It was a steep challenge for the Indiana Fever to head into Dallas without Caitlin Clark-but they pulled off a gutsy 94-86 win over Paige Bueckers’ Dallas Wings at the American Airlines Center.
Just minutes before the game, Indiana announced that Clark had not recovered from the groin injury she sustained against the Los Angeles Sparks. In her absence, veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell shouldered the responsibility, leading a team that looked strong only on paper.
On the other side, rookie Paige Bueckers has been steadily rising this season, and Wings head coach Chris Kolcanes was hopeful she could lead Dallas past the short-handed Fever. But the game slipped through their fingers in the final stretch.
A clash decided in the final minutes
As has become their trademark, the Fever exploded out of the gate, finishing the first quarter with a dominant 33-13 lead. Meanwhile, Dallas struggled to find rhythm, and Bueckers was largely a non-factor early on.
The Wings began clawing back in the second quarter. Fueled by Bueckers and Myisha Hines-Allen, they trimmed the deficit by winning the period 30-23. Kolcanes’ defense clamped down on nearly every Fever threat-except for Mitchell-and Dallas continued to surge with a 26-18 third quarter.
The fourth quarter turned into a tense, back-and-forth battle. Dallas applied pressure on both ends, briefly flipping the score in their favor midway through the period. But Indiana held firm, fending off the final charge and escaping with the win.
Mitchell outshines Bueckers
Bueckers found her groove late, finishing with 27 points, one rebound, and six assists for Dallas. But the night belonged to Mitchell, who led Indiana with 32 points, three rebounds, and seven assists.
The Wings will have little time to reflect, as they face the Washington Mystics tomorrow at College Park Center. The Fever, meanwhile, get a few days to regroup before visiting the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday at Target Center.
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