Dallas hopes that the injured standouts Arik Ogunbole and Dijinai Carrington are expected to return when Wings visit Indiana fever on Sunday at Indianapolis.
Wings (6–15) have lost two directly, but are optimistic about getting Ogunbole (16.8 points per game) from a thumb injury. Carrington (11.8 PPG) is day-to-day with rib issues.
On Wednesday, without its two major scorers, Dallas fell 87–76 in Chicago. Ruki Page Beukers scored 17 points, but shot just 5 for 20. Lee Euru prolonged 18 points and 10 rebounds, but it was not enough to catch the sky. A rogue-thick wing lineup shot only 36 percent and allowed Chicago to shoot 50.9 percent.
“They are only going to be better … to achieve these experiences,” said Wings Coach Chris Kokalanus. “But it’s a long time that these players have never logged. … When your initial guard group has a shooting night that they did, it is difficult.”
Indiana is still trying to solve the roles after facing two brief stents without all-star Ketleen Clarke. Clarke has scored a joint 22 points on the 9 -for -29 shooting in two matches, as he returned from a back injury. The fever divided those two games.
Indiana (10–10) defeated Atlanta Dream 99-82 on Friday. After losing 80-61 to Golden State in Clarke’s return on Wednesday, fever crime was clicking back in his second game. Clarke shot only 5 -for -17 for 12 points, but provided nine assistance against Atlanta.
Fellow all-star Kelsey Mitchell was the leading beneficiaries of Mitchell Clarke’s passing with 25 points. Sophie Cunningham (16 points on 4-for-5 3-point shooting) and all-star Aliah Boston (19 points) also reached double figures.
Indiana is struggling with other health issues other than Clarke, with the players with Ari McDonald’s and Cunningham, who have missed the important part of the season.
Fever coach Stephanie White said, “We are talking about construction throughout the year.” “(Friday was it) play with our entire roster. And still we did not have practice with everyone.”
Fever won the first matchup of these teams in 94-86 this season in Dallas on 27 June.
-Bield level media
