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September 15, 2025\u00a0
By Hunter Cruse<\/a>
Rhyne Howard: ‘Our mindset was we wished to punch first, and we knew it will be a canine battle’<\/em>
ATLANTA \u2013 The Indiana Fever raced to fifteen factors within the first 5 minutes of the WNBA playoffs, however its early burst rapidly stalled in opposition to the Atlanta Dream\u2019s league-best defense<\/a> after the All-Star break.
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Over the following 5 minutes, the Dream held the Fever to only six factors whereas Allisha Gray<\/a> and Rhyne Howard<\/a> supplied sufficient offense to chop the deficit to 3 on the finish of the primary quarter.
\u201cOur mindset was we wished to punch first, and we knew it will be a canine battle,\u201d Howard instructed reporters postgame. \u201cI believe that helped us even with the gradual begin as a result of we nonetheless had been capable of fight what they had been doing [offensively].\u201d
That momentum carried into the second, the place wing Maya Caldwell<\/a> delivered a set off the bench.
With the rating tied at 26 on the 5:35 mark, Caldwell fronted Aliyah Boston<\/a> within the put up, then rotated to the weak facet to swat Natasha Howard<\/a>\u2019s drive on the rim. Atlanta ran the opposite manner, pushing the tempo for a straightforward Nia Coffey<\/a> layup.
\u201cI imagine protection wins video games, and that\u2019s one thing we purchased into early within the season,\u201d Caldwell instructed The Subsequent pregame. \u201cWe all know we now have to destroy house, and we take delight in our 1-on-1 protection, in addition to how we assist one another to verify all the pieces comes collectively.\u201d
Atlanta compelled Indiana deep into the shot clock within the half-court, flooding the gaps on each drive and contesting practically each shot.
The Fever shot simply 4-for-17 from the sphere within the second quarter, with only two field goals<\/a> coming from gamers exterior of Mitchell. This allowed the Dream to construct a 40-33 lead coming into the break.
\u201cWithin the second quarter, I believed we began to settle in,\u201d Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko mentioned. \u201cWe compelled much more powerful pictures, and we compelled a number of extra turnovers. We actually wanted it as a result of the primary 5 minutes had been tough.\u201d
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Atlanta\u2019s protection stayed relentless early within the second half, as All-Star middle Brionna Jones<\/a> was bodily with Boston within the put up, forcing her to move out to Lexie Hull<\/a>, just for Howard to chop off Hull\u2019s drive and drive a shot clock violation.
The Fever outscored the Dream 20-18 within the third quarter, however with Natasha Howard<\/a> and Boston held to a mixed 0-for-2 from the sphere, and three turnovers from Howard, Indiana couldn\u2019t create any separation.
\u201cTheir physicality took us out of our rhythm,\u201d Indiana head coach Stephanie White<\/a> mentioned postgame. \u201cThey\u2019re quick, they\u2019re lengthy, they usually make you’re employed all through complete possessions.\u201d
Regardless of outscoring Atlanta within the third, Indiana entered the fourth trailing by simply 5. However foul hassle struck early, with Boston choosing up her fifth foul with 8:58 remaining within the sport. This, mixed with two technicals referred to as on Indiana\u2019s Odyssey Sims<\/a> and White, gave Atlanta the sting.
The Dream opened the quarter with a 9-0 run, and with Boston on the bench, Atlanta pulled away as Naz Hillmon<\/a> and Howard mixed for 16 fourth-quarter factors. The Dream held on to win 80-68 and take a 1-0 lead within the collection.
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Atlanta\u2019s protection was the story of the sport. Whereas Mitchell scored a game-high 27 factors, the Dream restricted the remainder of Indiana\u2019s rotation to only 28.9% from the sphere and seven.1% from three. Indiana managed solely 9 factors in transition, effectively under their season common (14.5 factors), in accordance with Synergy Sports activities.
The Dream\u2019s protection, from its on-ball strain within the backcourt to its rim safety, helped maintain the Fever to only 44% on the rim and restricted second-chance alternatives to choose up the win.
Atlanta will journey to Indiana for Recreation 2 on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Hunter Cruse covers the Atlanta Dream and the WNBA Draft for The Subsequent.
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