DALLAS โ (AP) Kelsey Mitchell led the way with 23 points, while Aliyah Boston and Natasha Howard each notched double-doubles, steering the Indiana Fever to an 88-78 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday night. This triumph marked the Feverโs highest streak of the season with their fourth consecutive win, achieved despite the continued absence of Caitlin Clark for the sixth consecutive game.
The matchup, initially relocated to the American Airlines Center, was anticipated as a showdown between Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers. However, with Clark missing her 15th game of the season, the Feverโs record improved to 8-7 without her presence on the court. Paige Bueckers, meanwhile, delighted a massive crowd of 17,857 โ the second-largest in Dallas history โ by scoring 22 points. This performance marked her 12th game with at least 20 points, extending her WNBA record for consecutive games scoring in double figures to 23 at the beginning of her career.
Boston contributed significantly with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Howard added 11 points along with a career-best of 16 rebounds, both players also dishing out five assists for Indiana (16-12), who now enjoy a 3-0 record against the Wings this season. Aari McDonald complemented the effort with 12 points.
However, Bueckers was the lone player in double figures for Dallas (8-21). Arike Ogunbowale scored eight points but was missing from action during the fourth quarter.
Indianaโs performance included tying a seasonal high with 19 turnovers and converting 12 three-pointers, while Dallas only connected on two of their 15 attempts, both coming in the final quarter. At the free-throw line, the Wings excelled, making 24 out of 25 attempts, giving them a 14-point edge; nevertheless, the Fever outperformed them with a plus-14 rebound margin and a double-digit advantage in offensive boards.
In the second quarter, a 9-0 scoring run allowed Indiana to break away from a 22-22 deadlock at the conclusion of the first quarter, leading 48-42 at halftime. The Fever stretched the lead to 70-57 by the end of the third quarter. Although Dallas trimmed the margin to 75-69 midway through the fourth, Indiana promptly responded with a five-point surge to secure the victory.