Game recap: Caitlin Clark's career night can't lift Indiana Fever over L.A. Sparks

The Indiana Fever return from a Western trip to host the Los Angeles Sparks. The Fever (1-6) posted their lone victory last week over the Sparks (1-4).

Caitlin Clark averages a team-leading 15.4 points, 6.3 assists and 1.1 steals. Kelsey Mitchell adds 14.0 points, while Aliyah Boston and NaLyssa Smith both average 10.1 points and more than 6 rebounds. Temi Fagbenle has provided help off the bench (9.6 points, 5.4 rebounds).

Takeaways: Caitlin Clark scores career-high 30 points, but Fever lose to LA Sparks, fall to 1-7

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Dearica Hamby leads L.A. (20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists), with help from Lexie Brown (12.2 points, 4.0 assists), No. 2 overall draft pick Cameron Brink (10.8 points, 42.9% 3-pointers, 5.8 rebounds) and Kia Nurse (10.6 points).

Final: Sparks 88, Fever 82

The L.A. Sparks come back from the Fever's early third-quarter run with two double-digit surges to claim the win.

Caitlin Clark is the only Fever threat in the first half and finishes with a season-high 30 points. Aliyah Boston scores all 17 of her points in the second half and Kelsey Mitchell adds 15. Indiana struggles from the field (38.2% overall, 33.3% on 3-pointers).

Kia Nurse hits 5-of-6 3s for 22 points for L.A., while Aari McDonald comes off the bench to score 21. Dearica Hamby has 17 points and 10 rebounds. L.A. makes 14-of-23 3-pointers (60.9%) to overcome 19 turnovers.

The Fever host Seattle on Thursday.

How much did Caitlin Clark score?

Caitlin Clark scores 30 points (7-of-16 shooting, 3-of-10 3-pointers, 13-of-15 free throws), with 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocked shots and 7 turnovers.

5:22 left 4Q: Sparks 71, Fever 63

Aari McDonald has 19 points, and her 3-pointer prompts an Indiana timeout.

L.A. is shooting free throws on every foul for the final 6:45.

Aliyah Boston gets the putback and-1 off a Caitlin Clark miss. Boston has 5 straight Fever points and 10, all in the 2^nd half. She picks up her 5^th foul with 7:59 to go.

:36 left 3Q: Sparks 59, Fever 55

The Sparks score 11 in a row. Timeout, Indiana.

L.A. hits 3 3-pointers in a row to take the lead. The Sparks are 9-of-17 from deep.

Kelsey Mitchell scores 5 points in a row and is up to 15.

3:20 left 3Q: Fever 50, Sparks 48

Caitlin Clark hits Kelsey Mitchell and Temi Fagbenle for baskets on consecutive possessions. Mitchell, Fagbenle and Aliyah Boston have multiple baskets in the quarter.

Kia Nurse's 3 with 6:20 to go gives L.A. its first scoring of the quarter.

Temi Fagbenle picks up 2 fouls in a matter of seconds and has 3.

7:53 left 3Q: Fever surge to start third quarter

Fever 41, Sparks 37

The Fever score the first 9 points of the quarter: Caitlin Clark 4 (18 total), Aliyah Boston 3, Temi Fagbenle 2. Timeout L.A.

Boston's first points, a 3-point from the left wing with 8:23 to go, put Indiana ahead 39-37. Clark's steal and layup brings the Fever within 37-36.

Halftime: Sparks 37, Fever 32

Caitlin Clark is 3-of-8 from the floor, 2-of-6 on 3s, and 6-of-7 free throws for 14 points. She also has 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocked shots and 3 turnovers.

No other Fever player has more than 1 basket, and Kristy Wallace is 1-of-7 from the floor, and Kelsey Mitchell 1-of-6. They are 29.4% from the field.

Aliyah Boston has 3 fouls and 0 points.

Dearica Hamby has 10 points, and Aari McDonald and Rickea Jackson 9 each for L.A., which has more made free throws (13) and field goals (10). The Sparks have committed 10 turnovers.

8:49 left 2Q: Caitlin Clark gets hot

She makes 2-of-3 free throws, then a 3-pointer to bring the Fever within 24-20. She has 10 points. Timeout, L.A.

End 1Q: Sparks 24, Fever 15

L.A. is 7-of-12 from the field, Indiana 5-of-20. The Sparks are 8-of-9 on free throws, the Fever 3-of-4.

Caitlin Clark picks up a technical foul with 2.1 seconds left. She has 5 points.

3:38 left 1Q: Sparks lead Fever early

Sparks 13, Fever 9

L.A. scores 9 straight and Indiana goes scoreless for almost 4 minutes before a NaLyssa Smith 3-pointer. The Fever are 3-of-14 from the field.

Aliyah Boston picks up 2 fouls in the first 2 ½ minutes. Smith checks in.

Caitlin Clark hits a 3-pointer 1:07 into the game.

Fever vs Sparks starting lineups

Fever: Temi Fagbenle, Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, Kristy Wallace, Aliyah Boston. Wallace (knee) missed the previous game, and Fegbenle is making her second straight start. NaLyssa Smith and Katie Lou Samuelson will come off the bench.

Sparks: Lexie Brown, Kia Nurse, Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, Dearica Hamby. Jackson replaces Layshia Clarendon, who left a game Sunday with a head injury.

Indiana Fever vs Sparks start time, date

7 p.m. ET Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

How to watch Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever vs Los Angeles Sparks

TV: NBA TV

Streaming:Fubo (FREE)

Caitlin Clark stats

Through 7 games: 15.4 points, 6.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 31.6% 3-point shooting.

Get Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever jerseys, gear

Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark jerseys, shirts, sweatshirts, hats from Fanatics can be found here.

Tickets to see Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Tickets for Fever games are available here.

2024 Fever schedule

This is the Indiana Fever 2024 schedule, with TV info; all times are ET; ^-preseason.

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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Caitlin Clark career night can't lift Indiana Fever over L.A. Sparks