The chemistry between Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston was on full display Thursday night in an overtime game when the Indiana Fever massively needed the production.
The duo hopes to contribute to another win Saturday night when Indiana visits the league-worst Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Indiana (7-5, 3-1 Commissioner’s Cup) is attempting to win three straight for the second time. The Fever also won three straight from May 17-22 before dropping three of four from May 28-June 6.
Indiana is coming off a pair of single-digit victories at Washington and at home against Chicago. In a 114-106 overtime win over Chicago, Boston totaled a career-high 34 points and 12 rebounds while Clark compiled 32, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Boston was 13 of 26 from the floor after not attempting more than 15 shots in Indiana’s first 10 games. Clark tied her season high for points by hitting 15 free throws without a miss.
The duo also teamed up for 12 of Indiana’s 16 points in overtime and eight of Clark’s assists were to Boston. They became the first teammates to have 30-point double-doubles in the same game.
“I feel like I always know where Aliyah is,” Clark said after her seventh career 30-point game. “I think we got a little bit of telepathy now.”
The Sun (2-12, 0-4 CC) have been outscored by 34 points in their four-game skid since earning an 84-81 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on May 30.
After narrow defeats to Chicago and New York, the Sun lost a 14-point, third-quarter lead and took a 106-102 loss at the expansion Toronto Tempo on Wednesday. It was the Sun’s six loss by single digits and third time they allowed at least 100 points.
The Sun are hoping to see another big game from Leila Lacan, who scored 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Lacan enjoyed her big game after shooting 29.5% (13-of-44) in her first four games back from international commitments.
Lacan’s big night occurred as Brittney Griner (strained left rib) and Aneesah Morrow (strained left leg) sat out for the second straight game. Aaliyah Edwards started both games for Morrow and scored 24 while Olivia Nelson-Ododa contributed 13 rebounds in place of Griner.
“I think the energy that we came out with to start the game and honestly to fight all the way through 40 minutes, 45 minutes, we just got to continue to put our best foot forward,” Sun rookie Charlisse Leger-Walker said.
–Field Level Media
