The Indiana Fever stunned the Atlanta Dream, winning Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series 87-85 on Thursday night. Aliyah Boston's go-ahead basket with 7.4 seconds remaining sealed the victory, sending the Fever to the semifinals for the first time since 2015. The dramatic win was even more impressive considering the absence of injured star Caitlin Clark.
The Fever's late-game execution was flawless. After Brionna Jones went for a loose ball, leaving Boston unguarded, Boston easily scored a layup, giving Indiana their first lead since the second quarter. A crucial steal by Lexie Hull on the ensuing inbound pass further solidified the Fever's advantage. While Odyssey Sims missed one of two free throws, leaving the door slightly ajar for Atlanta, Jones' last-second three-point attempt fell short.
Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever's scoring effort with 24 points, while Boston contributed a stellar all-around performance with 14 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. Natasha Howard added 12 points, and Odyssey Sims contributed 16 points and eight assists to the winning cause.
The Atlanta Dream, despite a strong effort from Allisha Gray (19 points, 12 rebounds – her first playoff double-double) and Jordin Canada (18 points, 10 assists), couldn't overcome the Fever's decisive final push. Rhyne Howard added 16 points for the Dream, and Brionna Jones contributed 12.
The Dream, held to a measly 60 points in Game 2, managed to reach that mark earlier in Game 3, but ultimately couldn't maintain their momentum. The Fever's resilience, particularly their 7-0 closing run, demonstrated their determination to overcome the obstacle and claim victory. The Fever will now face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals on Sunday.
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Originally published at: https://apnews.com/article/fever-dream-score-6f4823e740c39c107689b3487377633a
