Indiana Fever get blown out, suffer key injuries in finale loss to Lynx

MINNEAPOLIS — Well, that was a basketball game.

>The Indiana Fever lost to the Minnesota Lynx 86-66 in a regular-season finale that was nowhere as close as the 20-point margin suggests.

>Here's what I liked and disliked, and what the Fever loss means.

>Buy Caitlin Clark merch!

What I disliked in the Indiana Fever's loss vs Minnesota LynxLiterally everything about the Indiana Fever’s trip to Minneapolis. From not resting the starters and the resulting consequences (Aliyah Boston suffered a right lower leg injury late in the second quarter) to the team’s absolute stinker of a performance and what this outcome — all four games since the FIBA World Cup break, really — says about this team and its postseason future. • >First thing’s first: The decision to play the starters. I’m sure there was some pride and respect for the Lynx involved. But I also recognize why coach Stephanie White opted to treat this like a regular game. First and foremost, the playoff implications. With a win, the Fever guaranteed a first-round matchup with the Atlanta Dream, and perhaps that was preferred to a potential trip to Las Vegas or Golden State. There was also team chemistry and flow to take into consideration. The Fever got their teeth kicked in by Washington on Sunday, then had a stinker of a third-quarter Tuesday vs. the Lynx bench. For a team as streaky and inconsistent − and relatively inexperienced − as this, there was some potential value in getting the regulars one more opportunity to build some momentum ahead of Sunday.Fine. I was actually OK with the approach initially. But the more I thought about it, the less I liked it. The risk far outweighed the benefits of maybe securing a more favorable match-up (Minnesota is the No. 1-seed coming off a bad loss in its road finale … it was gonna come out swinging regardless). Indiana made its bed with that stinker vs. Washington. It should have just laid in it rather than tempting fate.And sure enough, the move bit the Fever in the butt when Boston quietly exited the game late in the second quarter with what was later ruled a right lower leg injury.We saw the Fever play without Boston for long stretches against Washington the other night and it was not pretty. For their sake, hopefully Boston’s exit Thursday was more precautionary. • >OK, the game itself: That was worse than the Washington game. The Fever had more turnovers than field goals for almost the entire first quarter and as is typical of this team: The defense was somehow even worse than the offense. The Fever looked the part of a team that was just playing out the string ahead of the playoffs (which, again, why the heck were the top-six playing in the first place?). • >The injury to Tyasha Harris was absolutely gutting. The veteran guard worked so hard to get back from the patellar injury that ended her 2025 campaign after five games. • >Kelsey Mitchell’s 20-point streak ended at 27 games. She would’ve kept it going if the Fever at least rested their big three (Mitchell, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston). Clark had two points (1 for 12), three rebounds and four assists in 17:58.What I liked in the Indiana Fever's loss vs Minnesota LynxRedemption for The Red Panda. The last time I was at the Target Center for a Fever-Lynx game, The Red Panda fell off her unicycle and broke her arm. It was devastating. She returned and delivered a flawless performance Thursday. It was awesome. • >The Lynx in-game presentation. I’ll say it: It was lightyears ahead of the Gainbridge Fieldhouse experience. Like, so much better, you guys. The music was bumping, the crowd was loud and engaged throughout … great stuff.What the Indiana Fever's loss vs Minnesota Lynx meansThey're stumbling into the playoffs, folks, and may be without their starting center. We'll update as soon as we know more.

>Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen. Get IndyStar's Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.

>

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Fever get blown out, suffer key injuries in finale loss to Lynx

>Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.