ATLANTA — The Indiana Fever won a pivotal overtime game over the Dream 95-91 Sunday at State Farm Arena to finish the season series 2-2 and preserve a tiebreaker opportunity at the end of the regular season.
Caitlin Clark made the clutch free throws at the end of the game, finishing with 26 points and nine assists. Kelsey Mitchell had her 19th straight game scoring 20 or more points, finishing with 20. Makayla Timpson had a career-high 20 points and seven rebounds, while Aliyah Boston had 18 points and 14 rebounds.
At the end of regulation, Rhyne Howard’s 3-point shot to win it missed, then Angel Reese had a point-blank layup attempt miss. Reese was 3 for 13 in the paint after that missed, and she finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. Allisha Gray had a game-high 32 points.
Here’s what I liked and disliked, and what the win means.
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What I liked in the Indiana Fever’s win vs Atlanta Dream
What I disliked in the Indiana Fever’s win vs Atlanta Dream
What the Indiana Fever’s win vs Atlanta Dream means
This was one of those crucial games for the Fever, who are in the middle of five teams within two games of each other in the standings, to maintain a seeding advantage over the Dream.
With this win, Indiana finishes the season series 2-2 against the Dream, maintaining a chance to win the second tiebreaker (which is record against teams with a winning percentage over .500). The Fever (23-12) go 1.5 games ahead of the Dream (21-13) for the fourth seed and final homecourt advantage slot as the regular season winds down. If Indiana can continue the streak its own, the Fever could win that tiebreaker and potentially snag that final hosting spot in the playoffs.
Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Makayla Timpson breakout game lifts Indiana Fever to important overtime win over Atlanta Dream
Reporting by Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Chloe Peterson, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
