Natasha

Howard

Sims willed the Fever after Kelsey Mitchell checked out of the game with a serious injury with a bit over five minutes left in the third quarter. She became their number one option, someone who could create offense via her ability to get into the paint. That’s part of the reason why both she and Mitchell played so well together. Sims scored 14 of her 27 total points in the fourth and overtime periods and she attempted and made six free throws during those two periods as well. Sims made sure to find Natasha Howard moving off the ball, as she found her four times on Tuesday night. Sims had two more assists throughout the game that went to Mitchell prior to her injury and Aliyah Boston.

Howard did a little bit of everything for the Fever on Tuesday night. She scored moving off the ball while getting on the offensive glass and and play making. Howard completed the Fever’s second most assists with five, second to Odyssey Sims who finished the game with five. She found Lexie Hull for three scores in addition two more assists going to Aliyah Boston and Shey Peddy. Howard scored two of her most important shots in the fourth and overtime periods as her willingness to roll and move in space helped the Fever keep pace with the Aces for most of the game.

Howard had a productive Sunday against the Aces. While she didn’t look for her shot often, she made the most of her limited opportunities and utilized the free-throw line to finish as one of three Fever players with at least 10 points. The veteran forward’s work on the glass also was noteworthy — her tie for a team-high in rebounds led to her first double-double of the season. Howard also made contributions as a facilitator and had active hands on the defensive end to round out a very balanced performance overall. Another strong showing on Tuesday would benefit Indiana, which has a chance to take a 2-0 series lead.

Boston was on triple-double watch with not only a 14/12 double-double but with six assists. It was her third career postseason double-double and she is now tied for the most assists by a center in an elimination game in WNBA history. Boston scored 11 of her total 14 points in the second half and there was no more important score than the pass she received from Odyssey Sims with 7.4 seconds in regulation that won the Fever the game. Boston’s playmaking on Thursday night mostly consisted of her finding shooters for wide open threes once Boston drew double teams from the Dream. She assisted on four Fever three-pointers coming from Kelsey Mitchell, Sims and Shey Peddy.

Limited to five points in Game 1, Howard was far more effective in Tuesday’s Game 2 triumph. She was one of three Fever starters to score at least 12 points, with Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston being the others. That trio led the way during the regular season as the Fever were decimated by injuries, and they’ll need to continue that to advance deep into the postseason. Tuesday’s performance was good enough to force a decisive Game 3 in Atlanta on Thursday.

Howard had a quiet playoff debut for the Fever on Sunday. The former WNBA champion logged 24 minutes and shot inefficiently en route to tallying one of her lowest points totals of the season. Along with inefficient shooting, she committed a team-high four turnovers to further underscore her offensive struggles. She’ll have a chance to bounce back on Tuesday in Game 2 in front of the Indiana crowd, and the Fever will likely need her to do so to stay alive in the series.

Howard and the Fever officially punched their ticket to the postseason on Sunday, thanks primarily to a balanced offensive performance. Five players scored in double figures for Indiana, which has been forced to find other ways to win due to the team being walloped by injuries on the perimeter. The frontcourt tandem of Howard and Aliyah Boston has been one of the few constants for Stephanie White’s team, and they’ll need to continue to have any chance of advancing in the postseason. Indiana can finish anywhere from sixth to eighth, depending on the results of the remaining games.

Sims did most of her damage scoring the basketball in the second quarter where she scored 11 of the Fever’s 26 second quarter points. She moved well off the ball, cutting to the rim and scoring off a couple Natasha Howard passes which included a wide open three-pointer from the right corner. She scored as a result of on-ball creation also, driving and then pulling up for a couple of mid-range twos where she either had space or a defender lagging behind her.

Howard made her first five shots in a row before missing a floater 10 feet away from the basket at the beginning of the fourth quarter. She shot 87.5% from the field on Friday night, her most efficient game scoring the basketball since she shot 83.3% from the field against the Storm on August 3. Howard got on the offensive glass and put back a couple of misses from her teammates in addition to scoring off a bunch of passes from Kelsey Mitchell while Howard rolled to the rim. Howard also took advantage of when the Sky’s Elizabeth Williams, a more athletic but still mismatched center was guarding her.

Mitchell reached at least 20 points for the 24 time this season. She became the fifth player in WNBA history to score 850 points in a single season and joins Jewell Loyd, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and A’ja Wilson. Mitchell moves to second all time when it comes to most points scored in a total season for a guard and is just 77 points behind Loyd with two games left. Mitchell scored her points both on and off the ball. She started scoring off assists from Aliyah Boston and Shey Peddy and then finished the game by creating with the ball in her hands. She reached the line three times and made all of her free throws. Mitchell also facilitated the ball at a high level on Friday night, finding front court players Boston, Natasha Howard and Damiris Dantas. She attracted two defenders to the ball often and was able to find her teammates rolling to the basket.