The 2026 NBA Mock Draft post-lottery picture is clearer than ever, and two of the league’s top analysts just published their first full 60-pick projections with Washington holding the top pick. Meanwhile on Wednesday night, Caitlin Clark put up 24 points and 9 assists as the Indiana Fever opened their 2026 WNBA season with an 87-78 win over the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. Here is everything you need to know — from Dybantsa to the Clippers’ bold swing at No. 5, to Kelsey Plum’s 25-point homecoming and Sophie Cunningham’s breakout bench performance.
Indiana Fever 87, Los Angeles Sparks 78: Full Box Score
Final Score: Indiana Fever 87, Los Angeles Sparks 78 Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 (9:30 PM ET)
Scoring by Quarter:
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Fever | 24 | 24 | 20 | 19 | 87 |
| LA Sparks | 20 | 14 | 18 | 26 | 78 |
Indiana Fever Key Stats:
- Field Goals: 31-63 (49.2%) | 3-Pointers: 9-30 (30%) | Free Throws: 16-19 (84.2%)
- Total Rebounds: 36 | Assists: 23 | Steals: 7 | Blocks: 3
- Points Off Turnovers: 24 | Biggest Lead: 21
LA Sparks Key Stats:
- Field Goals: 28-57 (49.1%) | 3-Pointers: 2-15 (13.3%) | Free Throws: 20-25 (80%)
- Total Rebounds: 33 | Assists: 13 | Steals: 12
- Points in Paint: 46
Caitlin Clark: 24 Points, 9 Assists in WNBA Season Opener
Clark delivered the kind of WNBA season-opening performance that reminded everyone why the league’s viewership numbers have transformed over the past two seasons.
Clark finished 9-of-17 from the field including 1-of-7 from three, with 5-of-5 from the free throw line for 24 points. She added 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block — with a +5 plus/minus and the highest efficiency game score of any player on either team at 19.1. She also picked up a technical foul, which will not be the headline from her season debut.
The Fever built a lead as large as 21 points in the first half, and although the Sparks mounted a 26-point fourth quarter to make it respectable, the outcome was never genuinely in doubt from the second quarter onward.
Kelsey Mitchell and Sophie Cunningham Shine
Clark was the headline, but two teammates deserve equal billing for what they delivered in Los Angeles.
Kelsey Mitchell was as efficient as Clark — 9-of-17 from the field including 3-of-9 from three for 23 points — while posting a team-leading +14 plus/minus. Mitchell went a perfect 2-for-2 from the free throw line and scored 8 points in the critical second quarter when Indiana extended the lead to double digits.
Sophie Cunningham came off the Fever bench and delivered 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting including 2-of-5 from three, plus 7 rebounds and a +14 plus/minus — the same as Mitchell. Cunningham was the best bench performer for either team in the game, outscoring the Sparks’ entire bench unit at times during her minutes.
Aliyah Boston contributed 4 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks while fouling out. Monique Billings added 9 points and 8 rebounds with a team-high 3 assists off the bench. The Fever’s depth was the story alongside Clark’s star turn.
Kelsey Plum’s 25-Point Homecoming Was Not Enough
The Sparks’ best player on the night was their most famous recent acquisition. Kelsey Plum returned to Los Angeles — she previously played for the Las Vegas Aces — and delivered 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting with 4 assists. She scored 14 points in the fourth quarter as the Sparks made their late push, but the hole they dug in the second quarter was too deep.
Dearica Hamby added 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting with 8 rebounds. Cameron Brink contributed 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks as one of the few Sparks who competed with consistent effectiveness throughout.
The Sparks shot just 2-of-15 from three — a 13.3% clip that made it impossible to keep pace with a Fever team that converted 9 threes and dominated the second quarter 24-14.
2026 NBA Mock Draft: AJ Dybantsa to Washington at No. 1
With the live action covered, now to the other half of Wednesday’s trending topics — the 2026 NBA Mock Draft post-lottery projections.
