Caitlin Clark-less Fever take care of Mystics to snap three-game losing skid

INDIANAPOLIS — Kelsey Mitchell had 23 points, Lexie Hull scored all 14 of her points in the second half and the short-handed Indiana Fever, playing without Caitlin Clark, beat the Washington Mystics 85-76 on Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.Clark was out with a left quad strain, while veteran guard Sophie Cunningham exited early in Friday’s loss to Connecticut and did not play against the Mystics.The Fever scored 31 points in the third quarter — after scoring 38 in the entire first half — to take a 69-55 lead.Aari McDonald, making her Indiana debut, made the Fever’s fifth 3-pointer of the third with 2:29 left.Washington scored the opening 12 points of the fourth quarter to get within 69-67 on layup by Brittney Sykes.But Indiana scored seven straight points to pull away.

Hull made an open layup for a 78-73 lead and she helped force a jump ball at the other end.The Fever won the jump ball and Mitchell completed a three-point play, after a reverse layup, for an eight-point lead at 1:28.Aliyah Boston added 10 points for Indiana (3-4).Kiki Iriafen and Sykes each scored 20 points for Washington (3-5).

Sonia Citron, second among rookies at 14.3 points per game, added 13 points and Shakira Austin had 10.The Fever made a season-high 11 3-pointers, while the Mystics were just 1 of 10 from long range....