The Indiana Fever were clear underdogs going up against the three-seeded Atlanta Dream team in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. However, with back-to-back gritty wins, they were able to pull out a victory that became doubly impressive without franchise superstar Caitlin Clark. It made the first series win for Indiana in a decade and continued what has been an impressive year for the area’s sports teams.
As far as impressive years for Indiana-based teams are concerned, the Fever’s run had seen constant support from their NBA counterparts, the Indiana Pacers, with their superstar point guard Tyrese Haliburton cheering them on at every stage. After they secured the win over Atlanta, clips of the two-time NBA All-Star celebrating went viral on social media.
Tyrese Haliburton Revels in Indiana Fever Glory
Making the trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to support a critical Game 2, Haliburton was catching the action for the final game of the series from the comfort of his home. However, standing on tilt and fully locked in, the former first-round pick wasn’t missing any of the action.
It was a game to remember for the Fever, who, after going down 0-1 in the series, dominated 77-60 to tie the series at one game apiece. But in what turned out to be the final game of the Dream’s season, they gave Indiana all they could handle.
With scores tied at 80, Atlanta went on a quick 5-0 run that threatened to put the game out of reach for the Fever. However, Indiana was able to respond back, scoring six points in less than two minutes to take an 86-85 lead.
Despite having possession with a shade over seven seconds left in the game, a mad scramble landed the ball in the hands of Lexie Hull, essentially ending the game. Almost immediately, Jade Jones, who got engaged to Haliburton earlier this year, shared a clip of the 25-year-old celebrating the victory.
Taking in all the action, the two-time All-NBA selection could be heard shouting, “Steal. Gimme that.” Once it became clear that the Fever had a vice grip on the game, he let out a cathartic “Let’s Go!”
It was a hard-fought victory for the Fever, who were led by Kelsey Mitchell and her 24 points. Each starter ended the game in double digits, with Aliyah Boston securing a 14-point and 12-rebound double-double.
With Clark out for the season, it was easy to signal the end of the year for the Fever. However, the team has been able to stay in the mix even without their franchise centerpiece. Now, it’s all about seeing how far the core can carry them in the postseason.