RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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CHICAGO — The Indiana Fever ended their five-game road trip with a win, taking down the Chicago Sky 113-90 Sunday night at Wintrust Arena.
Caitlin Clark , even on the second night of a back-to-back, had a fantastic game with 37 points and 10 assists, and a career-high eight made 3-pointers. Kelsey Mitchell ended her WNBA record of games scoring 20 or more points to 23, pouring in 30 points with five rebounds and five assists. Lexie Hull also had a good game, with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
The Fever (25-14) went 3-2 on the road trip and are tied for fourth with the Atlanta Dream in the playoff hunt. They have four days off before they play the Connecticut Sun on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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 Chicago Sky
Makayla Timpson: The second-year forward showed off her two-way skills, anchoring the Fever in a game that saw shorter rotations and a thin frontcourt. She scored eight points alone in the first quarter, then had a heads-up play in the second: She blocked 6-foot-5 Kamilla Cardoso, recovered the ball, and got it out to Mitchell for a transition layup. She has been invaluable for the Fever since joining the starting lineup, and her athleticism shows more each game.
Finding a flow out of halftime: Indiana got into a rhythm, both offensively and defensively, out of halftime. The Fever knocked in five 3-pointers over the first four minutes of the third quarter, including three from Mitchell, and Timpson had another monster block on Cardoso while also grabbing the rebound, negating the Sky's possession entirely. Mitchell ended up scoring 14 points and Clark scored 10 in the third quarter alone, and the Fever shot a sweltering 8 of 11 from 3-point range in those 10 minutes. Indiana continued that rhythm in the fourth quarter, building up a lead Chicago couldn't touch.
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What I disliked in the Indiana Fever's win vs Chicago Sky
Lack of defense (again) in the first half: Indiana's offense has been otherworldly this season. But the last two games, the Fever have allowed their opponents to have that same hot shooting. The Fever have reverted to their excessive fouling as a defensive strategy for the second straight game, allowing the Sky to go 11 of 11 from the free-throw line and shoot 50% from the field in the first half. That kind of dismal defense essentially negated the fantastic offense they played in the first half.
Monique Billings foul trouble: Billings started at the 5 in place of Aliyah Boston, who sat out for rest this game . Billings was playing well — active on the boards, finding some open shots, and disrupting Chicago's offense. Her minutes were limited in the second half, however, because she picked up her fourth foul with 13 seconds left in the second quarter. That made the Fever's already-thin frontcourt even more shorthanded.
Read next: How Kelsey Mitchell developed into one of the WNBA's elite scorers: Mental makeup, perseverance
What the Indiana Fever's win vs Chicago Sky means
The Fever needed this win as a course corrector after two straight losses to Dallas and New York. It allows them to go into four days off in a good place mentally, and it gives them another advantage in a stiff spot in the standings. While Chicago won't be a playoff team, Indiana still needs every win possible, no matter the opponent, to try for a hosting spot in the postseason.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell lead shorthanded Fever to win vs Sky, wrap winning road trip
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