of many season’s most spectacular for the Fever, it was doubtless among the many most disappointing for Minnesota. The Lynx, who’re defying most preseason expectations and discovering themselves within the playoff hunt, sit on the No. 6 seed within the standings, with mere proportion factors separating them and the No. 7 seed Washington Mystics. Issues nonetheless are trying good for a Lynx playoff look total, but when their ultimate seeding is disadvantageous, losses to lesser groups like Indiana can be responsible.