Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points, Caitlin Clark contributed 20 points and 13 assists for her fifth consecutive double-double, and the Indiana Fever defeated the undermanned Phoenix Mercury 95-86 on Friday evening.
Kahleah Copper scored 20 of her 36 points in the fourth quarter as the Mercury (12-11) reduced what had been a 31-point deficit in the third quarter to single digits.
Mitchell extended Indiana’s lead to 81-50 with 1:55 remaining in the third quarter before Phoenix responded with 17 unanswered points to narrow the gap to 81-67, capped by Sophie Cunningham’s 3-pointer. Copper scored inside with 5:02 left, bringing Phoenix within 85-76.
Clark tied the team record with her 13th assist on a cross-court pass to Mitchell for a 3-pointer, giving Indiana a 92-83 advantage with 1:33 to go.
Phoenix staged their comeback without center Brittney Griner, who sustained a right hip injury after colliding with a teammate in the first half and did not return.
The Mercury were already missing starters Diana Taurasi (leg) and Natasha Cloud (knee).
Copper scored 23 of her 36 points in the final two quarters. Clark secured her double-double early in the third quarter with an assist to Mitchell, extending Indiana’s lead to 62-40. Clark also set a franchise record with seven assists in the first quarter.
Aliyah Boston contributed 21 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, while NaLyssa Smith added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Cunningham added 21 points for Phoenix, which had previously won three consecutive games.
Clark completed a three-point play with eight seconds remaining in the first half as Indiana closed the half on a 10-2 run, taking a 55-35 lead into halftime. Mitchell scored 17 points in the first half, Clark had 15, and Boston added 10.
