Caitlin Clark scores career-high 35 points as Fever win shootout over Wings, 110-109

INDIANAPOLIS -- In a scoring frenzy, the Indiana Fever took down the Dallas Wings, 110-109, in their final regular-season home game.

Indiana is now 20-19, securing its most wins in a season since 2015.

Here are three observations:

Fever recover from first-quarter tumble

At the beginning of the game, Dallas' bigs overmatched Indiana. Dallas grabbed eight straight rebounds to start the game (including four offensive boards) and took a 21-10 lead early in the game. On paper, it was unusual; the playoff-bound Fever were down by double-digits to the single-digit win Wings, who were eliminated from the playoffs.

But when it comes to the Fever and the Wings, it's always a high-scoring affair. Their first matchup ended 101-93 in favor of the Wings, and the second was 100-93 in favor of the Fever. Sunday was no different.

Indiana came back to tie the game in the second quarter and went into halftime with a two-point deficit, 59-57. It was the most points the Fever had given up in a half all season, but also the second-most points they had scored in a half.

The Fever ultimately lost the rebounding battle, but they still started controlling the game in the fourth quarter, thanks to a career-high day from rookie Caitlin Clark. Their 110 points ended up being the most they scored in a game this season

In career-high day, Caitlin Clark sets rookie scoring record

Another record has come tumbling down at the hands of Fever rookie Caitlin Clark.

Just one game after she set the WNBA single-season assist record with 316 (and counting), Clark's 20th point of the season set the rookie scoring record. It was an 18-year-old record, set by former No. 1 pick Seimone Augustus in 2006.

And Clark did it in the same fashion she set the collegiate Division I scoring record: a 3-pointer.

In her first year as a pro, Clark has proven herself both as an elite passer and an elite scorer -- something not many players are able to do. She can find her teammates on long-range or behind the back passes and still find unique ways to score herself, forcing opponents to pick their poison.

Fever clinch No. 6 seed

With one game left in the regular season, the Fever have officially clinched the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. The win against Dallas was their 20th of the season.

The Phoenix Mercury, the team chasing them for the playoffs, is currently 17-20. With three games left for Phoenix, they can only get up to 20 wins (at most), and Indiana holds the head-to-head playoff tiebreaker.

Indiana will likely play the Minnesota Lynx or the Connecticut Sun in the first round of the playoffs. Connecticut currently holds the No. 3 seed, but the two teams are within one game of each other near the top of the standings and play each other on Tuesday.

How many points did Caitlin Clark score against the Wings?

Clark scored a career-high 35 points on 10-of-22 shooting, including a 6-of-14 mark from 3-point range. She added on eight assists and three rebounds.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fever vs Wings: Caitlin Clark scores career-high 35 points in win