Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Connecticut Sun outlast the Fever and will advance to round two

The first changes from Game 1: Temi Fagbenle started for the Indiana Fever instead of NaLyssa Smith; Marina Mabrey was inserted for Tyasha Harris, who hurt her right ankle.

The Fever stunned the Sun early, scoring on the break. 

But like an experienced prize fighter absorbing an early flurry, the Sun regained control by giving multiple looks to Caitlin Clark on defense- DeWanna Bonner, DiJonai Carrington and Marina Mabrey. On offense, Alyssa Thomas established the pace with her outlet passes and taking the rock up the court to score herself. 

Then the game’s physicality kicked up about 20 to 30° in the second quarter. Erica Wheeler undercut Carrington while going for a steal. And Clark bumped Mabrey out of bounds. 

As the period went on, Clark maneuvered around Veronica Burton in the press twice for a basket and scored with the help of Damiris Dantas’ drag screen and delivered a sweet arcing pass to Aliyah Boston cutting into the lane for a layup. Boston tallied two more baskets as well- a fadeaway on the baseline and a driving scoop around Brionna Jones.

But the hosts were sharper despite making one of six trays. Thomas collected six dimes on hit-ahead passes in transition and to the cutters in the half-court.

At halftime, the Sun led 41-34. They racked up 22 paint points, six on the break, nine via second chances, four off turnovers and 12 from the bench. 

The Fever had 18 interior marks, 11 on the break, two on extra tries, one off turnovers and two from the reserves.

Next, Clark responded. She got blitzed and kicked it to Lexie Hull for a wing triple, set up a roll for Boston, dashed by Mabrey plus Jones for a close scoop and notched a basket in transition. 

Mitchell connected on a wing 3-pointer and flicked an outlet pass to Hull on the break, giving the Fever a lead for 17 seconds.

At that point, Thomas took over the interval. She was like a ball and chain destroying a building, as defenders couldn’t contain her from pouring in baskets in the paint and downing one shot at the nail.  

The fourth quarter started with the Sun above 68-57.

The Fever pushed the pace, generating seven more field goal attempts than their hosts. Fagbenle converted four of five shots in the restricted area and wing. And the group cut the deficit to one. 

But Bonner canned a tray, bringing the deficit back to four.

The Fever subsequently made the worst mistake of the game. Fagbenle fouled Carrington, putting her on the line, where she made both. The Fever had to guard that possession, make a quick triple and likely down another after fouling the inbound if they couldn’t steal. There should have been better instruction from coach Christie Sides.

The Fever flatlined on the next possession. Needing a 3-pointer, Mitchell dribbled to the hole, missing. 

The Sun won 87-81 and will advance to round two to play the Minnesota Lynx. Despite being outrebounded by 14, the group took 14 more free throws and committed six fewer turnovers. 

Thomas had 19 points on nine of 17 looks, with 13 dimes, five rebounds, one steal and one turnover. Mabrey added 17 points on 33% accuracy, with two boards, six assists, two blocks and two turnovers. The rest of the Sun made 15 of 37 attempts.

For the Fever, Clark had 25 marks on 43.5% shooting, with six rebounds, nine assists, one steal, one block and three giveaways. Mitchell put up 17 points on seven of 18 tries, with three rebounds, three assists and five turnovers. And Boston logged 16 points on seven of 12 ventures, with 19 rebounds, three assists, one steal, two blocks and two turnovers.

At the post-game presser, Thomas said turning into a scorer was about it being Playoff time. “This is what I live for. Playoffs is what I’m waiting for all season long, and that’s my game… in that moment my team needed me to score, and that’s what I went out there and did.”

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