Fever’s Caitlin Clark makes history with 13-assist night in win over Mercury

Kelsey Mitchell scored 28 points, Caitlin Clark had 20 points and 13 assists for her fifth straight double-double and the Indiana Fever defeated the player-starved Phoenix Mercury 95-86 on Friday night.

Kahleah Copper scored 20 of her 36 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Mercury (12-11) cut a 31-point third-quarter deficit to single digits.

Mitchell gave Indiana (10-14) an 81-50 lead with 1:55 left in the third quarter before the Mercury scored the next 17 to make it 81-67, including Sophie Cunningham’s 3-pointer. Copper converted a shot in the lane with 5:02 left to pull Phoenix within 85-76.

Clark tied the franchise record with her 13th assist on a cross-court pass to Mitchell for a 3-pointer and a 92-83 lead with 1:33 left.

Phoenix’s comeback came without center Brittney Griner, who collided with a teammate in the first half and remained on the court before a timeout was called. The team announced that Griner would not return because of a right hip injury. The Mercury were already without starters Diana Taurasi (leg) and Natasha Cloud (knee).

Copper scored 23 of her 36 points in the final 20 minutes.

Clark secured the double-double early in the third period with a pass to Mitchell for a 62-40 lead. Clark also set a franchise record for assists in a quarter when she had seven in the first.

Aliyah Boston added 21 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana, while NaLyssa Smith added 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Cunningham added 21 points for Phoenix, which had won three straight games.

Clark completed a three-point play with eight seconds left in the first half as Indiana capped a 10-2 run for a 55-35 lead. Mitchell scored 17 first-half points, Clark had 15 and Boston added 10.