Fever survive choppy game to beat Dream in overtime: Likes and Dislikes

MY LIVING ROOM, Ind. – The Fever were in Atlanta on Sunday afternoon to kick off a challenging five games in eight days road trip. And it was a massive outing.

The Dream and Fever entered Sunday separated by 0.5 games in the standings, and they are currently battling for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Atlanta entered this game leading the season series 2-1, so this was a crucial tiebreaker game.

The pressure was on the Fever in an important battle. Likes and Dislikes from Fever vs Dream.

Circle City Spin

The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever, up close

Circle City SpinTony East

LIKE: Tempo and style

The Fever found a nice early flow thanks to their balance in the first few minutes of play.

Makayla Timpson scored the Fever's first two baskets. Caitlin Clark had multiple tidy passes. Kelsey Mitchell drilled a three. Aliyah Boston punished a switch down low.

They were pushing the right buttons on offense early and turning defense into good looks. After falling behind 6-4, the Fever went on a 10-0 run to solidify a strong first five minutes of action.

NO OPINION: What start will give first?

On one hand, a first-quarter dislike could have been inaccurate finishing from two Fever stars as Mitchell and Boston combined to shoot 3/9 from the field. They were creating good-enough shots, but not with much ease. And they weren't falling.

On the other hand, Monique Billings and Timpson combined to shoot 4/4 in the first quarter by punishing smaller defenders when Atlanta switched. They timed their post moves well and had good recognition for the Fever early.

So, what was going to give first? Would Timpson and Billings slow down, or would Mitchell and Boston get going? Whichever happened earlier would be telling for the Fever's chances. It was 21-21 after one quarter.

DISLIKE: A ruined highlight, yet still a highlight

Look, this pass from Clark was awesome, and the Fever scored on the possession. That's great. But she didn't get an assist because Timpson smoked the first layup before a putback. The basketball Gods just have to steer this first shot in.

Clark did log an assist on the next play by setting up Boston for a bucket, which was Clark's fourth assist. She was playing well, as was Timpson. But this highlight was ruined.

LIKE: Makayla Timpson with activity and connection

So many things for Timpson were working early in this game:
-She started 5/6 from the field.
-She had several strong screens to open up a shot or pass for Clark and Mitchell.
-Her rebounding was impactful and important against the Dream's frontcourt.
-She had a great block on Angel Reese.

That all combined well with Timpson's usual defensive impact around the rim, plus her improved instincts when it comes to spacing and cutting. Clark and Timpson were tied as the Fever's leading scorers with 10 points each as halftime approached.

DISLIKE: Closing the half poorly

After a better first five minutes than second five minutes in the first quarter, the Fever followed a similar script in the next frame.

They were up 36-27 with 4:13 until halftime and playing connected basketball. Then, a rough close to the second quarter. The Dream went on a 17-4 run and were ahead 44-40 at the break.

In that stretch, the Fever shot 1/9 from the field and committed three fouls. Atlanta, meanwhile, went 6/7 from the field and took care of the ball. Their frontcourt was rolling. The Fever backcourt was off.

It was a big momentum swing. The Fever were now in need of a strong start to the third quarter as they were behind at halftime.

LIKE: Kelsey Mitchell, changing the momentum

The Fever got a strong start from Mitchell, who was quiet in the first half.

After two quarters, Mitchell had five points. In the first three minutes of the third quarter, she scored six points and brought her total to 11. The star guard opened the second half 3/3 from the field and helped the Fever quickly reclaim the lead.

The Dream called a timeout to regroup and figure out how to stop Mitchell. It was 49-48 Fever at the time.

DISLIKE: Falling back

That timeout did wonders for the Dream, who scored seven unanswered points in about 80 seconds after that stoppage and earned a lead of six. This game was back-and-forth to a t.

It was a 10-2 run for Atlanta in total, which led to a Fever timeout. Mitchell was in foul trouble, which was a challenge.

DISLIKE: Another poor end to a quarter

The Fever were down eight after three quarters. Every quarter had a clean break about halfway through. With three frames in the books:

The score in the first five minutes of each period, through three: Fever 39, Dream 25.

The score in the final five minutes of each period, through three: Dream 47, Fever 25.

Atlanta led 72-64 after the third quarter.

DISLIKE: Slowing Allisha Gray

outright stopping Dream star Allisha Gray is not really possible, but the Fever were having a really hard time in that matchup.

With 6:14 to go in the fourth quarter, Gray hit a three-point shot to reach 32 points. That tied her career high with over half of one period to go. She was a tough cover, already shooting 11/17 at that point with four made shots from beyond the arc.

LIKE: Chipping at the lead

The Fever were making several substitutions (primarily in the frontcourt involving Timpson and Billings), mixing up their defensive coverages, and keeping their focus on rim pressure on offense.

Those strategies slowly yet surely helped the Fever mount a comeback. They were down eight early in the fourth but took a 78-77 lead after an and-one finish from Sophie Cunningham with 3:35 to go. The Fever struggled to close the first three quarters, so they needed to keep up their effort level late.

NO OPINION: Just enough to end regulation

The final minutes of the fourth were choppy for the Fever.

Their rebounding was poor, giving the Dream extra chances. They missed some easier layups and a wide open three. In some ways, the Fever's late-game play was a challenge – Mitchell lost her shoe trying to create an opening late, too.

Despite all of that, their defense was solid enough to keep things close. And Mitchell drilled a running three to keep the game tied at 81 in the final 65 seconds.

The Dream ended up with the ball and 13.3 ticks left on the clock. The score was tied. But Rhyne Howard missed a three, then Reese and Naz Hillmon missed putbacks. The Fever dodged some bullets late to make it to overtime with just enough late-game success.

LIKE: Makayla Timpson, sneaking around

Timpson has a unique strength in that she can find space when there is none. Somehow, she is invisible around the rim when she's in traffic.

She scored twice, on assists from Boston and Mitchell, near the middle of the extra period to extend the Fever's lead. At that moment, Timpson reached 18 points. That surpassed her previous career high of 15 – and she reached 20 points for the first time as a pro on the next possession.

LIKE: Defense and steaks when it matters

The Fever were all over the place in this game, but when it was time to get stops and keep streaks alive they found a way.

Atlanta started the overtime period 3/9 from the field with two turnovers. Indiana's defense tightened, and Atlanta's offense was settling as a result of that tougher D. That played a part in the Fever extending their edge.

And Mitchell, who entered this game on a streak of 18 outings with at least 20 points, finally reached 20 points in this game with 13.5 seconds to go. The extra period helped her keep the streak alive, and that basket put the Fever up five late.

There was free throw drama late. But the Fever were good enough in the bonus period, and Mitchell's record-breaking run (in one season) is still alive. The Fever held on for a 95-91 win and improved to 23-12. And the postseason tiebreaker between these teams is still up for grabs.

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