Timpson scores career-high 20 points and shines in OT as Fever edge Dream 95-91

ATLANTA (AP) — Makayla Timpson scored a career-high 20 points, including Indiana's first three field goals in overtime, and the Fever beat the Atlanta Dream 95-91 on Sunday to protect their hold on fourth place in the WNBA standings.

Indiana (23-12) held off Atlanta (21-13) despite Allisha Gray matching her career high with 32 points. The top four teams have homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Kelsey Mitchell's layup with 13.6 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Indiana guard 20 points, her 19th consecutive game scoring at least 20.

Caitlin Clark scored 26 points, including two free throws after Atlanta trimmed Indiana's lead to 93-91, with nine assists.

Mitchell's 3-pointer for Indiana with 1:05 remaining tied the game 81-81. Atlanta had three misses on its final possession to end regulation.

Indiana's Sophie Cunningham, celebrating her 30th birthday, gave Indiana a 78-77 lead with a basket and free throw.

The Dream announced minutes before the game point guard Jordin Canada was unavailable due to an illness. Jaylen Sherrod made her first career start in her third WNBA season.

Atlanta forward Brionna Jones also missed the game with a left leg injury. Coach Karl Smesko said before the game there is no timetable for Jones' return. “Hopefully we'll get her back soon,” Smesko said.

The short-handed Dream trailed 36-27 in the second period before Angel Reese, who had 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, led the comeback. Atlanta used a 17-4 run to lead 44-40 at halftime.

Mitchell needed the overtime to extend her streak of scoring at least 20 points. After scoring only five points in the first half, Mitchell had two early baskets in the second half before picking up her third foul midway through the third period.

Fever: At Toronto on Tuesday night.

Dream: At Las Vegas on Tuesday night.

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts in the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) dribbles against Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) in the first half of an WNBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) scores in the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) shoots the ball against Indiana Fever forward Makayla Timpson (21) in the first half of an WNBA basketball game Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts in the first half of an WNBA basketball game against the Atlanta Dream Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s economy grew an annual rate of 1.1% in the April-June quarter even as private consumption stayed flat and the growth of exports declined, according to government data released Monday.

Japan ’s real GDP, or gross domestic product, the sum value of nation’s goods and services, grew at a seasonally adjusted rate of 0.3% from the first quarter to second quarter of this 2026, according to Cabinet Office data.

The annualized rate shows what the growth rate would have been if it had continued for a whole year. It was 2.1% in the January-March period.

Private spending dipped 1.2% in April-June compared to January-March, while exports grew 0.5%.

Exports for the latest period were driven by the global demand for Japanese autos and semiconductors. Japan is home for Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and other top automakers.

Global demand for computer chips being powered by interest in AI, helping to support Japan's exports.

Government consumption rose 1.6%.

Quarterly GDP growth was lower than what analysts had expected. The Japanese economy has been hurt by the war in Iran, which has sent energy costs surging. That’s especially difficult for resource-poor Japan, which imports almost all its oil.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital transport route for oil exports from the Persian Gulf to Asia, has been effectively blocked due to the war, pushing prices higher. Japan has released some oil reserves and is working on alternate routes.

Brent crude has been recently trading at about $88 a barrel, up from about $65 a year ago, although that’s lower than earlier this year, when it shot above $110 a barrel.

A weak yen has also worked as a plus for some Japanese companies, including giant exporters like Toyota, boosting the value of overseas earnings when translated into yen.

But a weak yen makes it more expensive to import raw materials, raising prices for consumers and denting spending.

Concerns have been growing about rising prices, as wage growth in Japan has been relatively stagnant.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has promised to get growth going again, but her public support ratings, while still high compared to some of her predecessors, have been gradually sinking.

The U.S. dollar has been trading at near 160 Japanese yen levels lately, up from about 145 yen a year ago. It was trading at about 159 yen after Monday’s economic data got released.

The Bank of Japan recently raised its economic growth outlook to 0.6% for the fiscal year through March next year, from an earlier 0.5%.

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama

FILE - Vehicles are parked for export at a Yokohama port, near Tokyo on Aug. 1, 2025. (Takuto Kaneko/Kyodo News via AP, File)