Fever win after record comeback

Tamika Catchings had 30 points and 13 rebounds, and the Indiana Fever made the biggest comeback in WNBA playoff history to defeat the Connecticut Sun 93-88 in overtime at Indianapolis and advance to the Eastern Conference finals.

The Fever overcame a 39-17, second-quarter deficit to win the series 2-1. The previous biggest deficit overcome was 21 points, by Minnesota in a 74-72 win on Aug. 28, 2003, against Los Angeles.

Katie Douglas led Connecticut with 27 points and Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones both added 21. The Sun won their first five games against the Fever this season, but lost the two that mattered most.

In overtime, Catchings hit a 3-pointer with 31 seconds left to give the Fever an 89-86 lead. Douglas missed a 3-pointer, and Indiana rebounded with 15.1 seconds left.

Tamika Whitmore made the first of two free throws with 14.4 seconds left to bump Indiana’s lead to 90-86.

Nykesha Sales scored on a layup with 5 seconds left to cut the Fever’s lead to 90-88.

Catchings was fouled on a dead ball and made the one shot. By rule, the Fever were given possession, and Catchings was fouled again. She made both free throws with four seconds left to seal the win for Indiana.

Silver Stars 80, Monarchs 78: At San Antonio, Vickie Johnson scored an easy layup on a pass from Becky Hammon with half a second remaining and the Silver Stars beat Sacramento to win their Western Conference playoff series.

Although Sacramento overcame a 20-point deficit and took a lead with just more than a minute remaining in the game, San Antonio won the best-of-3 series behind a franchise playoff-record 26 points from Sophia Young.

Hammon added 22 points and seven assists while Johnson scored 14 and also had seven assists.