This was a game that matched expectations.
National television, the two hottest teams in the WNBA, one riding a five-game winning streak.
Back and forth, ebbs and flows. But in the end, the Lynx beat the host Indiana Fever 99-88 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The Lynx trailed by 10 late in the first half. They led by 12 after three quarters. That lead was trimmed to one a couple of times in the final 10 minutes.
But the Lynx (25-9) responded. More specifically, Bridget Carleton responded. Carleton hit three fourth-quarter three-pointers and assisted on another, by Courtney Williams, as the Lynx finished the game strong.
Napheesa Collier scored 26 points for the Lynx, now 8-1 since the Olympic break. Carleton had 16, nine in the fourth quarter. Williams had 15, Alanna Smith 13.
That was enough to counter the 1-2-3 punch of Caitlin Clark (25 points, eight rebounds, eight assists), Kelsey Mitchell (23 points) and Aliyah Boston (20).
The Fever (81-17) dropped to 7-2 since the break.