Three takeaways from Indiana Fever's dominant Commissioner's Cup win

Clark sat out her third straight game due to injury, but it didn't matter, because Indiana's defense stole the show, limiting the Lynx to just 59 points on 34.1 percent shooting from the field (25 percent from three-point range).

Natasha Howard was a force for Indiana with 16 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Her defense was stellar, too.

Indiana had five players reach double figures in the 74-59 win in Minnesota to take home its first Commissioner's Cup title.

Here are three takeaways.

Napheesa Collier wasn't herself

Collier, the front-runner for WNBA MVP, was held to her second-lowest point total of the season on Tuesday (12 points). She also went just 6-of-18 from the field and missed both of her three-point attempts.

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year finished with a plus/minus rating of -12. 

Indiana certainly had something to do with her struggles, but after Collier has been so dominant this season, it was disappointing to see her struggle in a big spot.

Natasha Howard was a no-brainer for MVP

Howard did more than lead the Fever in points and rebounds. The former Defensive Player of the Year pestered Collier all night. 

Sophie Cunningham also provided a big spark off the bench, connecting on three treys as Indiana rallied from an early double-digit deficit. 

Yet, the Fever don't win this game without Howard. Aliyah Boston did her part with a double-double. Kelsey Mitchell was solid, too, with 12 points.

It was a team effort, but winning without Clark the way Indiana did is an encouraging sign for the Fever's title hopes, and nobody played a bigger role in that than Howard. 

Fever are dangerous

Indiana has been talked about as a WNBA title contender at various points this season. However, the Fever are just 8-8 and tied for the last playoff spot.

Clark missing seven games hasn't helped. When Caitlin is playing, she's turning the ball over too much and missing too many threes, enduring one of the worst shooting stretches of her career before sitting out the past three games.

There have also been moments of glory, such as her season-opening triple-double or the historic performance against New York.

If Indiana can get that version of Clark and consistently play as it did on Tuesday night, there isn't a team in the WNBA the Fever can't beat.

Winning a postseason series is another matter, but it's all on the table, especially if Clark gets right.