Fever Makes Playoffs

Kelly Schumacher helped put Indiana into the WNBA playoffs, scoring a career-high 15 points as the visiting Fever beat the Cleveland Rockers, 60-56, on Tuesday night before 11,461 at Cleveland.

Fever guard Nikki McCray, who chanted “Kelly! Kelly” in the locker room, missed the final 14 minutes because of a dislocated finger on her right hand, but said she will try to play in the playoff opener against New York.

“I was really concentrating on defense and let everything else just happen,” said Schumacher, who also had a career-high nine rebounds.

Schumacher was making her first start of the season at center after Olympia Scott-Richardson was placed on the injured list before the regular-season finale because of a sore right foot.

“I cannot even begin to describe this,” Coach Nell Fortner said after Indiana capped an improbable run to the playoffs with its sixth victory in seven games. “It is phenomenal. I’m so proud of this team.”

Indiana and Orlando finished the season 16-16, but the Fever took the fourth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot with a 2-1 edge over the Miracle in the season series.

Indiana, earning the first playoff berth in its three-year history, tied for the league’s worst record last season at 10-22. Cleveland finished with that record this season.

Orlando 70, New York 63--Shannon Johnson had 14 points and seven assists as the Miracle (16-16) earned a season-ending victory over the Liberty (18-14) before 8,135 at Orlando, Fla. The Liberty is the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

Miami 61, Detroit 56--Betty Lennox scored 20 points as the Sol (15-17) was eliminated from the playoff race despite a victory over the Shock (9-23) before 9,153 at Miami. To make the playoffs, Miami needed to win and for both Indiana and Orlando to lose.

Charlotte 67, Washington 57--Allison Feaster scored 20 points as the Sting (18-14) beat the Mystics (17-15) before 11,461 at Charlotte, N.C., to gain home-court advantage in their first-round playoff series.

Houston 63, Minnesota 51--Rita Williams scored a season-high 15 points to lead the Comets (24-8) past the Lynx (10-22) before 11,618 at Houston.

The Sparks, however, beat out the Comets for best record in the Western Conference and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory at Phoenix.