Kelsey Mitchell explodes for 35 points in decisive Fever win over Sky

Kelsey Mitchell established season highs of 35 points and seven three-pointers to lead the Indiana Fever to a 93-78 road victory over the Chicago Sky on Sunday afternoon.

Mitchell fell three points shy of her career best effort against the Connecticut Sun in 2019.

The nationally televised contest lost much of its luster due to the absences of Indiana's Caitlin Clark (right groin) and Chicago's Angel Reese (back).

Clark missed her fourth straight regular-season contest and 14th WNBA game of the season. Reese was ruled out shortly before tipoff for her second consecutive missed game.

Aliyah Boston added 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for Indiana (14-12). Makayla Timpson also scored 14 points and Aari McDonald added 10.

Rachel Banham scored a season-high 26 points and matched her season best of six treys for Chicago (7-18), which dropped its fifth consecutive game. Kia Nurse had 14 points, Rebecca Allen tallied 13 and Kamilla Cardoso had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Sky.

Chicago leading scorer Ariel Atkins (leg) missed her fourth straight game.

The Sky shot 43.1% from the field and made 10-of-25 from behind the arc.

The Fever connected on 47.1% of their shots, including 11-of-29 from 3-point range.

Allen drained two three-pointers during a 10-2 surge that allowed Chicago to creep within 84-78 with 4:41 left. But the Sky didn't score again.

Mitchell answered with a trey and added two free throws to start the game-ending 9-0 run that improved the Fever to 3-0 against Chicago this season.

Chicago trailed by 12 at halftime but pulled within 56-55 with 5:20 left in the third after five straight points from Nurse.

But the Fever answered with nine straight points — the first five by Mitchell and the next four by Timpson — to take a 10-point lead.

Timpson opened the final quarter with a layup to boost the lead to 16. Banham scored the first five points of a 7-0 burst as Chicago moved within 77-68 with 7:07 left.

Boston's turnaround jumper and Sophie Cunningham's trey pushed Indiana's lead back to 14 with 6:22 to go.

Mitchell scored 15 first-half points as Indiana led 51-39 at the break. Banham scored 14 in the half for Chicago.

Mitchell had 13 points in the first quarter, matching the Sky total as the Fever led by 13 entering the second quarter.