Kelsey Mitchell Ties WNBA Scoring Record as Fever Win Fifth Straight
Theo Al Jazeera English
Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 points to tie the WNBA record for consecutive 20-point games, leading the Indiana Fever to a 101-95 victory over the Toronto Tempo. Caitlin Clark added 24 points as the Fever won their fifth straight game.
Guard Kelsey Mitchell tied a WNBA record by scoring 29 points before sitting out the fourth quarter, while Caitlin Clark added 24 points to help the Indiana Fever beat the Toronto Tempo 101-95 for their fifth consecutive victory.
Clark and Mitchell have each scored at least 20 points in the same game 16 times this season, setting a WNBA record. The previous mark of 15 was set by Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter of Phoenix in 2008.
Mitchell scored 20 or more points for the 20th straight game on Tuesday, matching Las Vegas' A'ja Wilson for the longest streak in WNBA history. However, after scoring 8 points in less than a minute late in the third quarter, she left the game and did not return.
Fever coach Stephanie White said after the game that Mitchell appeared to be “overheated” playing in the hot arena rather than suffering a serious injury.
Clark added 7 assists for the Fever (24-12), and Aliyah Boston contributed 16 points. Sophie Cunningham chipped in 13 points off the bench.
The Tempo (10-24) shot a lower percentage from the field, just 39.1% compared to the Fever's 52.9%, as they lost their 11th straight game.
Marina Mabrey led the Tempo with 22 points. Brittney Sykes returned from a leg injury and scored 15 points.
Toronto's Aneesah Morrow had 14 points and 16 rebounds off the bench. Temi Fagbenle added 13 points from the bench, and Kiki Rice scored 10 points.
The Fever opened the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead, which grew to 14 when Cunningham made three free throws at the 6:45 mark.
But Indiana struggled shooting, allowing the Tempo to cut the deficit to 7 with 2:55 remaining. A steal by Makayla Timpson set up Cunningham for a three-pointer, giving the Fever a 10-point lead with 1:25 left.
Mabrey hit back-to-back three-pointers to trim the deficit to 97-93 with 59 seconds remaining. After the Fever missed a shot, the Tempo had possession with 21 seconds left, but Mabrey was called for a carry and Rice was then called for a foul.
The Fever led 33-23 after the first quarter, shooting 61.9% (13-of-21) from the field.
An energetic Tempo cut the deficit to 6 with 7:10 left in the second quarter before the Fever went on an 11-0 run. The Tempo responded, and Morrow's three-pointer ended the half, making the score 57-49.
Indiana shot 59% in the first half while Toronto shot 42.2%.
Mabrey scored on two drives in the first minute of the third quarter to cut the lead to 4.
Mitchell reached 20 points on a driving layup with 6:03 left, giving Indiana a 10-point lead. Fagbenle's three-pointer cut the deficit to 5 with 2:03 left, but Indiana closed the third quarter on a 9-2 run to lead 81-69.
