Aliyah Boston scored 24 points with eight rebounds as the Indiana Fever beat the Portland Fire 90-73 on Wednesday night, with Caitlin Clark ruled out less than two hours before tipoff by a back injury.
INDIANAPOLIS — Aliyah Boston didn’t just fill the stat sheet; she carried the weight of a Fever night that had to be rebuilt on the fly. With Caitlin Clark ruled out less than two hours before tipoff by a back injury — her first missed game of the season — Indiana still took care of business. defeating the Portland Fire 90-73 on Wednesday night.
Boston finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell added 21 points, keeping the offense moving even as lineups shifted. Lexie Hull had one of those performances that feels almost effortless: 16 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting night. including making all four 3-pointers. and going 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. She also grabbed eight rebounds.
Tyasha Harris earned her first start for the Fever, playing in Clark’s place. Harris had seven assists, two steals, and committed no turnovers, but she went scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting.
The result kept Indiana steady after Clark’s late absence. The Fever improved to 3-2 with the win, and it came after Boston returned following the first missed game of her career. She had been out the previous game, an 89-78 home win over Seattle on Sunday.
Portland, now 2-3, got a burst early from Bridget Carleton, who scored 12 of her 16 points in the first half. Sug Sutton finished with 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
For a while, the Fire stayed within reach. Sarah Ashlee Barker made a midrange jumper that trimmed Portland’s deficit to 32-30 with 5:46 left in the first half. After that, Indiana tightened the game. The Fever scored 21 of the next 28 points to take a 16-point lead at the end of the second quarter.
Indiana’s numbers told the story of a team that didn’t lose its rhythm. The Fever shot 55% (18 of 33) from the field, outscored Portland 13-6 from the free-throw line, and had 13 assists in the first half. They led by double figures throughout the second half.
The night also carried an unsettling moment late. At the end of the third quarter. Portland’s Nyadiew Puoch struggled to put weight on her right leg as she was helped to the bench. She then walked to the locker room and did not return. Puoch, a 21-year-old rookie who had scored in double figures in back-to-back games, was scoreless in 20 minutes.
Fire next plays at Toronto on Saturday. The Fever host Golden State on Friday.
Indiana Fever Portland Fire Aliyah Boston Caitlin Clark Kelsey Mitchell Lexie Hull Tyasha Harris Bridget Carleton Sug Sutton Nyadiew Puoch