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The Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun began their respective 2024 WNBA Playoffs against each other on Sunday. The Sun won the game 93-69 after exceptional performances from Marina Mabrey, DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas.
The Sun relied on their defense to hold Caitlin Clark and Co. to a much lower score than their season average, holding them to 40.3% shooting, including 21.4% from 3.
Connecticut consistently produced the goods defensively to get out in transition and get its own offense ticking throughout the context. It was a close game until the first half with only eight points separating the teams.
However, the Sun blew the game wide open in the second half to close the deal and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
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Here are the final box scores.
Indiana Fever Player Stats and Box Score
Connecticut Sun Player Stats and Box Score
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game recap
The game started with a bold decision coming from the Fever camp as coach Christie Sides took a challenge in the first 48 seconds after Aliyah Boston was wrongfully called for a foul. Indiana was lucky to see that call overturned, seeing Boston avoid picking up a foul so early.
That was soon followed by Caitlin Clark taking a shot to the face, causing another halt to the proceedings after Sun guard DiJonai Carrington inadvertently poked her in the eye. Indiana again dodged a major issue, as it wasn't a significant injury and play resumed shortly.
The Sun, though, didn't have the same luck with an early injury. Starting guard Tyasha Harris suffered a leg injury at 6:16 left after a failed closeout attempt on Lexie Hull in the corner, which resulted in her stepping on the Fever guard's foot. Harris exited the game, with the Sun leading 10-9.
The first quarter was neck and neck, but the Sun edged ahead with a three-point lead, going up 23-20. DeWanna Bonner was the best player on the floor until that point, with 10 points on 4-of-6 shots. Meanwhile, Aliyah Boston proved to be the Fever's best, tallying six points and three blocks.
The second quarter was no different from the first as the teams went back and forth on every possession. The Sun maintained their slim lead because of it, not allowing Fever to tie the contest until 4:14 left. A couple more leads were exchanged, but Connecticut remained on top, taking a 38-36 lead with 2:35 left in the half.
The Sun gained their biggest lead of the night (43-36) amid a quick turnaround, thanks to their impeccable defense. They beat the Fever at their own game by scoring in transition after consistently getting stops on the other end.
The first half ended 46-38 in the Connecticut Sun's favor. DeWanna Bonner dropped 16 points, while her partner, Alyssa Thomas, wasn't far behind with 12 points, who also tallied seven rebounds and four assists.
The Indiana Fever stayed afloat behind Kelsey Mitchell's 11 points, Damaris Dantas' 10, and Aliya Boston's eight-point half. Caitlin Clark underwhelmed after scoring only three points, shooting 1-of-9 from the floor, including 0 for 6 from 3.
The second half began with Connecticut Sun looking more comfortable and extending their lead to 15 points late in the third quarter. Their defense continued to do a solid job against Caitlin Clark, in particular, and aided their half-court offense woes as most of their scoring was done in transition.
Despite some resistance from the Indiana Fever and Clark finding her feet (3 of 6 from the floor), the Sun maintained a double-digit lead (68-57) heading into the final frame.
Indiana's hope of revival got crushed early in the fourth after the Sun stretched their lead to 20 points with 6:01 left. The game was pretty much over once that happened as the Fever's offense never recovered. With 1:29 left and a 22-point lead, both teams pulled out their starters.
The Sun won the game 93-69. Marina Mabrey emerged as the star of the second half and the game, dropping a game-high 27 points on 9 of 20 shooting, including 5 of 12 from 3. DeWanna Bonner finished with 22 points, six rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
The Fever got a 21-point game out of Kelsey Mitchell and 17 from Aliyah Boston with two blocks. However, Caitlin Clark's 11 points on 4 of 17 shots significantly hindered the Fever.
