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It was textbook playoff basketball, an emotional flashpoint in an understandably contentious elimination game bout between the Fever and Dream.
Indiana’s Aliyah Boston and Atlanta’s Brionna Jones became entangled in the lane with Jones wrapping her arm around Boston’s shoulder as the two fought for position. Jones was called for her fourth personal foul and as the whistle blew, Boston forcefully pulled away, dropping Jones to the floor.
The Dream took exception and an official was quick to intervene as players from both sides converged around Boston (excluding Kelsey Mitchell, who could be seen calmly dribbling the ball in the background, unintentionally providing some levity to a tense moment).
Only words were exchanged and there was no additional extracurricular activity.
The play was reviewed and the foul on Boston was upgraded to a technical.
Though not immediately reflected in the game flow — the Fever trailed by three when Boston was T’d up and never got any closer than two over the final 5:44 — coach Stephanie White pointed to that moment as the turning point in Indiana’s dramatic 87-85 win.
“There was physicality throughout the game and at that point, that was a composure check,” she said. “And it was an opportunity right then for us to turn the tide. And our group responded.”
To White’s point, the Fever kept their heads in the moment and maintained composure over the final 15-plus minutes, keeping their opponent within striking distance before launching a 7-0 run over the final 2:05 (5-0 in the last 43.1 seconds) to stun the Dream and advance to the WNBA semifinals.
The Indiana Fever will travel to Las Vegas for Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals at 3 p.m. Sunday (ABC).
Fever Insider Live: Watch postgame show with reporter Chloe Peterson, Brian Haenchen
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