Connecticut wins opener over Indiana in 3 overtimes

UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- Nykesha Sales scored 25 points to lead the Connecticut Sun to a 93-88 triple-overtime victory against the Indiana Fever on Thursday night in the first overtime playoff game in WNBA history.

Connecticut will take a one-game lead to Indiana on Saturday for the second game of the best-of-three first round.

Anna DeForge had a season-high 31 points for the Fever, while Tamika Whitmore added 24. Tamika Catchings, playing in her first game since tearing a muscle in her foot on July 20, had 14 points and 20 rebounds.

Asjha Jones, who missed the final three games of the season with an ankle sprain, returned to give the Sun 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The Sun held Indiana scoreless in the final 2½ minutes of the third overtime. Jones scored the first basket of the period for Connecticut, but Whitmore answered with seven straight points to give Indiana an 88-83 lead. Those would be the Fever's final points of the game.

Sales hit a pair of free throws, followed by layups by Lindsay Whalen and Kristen Rasmussen to put the Sun up 89-88.

The Fever appeared to have a chance to retake the lead, but Whitmore turned the ball over with 43.6 seconds left.

Whalen hit a three-point basket and two free throws for the Sun to start the second overtime. Connecticut was held to just a single point the rest of the period, Catchings had four of the Fever's six points in the second overtime, including a pair of free throws with 3.8 seconds left.

With 10 seconds left in the first overtime, Anna DeForge hit her second 3-pointer of the period to send it into double overtime.

DeForge's three with 1:19 left in regulation tied the game at 63 and kept Indiana's hopes alive. It capped a rally that erased a 17-point Connecticut lead late in the third quarter.

Jones hit a lay-up and Sales went 1-of-2 at the line to give the Sun a 66-63 lead, but a three by Whitmore with 20.6 seconds left sent the game into overtime.