Game Recap: Mitchell and Smith’s 30-Point Outings Lead Fever to Overtime Win at Dallas

DALLAS – Kelsey Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith both scored 30 points on Sunday to become the first pair of Fever teammates to ever reach 30 in the same game as Indiana (12-25) won, 97-84, in overtime against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Indiana outscored Dallas, 19-6, in the overtime period, which ties the largest overtime scoring margin in league history, per Across the Timeline. The duo also became the 11th pair of teammates in WNBA history to score at least 30 points each in the same game.

Mitchell netted 30 points in the win on 10-of-20 shooting on the floor, including seven 3-pointers on 11 attempts. Along with the win, Mitchell set new franchise records for both points and field goals made in a regular season for a Fever player. Through 37 games of the season, Mitchell has recorded 679 points and 228 field goals, allowing her to surpass Tamika Catchings’ 671 points and 221 field goals in 2003. Smith recorded a career best 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the court while also pulling down five rebounds.

All-Star Aliyah Boston contributed a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds in the win to go along with five assists. Boston ended the night with 310 rebounds through the first 37 games of the season, which allowed her to set a new franchise record for most rebounds in a single season. Her two blocks on the day also move her into fourth in the franchise ranks for most blocks in a single season as she ended the matchup with 50 blocks.

Erica Wheeler neared a double-double with a team-high 11 assists and nine points, while Victoria Vivians also added nine points and seven rebounds. Vivians led the Indiana reserves to outscore the Dallas reserves, 13-2.

After opening the matchup 0-of-9 from the floor allowing Dallas to take a five point lead, the Fever proceeded to complete their next five field goal attempts. Indiana’s first bucket from Mitchell at the 6:18 mark initiated an eventual 19-7 scoring run through the next roughly four minutes. The Fever concluded the final roughly six minutes of the quarter shooting 9-of-12 from the floor after their cold start, led by Mitchell’s 11 points a 4-of-8 shooting clip. The first frame ended with Indiana leading, 23-20.

Both teams shot 40 percent (6-of-15) in the second quarter, and Indiana was led by Smith’s seven points on a 3-of-3 shooting clip. The Wings took off on an 11-2 scoring run to take possession of their first lead since the 5:39 minute mark in the first quarter, but Indiana responded by holding Dallas to zero field goals in the final three and a half minutes of the second frame. After two lead changes in the quarter, the Fever came out of the half with a 39-36 advantage.

The Fever were led by Smith’s 11 points in the third quarter on a 5-of-7 shooting clip, while Indiana’s defense held the Wings to 35 percent (7-of-20) shooting from the court. A 13-5 Dallas scoring run allowed the Wings to record the first of the four third-quarter lead changes. The third quarter concluded with a 3-pointer from Mitchell that left 3.6 seconds remaining on the clock, giving Indiana a 56-55 lead going into the fourth frame.

Dallas opened the first five minutes of the fourth quarter shooting 6-of-10 from the floor, while Indiana shot 3-of-8 from the court. Nine points from Mitchell and two 3-pointers from Vivians shifted Indiana’s momentum and helped the Fever respond to a 14-6 Wings scoring run. After three lead changes within the quarter, Mitchell netted her third 3-pointer of the quarter with 26.6 seconds left on the clock to tie the score and ultimately send the two teams into overtime.

Indiana sped ahead with an 11-0 scoring run to open the overtime period and eventually extended its scoring run to 22-6. Led by Smith and Mitchell’s six points a piece on a perfect 2-of-2 shooting clips, Indiana shot 63.6 percent (7-of-11) from the floor in the overtime period. Dallas was held to one field goal on seven attempts in extra time while scoring three of its six overtime points at the free throw line.

For Dallas, Satou Sabally and Arike Ogunbowale each netted 22 points. Sabally also recorded nine rebounds, a team-high five assists and two steals. Natasha Howard added 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Teaira McCowan pitched in 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Crystal Dangerfield added 11 points.

Indiana held the Wings, who average 43.8 percent shooting, to 38.6 percent shooting (32-of-83) from the floor. Dallas also shot 7-of-29 from 3-point range on the night.

Fever guard Kristy Wallace left the game in the first quarter with a right knee injury and did not return.

UP NEXT
The Fever return home to take on the Chicago Sky on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET. Tuesday’s game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Indiana.