The Mystics are now 21-11 in the 2018 regular season and winners of SEVEN straight games after a 76-62 win over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night.
Elean Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver played like their usual All-Star selves with 25 and 19 point performances respectively. Monique Currie, who started in place of Ariel Atkins due to injury, added 14 points. For Indiana, Natalie Achonwa led their scorers with 15 points.
Washington let Indiana back into it a bit too easily
This game initially looked like it was going to be an easy win. Washington started the game hot by making three after three, whether it was EDD, Toliver of Currie. In fact, the three made eight of Washington’s nine three pointers.
But of course, wins aren’t as easy as they seem.
The scary moment of this game happened in the third quarter when the Fever when Indiana came back and led by as many as four points. It wasn’t like the Fever was having a great shooting night, they only shot 6-of-15 in the third. But Washington failed to make any free throws (they just had one attempt) and they fell into the “let EDD do it all” trap again. Delle Donne scored six of Washington’s 10 points in the quarter. Without her, who knows? It’s possible the Mystics could have lost this one... In fact, they finished the third quarter with a two point deficit.
Holding the Fever to two fourth quarter points was clutch!
After the lethargic third quarter, the Mystics were still having trouble making shots as they only made 6-of-15 of their field goals in the last 10 minutes. But the Fever only scored TWO points which came from an Erica Wheeler shot.
There are certainly times when teams hold their opponents to less than 10 points in a quarter. But a combination of the Mystics playing excellent defense and the Fever’s bad luck proved pivotal in this win.
Next Game
The Mystics host the Sparks on Friday, August 17 at 7 p.m. EST. It is their last game at Capital One Arena as their primary home because the Mystics will play at GW during the WNBA Playoffs and will play at the new St. Elizabeth’s Arena next summer.