Fever Look to Rebound Against Mercury After Recent Loss

Phoenix, Arizona — The Indiana Fever will face the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday, August 7, at 10:00 p.m. ET at PHX Arena. This matchup comes after Indiana’s five-game win streak ended with a 100-91 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday.

The Fever previously defeated the Mercury last week, 107-101, in a high-scoring game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Aari McDonald led the Fever with a personal best of 27 points, while All-Star Aliyah Boston contributed 22 points, including 17 in the fourth quarter.

Indiana’s recent loss saw them trailing by 22 points with just over five minutes left. They mounted a comeback with an 18-2 run but ultimately could not overcome the deficit. Despite the loss, Indiana’s offense was efficient, posting 23 assists against only four turnovers. However, they struggled defensively, allowing the Sparks to shoot over 56 percent from the field.

The Mercury, currently sitting in fourth place in the league, have won their last two games and are 1.5 games ahead of the Fever in the standings. This Thursday’s game is critical, as it could determine playoff implications. A win for the Fever would give them the head-to-head tiebreaker against Phoenix, while a Mercury victory would increase their lead to 2.5 games.

Leading the Mercury’s offense are Satou Sabally, who averages 17.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, and Kahleah Copper with 16.2 points and a 45.5% three-point shooting percentage. Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas plays a pivotal role, averaging 15.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, and leading the league in assists with 9.1 per game.

In their last encounter, Thomas scored 32 points and gathered 15 rebounds but also recorded a season-high eight turnovers against the Fever. With both teams aiming for favorable playoff positioning, the upcoming game promises to be intense.