INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - In a thrilling playoff matchup, Kelsey Mitchell shined with 19 points and four 3-pointers, while teammate Aliyah Boston contributed 15 points to propel the Indiana Fever to a decisive 77-60 victory over the third-seeded Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night. This win extends their best-of-three series and sets the stage for a crucial Game 3, scheduled for Thursday in Atlanta, a team that hasn't celebrated a playoff series win since 2016. Conversely, Indiana last achieved a series victory in 2015.
Natasha Howard also made her presence felt, adding 12 points and grabbing five rebounds. Mitchell not only showcased her scoring ability but also facilitated play with four assists, while Boston rounded out her impressive performance with five rebounds and three assists. For the Dream, Te-Hina Paopao led the bench scoring with 11 points, and Rhyne Howard chipped in with 10 points. However, Atlanta struggled offensively, falling 25 points short of their regular-season average.
Allisha Gray made a notable contribution with nine points and seven rebounds, despite dealing with foul trouble and a brief altercation with two fans sitting in the front row during the fourth quarter. Security promptly escorted the fans out of the arena. The Fever's playoff victory was particularly significant as it marked their first postseason win since October 11, 2015, when they defeated the Minnesota Lynx 75-69. The atmosphere was electric, with a sellout crowd fueling the team's performance, making it their first playoff game since 2016.
This matchup represented a dramatic turnaround from Game 1. Both teams faced substantial foul trouble, significantly impacting Atlanta's defense. The Fever capitalized on this, achieving their first wire-to-wire playoff victory since 2002. Indiana made a strong start, launching a 10-2 run in the first half to establish a commanding 30-19 lead. Despite Atlanta's efforts to close the gap, including a late 3-pointer from Gray that brought the halftime score to 35-29, Indiana remained resilient.
Atlanta attempted to rally early in the second half, narrowing the score to 40-37 midway through the third quarter. However, the Fever responded decisively with a seven-point streak, followed by another 7-0 run to close the quarter. Indiana then opened the fourth quarter with an 8-0 surge, pushing the lead to 67-44. This commanding lead allowed Mitchell and Boston to rest as the game progressed, setting the tone for an impressive display of teamwork and skill.
As the series heads to Atlanta for Game 3, all eyes will be on whether the Indiana Fever can capitalize on their momentum or if the Atlanta Dream will find a way to bounce back and claim their first playoff series victory in several years.
