Makayla Timpson did not fill up the box score on Thursday, but she delivered the kind of play that can define a close game.
With the Indiana Fever holding off the Phoenix Mercury in a 92-89 win, Timpson came from behind to block Kahleah Copper's left-handed layup attempt on the backboard in the fourth quarter. It was the sequence that stood out most from the game and quickly drew attention from Caitlin Clark, who shared the play on her Instagram story.
A highlight that mattered in a tight finish
The block came in a game the Fever needed. Indiana improved to 13-9 with the victory, which was its fourth win in its last six games during a current four-game road trip. The Fever also played without Clark, who was rested in the second game of a back-to-back because of a lingering back issue.
That made Timpson's moment even more notable. The Indiana center entered the game with season averages of 3.3 points and 3.5 rebounds, so a defensive play like this was the sort of high-impact contribution that can get noticed even when the scoring is limited.
Timpson finished the game with zero points, five rebounds and one assist, but the block gave the Fever a lift in a matchup that stayed tight until the end.
Clark expected back soon
Clark is expected to return to action on Sunday, which should give the Fever another major piece as they continue the trip. For now, though, Timpson's fourth-quarter stop on Copper served as the headline moment from a three-point win that kept Indiana moving in the right direction.
In a game featuring a three-time All-Star like Copper and a Fever team trying to stay steady without Clark, Timpson's play was a timely reminder that one defensive possession can still swing the conversation.
