Aliyah Boston being tested beyond belief with latest Fever injury

The Indiana Fever returned to the floor Friday night, the team's first game since their loss against the Mystics this week and their second without Caitlin Clark. Playing without Clark has taken a toll on the team, which is now struggling to find a rhythm during a part of the season when every team in the league is adjusting to new players and new schemes, and perhaps no one on the Fever is feeling the pressure from those adjustments more than Aliyah Boston.

Coach Stephanie White and teammates Sophie Cunningham and Kelsey Mitchell each admitted the Fever didn't do enough to get Boston the touches she needed Wednesday. Boston, who is averaging 16.9 points and 10 rebounds per game so far this season, didn't have her strongest performance against the Mystics this week.

Things got off to a strong start for Boston Friday, and she did not disappoint during the first quarter. After buckets from teammates Lexie Hull and Natasha Howard, Boston quickly put up two of her own two and a half minutes into the game. Within minutes, Sydney Colson executed a steal against the Sun and got the ball to Boston again. This time around, Boston bodied the Sun's Bria Hartley before hitting another two points. By the end of the quarter, Boston had racked up 10 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist.

Fouls continued to be a problem for Boston, who had racked up three by the second quarter and didn't see action the entire time. She returned from the half strong and energetic, and helped add on another 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists before also adding a foul that saw her exit the quarter with four and a half minutes left.

Boston was back in the game at the top of the fourth following a messy third quarter that ended in an uncalled push-off from the Sun's Mabrey. A foul was nearly immediately called against Boston, which brought her up to five but was successfully challenged by the Fever — a call that ended up being crucial to the team's near comeback.

The Indiana Fever made improvements for Aliyah Boston Friday night

While speaking to reporters Wednesday night, White acknowledged that ultimately the responsibility to get Boston the right touches is on the coaching staff ("We've got to be better as coaches [while] trying to get her in positions to be successful," she said), and Friday's game definitely saw that happen in real time.

Boston also made light of the numerous fouls called against her during the Fever's postgame press conference Friday night. While she acknowledged it was "such an experience" to receive to many calls (especially the last, highly contested foul call), Boston poked fun at herself and the process and noted that she wanted to cut the question short to avoid any fines ("I love my money," she laughed).