Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever kept their hopes of a top-four finish alive on Tuesday by beating the Minnesota Lynx 96-77 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Fever remain fifth in the standings but are now just one game behind the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream. Indiana is aiming to finish as the No. 4 seed (or higher) in order to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the upcoming WNBA playoffs.
Clark led the way for the Fever with a game-high 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds, nine assists, four steals and three triples in 33 minutes of action. Kelsey Mitchell added 20 points and four assists.
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The Fever have one final regular-season game left. They face the Lynx again on Thursday, with Minnesota hosting the season finale at Target Center.
The good news for Clark is that she has avoided a WNBA suspension. The three-time All-Star leads the league in technical fouls this season with seven, tied with Angel Reese and Kahleah Copper. Per WNBA rules, an eighth tech would have triggered an automatic one-game suspension.
Clark kept her emotions in check during Tuesday’s game and avoided another tech. She is now in the clear since the technical foul count resets for the playoffs. Even if she receives a technical against the Lynx on Thursday, Clark will no longer be suspended.
The Fever will need to win Thursday’s matchup in Minnesota to give themselves a chance at finishing fourth. They will also need Reese and the Dream to lose their final game against the New York Liberty on Wednesday.
