Fever leap another hurdle, force Game 3 with rout of Dream - ESPN

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Fever have dealt with adversity all season long, losing star Caitlin Clark and four others to season-ending injuries and each time finding ways to rally after being knocked down. Trailing 0-1 in its best-of-three first-round series against the Atlanta Dream, the team needed to respond with its best effort yet to stave off elimination.

The Fever did just that Tuesday night, making a statement that they aren't done yet with a 77-60 throttling of the No. 3-seeded Dream. Indiana, the No. 6 seed, led wire-to-wire and jumped ahead by as many as 24.

«This group has continued to show their heart and their character, night in and night out,» Indiana coach Stephanie White said.

The Fever gave the crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse a night to remember in their first home playoff game since 2016. They snapped a nine-season streak without a playoff win, the second-longest drought in WNBA history, and marked the franchise's second-largest postseason victory when facing elimination.

«We knew they'd come out and be competitive,» Atlanta coach Karl Smesko said. «They've been resilient all year.»

Under the WNBA's new 1-1-1 playoff format, the winner-take-all Game 3 for a spot in the semifinals will be held Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Atlanta, with the start of the semifinals looming on Sunday.

«Our backs were definitely against the wall in this, and we know that we've just been through so much this season,» Fever star Aliyah Boston said. «Coming out with this win and then giving ourselves another chance in Game 3, emotions are high.»

The Fever took control at the end of the third quarter behind a 7-0 run in the final 44 seconds of the frame. A late 3-pointer from Lexie Hull off a steal put Indiana up 15 and sent the