With last-second defense, Indiana Fever break four-game losing streak

INDIANAPOLIS — With one rebound from Fever rookie Aliyah Boston, Indiana broke a four-game losing streak on Tuesday night.

Up 72-71, the Fever were tasked with defending the Phoenix Mercury for the final 16 seconds. Phoenix had two chances to make a shot. First, Mercury legend Diana Taurasi took a floater that missed but went out of bounds off the Fever. Then, Shey Peddy then missed while driving against Boston.

Boston got the rebound, and the Fever secured their first seven-win season since 2019.

"You guys, she is really hurting, but you couldn't tell," head coach Christie Sides said postgame. "That is just somebody who is laying it all out on the line for her teammates, and that is what she did tonight for us."

Indiana (7-19) is 11th in the WNBA standings, and the Mercury and Seattle Storm (6-19) are tied for last.

Here are three observations from the Fever's victory:

Diana Taurasi, Mercury play physical

Facemask and all, Fever guard Lexie Hull always draws the toughest defensive assignment. On Tuesday night, that was Taurasi, who is closing in on 10,000 career points. Taurasi, and her Mercury teammates, played as they know how: physically.

Taurasi picked up two quick fouls at the end of the first quarter — first a shooting foul, then a technical foul for arguing with the referees. Her next two fouls, which she picked up in a 35-second span in the third quarter, were both offensive against Hull.

By the end of the game, Taurasi had 29 points. It could've been more, if not for a halftime reset with Hull and Sides.

"Lexie Hull held Diana Taurasi to six points in the second half," Sides said. "We challenged her at halftime, and she was mad as hell. She came out that and was huge for us in that whole second half."

The Fever were efficient in drawing fouls as well, as they took 22 free throws. Kelsey Mitchell took half of those, including technical shots, going 10-for-11.

Fever empty bench early

Indiana switched up its starting lineup again. Victoria Vivians, who took over NaLyssa Smith’s (foot) spot in the starting lineup, was out with an illness. Six-year WNBA veteran Emma Cannon, who has steadily been increasing her workload as the season goes on, took over.

"Next woman up," Sides said. "We've got several that are down right now, just challenged (Cannon) to be the next woman up and she stepped up big time."

The Fever emptied their bench by the end of the first quarter, including Victaria Saxton and Maya Caldwell. The Fever tried multiple lineups throughout the game, including a four-backup, one-starter group with Erica Wheeler at the helm.

Caldwell, whose minutes have been decreasing lately, only played 35 seconds. Saxton, however, has been trending upward — she played 9 minutes.

Emma Cannon steps up

Emma Cannon has had a winding path to WNBA veteran status. She didn’t get into the league until she was 27, and now the 35-year-old is in her sixth season. She’s been on five teams, including Phoenix twice and Indiana three times.

On Tuesday, the veteran commemorated her first start of the season with a career high.

"The win itself is more important, and the way we did it was with team defense," Cannon said. "So, I'm more happy with how we all played together that what I did."

Cannon scored 17 points in the first half, putting her two points from her career high of 19 — which she set with the Fever in September 2019. She broke her personal record with a pair of free throws with 10 minutes left in regulation. Cannon finished with 23 points, along with nine rebounds.

Cannon's last bucket of the game, a layup with one minute left, proved to be the difference between a win and a loss for the Fever on Tuesday.

"The only thing I can think of is when she hti that little shot at the end to put us up one, and that's the one in my book, that's the only one I care about," Sides said. "I think she shocked herself ... She's a pro's pro, and she's ready whenever her number is called."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: WNBA: Indiana Fever break four-game losing streak by beating Mercury