Jonquel Jones delivered a standout fourth quarter performance to rally the New York Liberty from a 12-point deficit and secure a 90-88 victory over the Indiana Fever on Friday. The Liberty’s comeback win featured 14 lead changes and showcased Jones’ pivotal role in reversing the momentum late in the game.
Crucial plays define the closing moments of a tightly contested matchup
With the score tied at 88-88 and just over 10 seconds left, Fever star Caitlin Clark found DeWanna Bonner near the basket, but Natasha Cloud blocked the shot, igniting a key defensive stop. Although the Fever grabbed the rebound, a missed jumper by Kelsey Mitchell resulted in the ball returning to the Liberty. Sabrina Ionescu then drew a foul and calmly converted two free throws with 2.9 seconds remaining, putting New York ahead.
In the final possession, Clark attempted to regain the lead for Indiana but was stripped of the ball by Cloud, who delivered a critical defensive play to close out the game.
Jones shines with a dominant fourth quarter surge
Jones scored 14 of her game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter alone, fueling a decisive 12-2 run for New York that turned the tide. Her effort was central to the Liberty’s perfect 3-0 start this season. Alongside Jones, four other players reached double figures in scoring, including Ionescu with 23 points and Breanna Stewart contributing 16 points and eight rebounds.
Fever’s resilience tested as Indiana erases large deficits
Indiana battled back from a 15-point deficit in the third quarter, with Clark playing a key role in keeping the Fever within striking distance. Clark’s 18 points also came with 10 assists. Notably, Clark had been struggling with missing three-point shots, ending a streak of 13 consecutive misses from deep after hitting a step-back three-pointer and a buzzer-beating three at the end of the third quarter, which had pushed Indiana ahead 76-68.
Aliyah Boston led the Fever with 27 points and 13 rebounds, anchoring Indiana’s effort despite the loss.
Injury setback for Liberty’s Leonie Fiebich
During the second quarter, New York’s Leonie Fiebich collided with Indiana’s Lexie Hull and was sidelined due to a left shin injury. The German forward, who had started the Liberty’s previous two games, did not return to the court for the remainder of the contest.
Implications and outlook for the Liberty and Fever
Jonquel Jones’ outstanding fourth quarter performance proved decisive in maintaining the Liberty’s unbeaten start to the season, illustrating the team’s resilience in overcoming a persistent Indiana challenge. For the Fever, the narrow loss despite strong individual efforts highlights both their competitiveness and areas for improvement, especially in closing moments. The Liberty will look to build on this momentum in upcoming games, while Indiana aims to rebound and address defensive breakdowns in crucial situations.