The Indiana Fever’s crazy season continues. They rally from a 5-point deficit in the final 2 1/2 minutes to beat the Atlanta Dream 87-85 in Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series.
They play the winner of the Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm series, which also tied 1-1. They played later Thursday. Game 1 of the next series is Sunday.
Kelsey Mitchell scores 24 points, Odyssey Simts 16 with 8 assists and 3 steals, and Aliyah Boston 14 points and 12 rebounds. Natasha Howard adds 12 points, and Lexie Hull 10.
Allisha Gray scores 19 points with 12 rebounds to lead Atlanta, while Jordin Canada has 18 points and 10 assists. Rhyne Howard adds 16 points.
Atlanta led 85-80 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining, with Indiana scoring the final 7 points.
Hull gets the steal. Sims hits 1-of-2 free throws to provide the final margin.
Fever vs. Dream score: Indiana leads 86-85
:7.4 seconds left 4Q: Lexie Hull and Aliyah Boston score layups. Timeout, Dream.
Fever vs. Dream score: Atlanta leads 85-82
1:05 left 4Q: Atlanta commits 2 straight turnovers. Brianna Turner’s putback ties the score at 80 with 3:20 remaining, but Atlanta follows with 5 straight points.
Fever vs. Dream score: Atlanta leads 80-78
3:50 left 4Q: The offenses get stagnant. Aliyah Boston is up to a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Atlanta’s Allisha Gray has 19 points, 11 rebounds and 5 fouls.
Dream vs. Fever score: Atlanta leads 80-75
6:28 left 4Q: Kelsey Mitchell has gotten a breather for Indiana. Odyssey Sims has 15 points and 7 assists, and Aliyah Boston is up to 12 points and 8 rebounds.
Dream vs. Fever score: Atlanta leads 73-69 after three quarters
Four Atlanta players are in double figures, led by Allisha Gray with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordin Canada with 15 points and 7 assists. Kelsey Mitchell leads three Indiana players in double figures with 22.
Aliyah Boston gets technical foul after tangling with Brionna Jones
5:44 left 3Q: The Fever and Dream post players get tangled, and Atlanta’s Brionna Jones is called for her 4th foul. Indiana’s Aliyah Boston picks up a technical foul. These two have been battling hard all series.
Fever vs. Dream score: Atlanta leads 57-55
7:19 left 3Q: Natasha Howard scores on a layup following an Odyssey Sims steal. Howard is up to 10 points. Timeout, Atlanta.
Fever vs. Dream score: Atlanta leads 56-49 at halftime
Kelsey Mitchell has 19 points to lead Indiana, which has just 2 turnovers. Odyssey Sims has 9 points and Lexie Hull 8.
Jordin Canada has 13 points and 4 assists, Allisha Gray 10 points and 9 rebounds, and Brionna Jones 10 points for Atlanta, which had just one player in double figures in Game 2. The Dream are 55.6% from the field and has hit 3 of its last 4 3-pointers.
Fever vs. Dream score: Atlanta leads 46-43
2:48 left 2Q: Allisha Gray has 10 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Dream, and Jordin Canada has 9 points and 4 assists. Kelsey Mitchell has 17 points for Indiana, and Odyssey Sims 9 with 3 assists.
Fever vs. Dream score: Atlanta leads 35-33
7:26 left 2Q: Fever call a timeout after a turnover results in an Atlanta layup.
Fever vs. Dream score: Indiana leads 29-27 after first quarter
Kelsey Mitchell is up to 11 points for the Fever, who are 9-of-10 on free throws. Allisha Gray (6 points, 4 rebounds), Brionna Jones (5 points, 2 assists) and Naz Hillmon have 2 fouls each for Atlanta, which is 61.9% from the field.
Fever vs. Dream score: Indiana leads 19-17 behind Odyessy Sims
4:01 left 1Q: Both offenses are rolling: The Fever are 6-of-11 from the field and 6-of-6 on free throws. (They were 15-of-15 in Game 2.) Atlanta is 8-of-12 from the field. Odessey Sims has 7 early points for Indiana.
The Dream hit their first 5 shots. They score the first 5 points before Sims hits a 3-pointer. Indiana did not trail in Game 2.
Why Caitlin Clark can’t come back during the WNBA playoffs
The Indiana Fever has submitted an official roster for the playoffs that is different that its regular-season roster. IndyStar’s Chloe Peterson has details.
Aliyah Boston on Indiana Fever’s key to winning
On the “WNBA Countdown” show, Indiana Fever post player Aliyah Boston responded to a question about how the Fever can win Game 3: “We are resilient, no matter what comes our way.”
Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream starting lineups tonight, Sept. 18
Fever: Kelsey Mitchell, Nathasha Howard, Aliyah Boston, Lexie Hull, Odyssey Sims
Dream: Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, Brionna Jones
Start time for Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream Game 3 of WNBA playoffs today? When do Indiana Fever play the Atlanta Dream today, Sept. 18?
7:30 p.m. ET Thursday, Sept. 18, at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga.
Where to watch the Indiana Fever vs. the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA playoffs? What channel are Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream on today, Sept. 18?
TV: ESPN2, with Pam Ward (play-by-play), LaChina Robinson (analyst), Angel Gray (sideline)
Watch the WNBA playoffs with a free Fubo trial
Where can I stream the Indiana Fever vs. the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA playoffs? Streaming Atlanta Dream vs Indiana Fever today, Sept. 18
Get ESPN Unlimited and ESPN Select
Will the Indiana Fever beat the Atlanta Dream today? Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream Game 3 expert prediction
Chloe Peterson, IndyStar: Dream 78-72
“At this point in the series, both teams know what it takes to win. And win big. The Dream won the first game by 12 points, and the Fever countered with a 17-point win. Now it’s a winner-take-all game.
“I think it’ll be close, but the advantage goes to the Dream. Atlanta is at home, which is small (capacity 3,800) but can get really loud. Atlanta also has its full arsenal of players, while the Fever have five season-ending injuries and Damiris Dantas in concussion protocol.”
Indiana Fever playoff schedule; Atlanta Dream playoff schedule; When do the Indiana Fever play the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA playoff schedule?
How can I listen to the Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream today, Sept. 18, in the WNBA playoffs?
Are the Indiana Fever favored vs the Atlanta Dream in Game 3 of the WNBA playoffs today, Sept. 18? Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream betting odds
Indiana Fever tickets: How much are tickets for Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream in the WNBA playoffs?
Tickets start at $82 on StubHub.
Get Fever playoff tickets here
Is Caitlin Clark out for the season? Is Caitlin Clark injured? Indiana Fever injury report vs. Atlanta Dream today, Sept. 18
Damaris Dontas (concussion) is out. Caitlin Clark (groin) Sophie Cunningham (knee), Chloe Bibby (knee), Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (knee) were previously ruled out for the rest of the season.
WNBA playoffs bracket 2025
(Through Sept. 17; First-round series are best-of-three games, with the better seed playing at home for Games 1 and, if necessary, 3)
Chloe Peterson is your best Fever follow, watch IndyStar TV for more coverage and sign up for our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever vs Atlanta Dream recap: Fever rally in the closing minutes to win, advance in WNBA playoffs
Reporting by Scott Horner and Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