The Wizards finally land their star. Dybantsa could become one of the NBA’s most unstoppable shot-creators. At 6-foot-9, he has a special blend of athletic tools the way he bends, shifts, and explodes with the ball in his hands. Dybantsa led the nation with 25.5 points per game while breaking Danny Ainge’s 48-year-old BYU freshman scoring record with a 43-point eruption. He gets to the rim at will, cooks in the midrange, draws fouls at a high rate, and displays point forward potential. House of Marketers
As of Tuesday, it appears the Wizards will likely target BYU star AJ Dybantsa at No. 1, followed by the Utah Jazz selecting Kansas star Darryn Peterson with the second pick. At picks No. 3 and 4, held by the Memphis Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls, respectively, all indications point to Duke forward Cameron Boozer and UNC forward Caleb Wilson going off the board next. BudgetFitter
The Clippers Take the Biggest Swing of the Draft at No. 5
The most debated pick in both post-lottery mock drafts is the Los Angeles Clippers at No. 5 — the pick they received via the Indiana Pacers in the Ivica Zubac trade.
The Los Angeles Clippers at pick No. 5 is where the drama could start, and testing numbers coming out of the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago ignited a change and bold move here. BudgetFitter
CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno has the Clippers taking Michigan center Aday Mara — ranked 14th on his prospect board — in a bold positional swing. Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor has the Clippers taking Illinois guard Keaton Wagler at No. 5. Both analysts agree the Clippers’ pick is the most volatile selection in the lottery.
Mara had great measurements at the NBA Draft Combine: He came in at 7-foot-3 barefoot and 259.8 pounds with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and a standing reach of 9-foot-9, which was tied with Mark Williams for the second-longest standing reach in combine history, behind only Tacko Fall. A shot-blocking specialist, Mara led the Big Ten with 2.6 blocks as the starting center for the National Champion Wolverines. BudgetFitter
Darius Acuff Falls: Both Mocks Have Him at No. 7 to Sacramento
The other major story of the post-lottery mock draft landscape is Darius Acuff’s projected slide. The Arkansas guard entered the season as one of the top-2 players on many draft boards. Both Yahoo Sports and CBS Sports now have him falling to Sacramento at No. 7.
Acuff is one of the biggest winners of the NBA Combine so far after measuring in at 6-foot-2 with a 6-foot-7 wingspan. Acuff is one of the most polished offensive guard prospects of the 2020s. The Kings need talent. Acuff will be the pick if he’s available at 7. BudgetFitter
Acuff is a wiry scorer who can get a bucket from anywhere on the floor with a quick trigger, slippery handle, and a feel for manipulating defenses. He has a knack for clutch moments too. He is not the biggest guard or the most explosive athlete, but he reads defenses like someone who’s been in the league for a decade. House of Marketers
Picks 2 Through 4: Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls
Both major mock drafts converge on the same four names in the same four slots at the top:
No. 2 — Utah Jazz: Darryn Peterson (Kansas). Peterson is a buttery smooth scorer with a blend of fluid body control and positional size that gives him the ingredients to become an elite NBA player. Even when he isn’t scoring, he’s a high-impact defender who causes chaos off-ball and has the 6-foot-11 wingspan to switch screens. House of Marketers
No. 3 — Memphis Grizzlies: Cameron Boozer (Duke). At 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, Boozer is the most polished player in the class. He scores from the post with both footwork and power, hits 40% of his 3s on high volume, and has enough handle to run offense as a point forward. House of Marketers
No. 4 — Chicago Bulls: Caleb Wilson (UNC). Wilson is the most gifted athlete in the draft class. He’s 6-foot-10 with springs for legs. When he’s flying above the rim, finishing through contact, and chasing down every shot in his area code, he looks like a future franchise cornerstone. House of Marketers
Broader Implications: What This Draft Class Means for the NBA’s Next Era
The 2026 NBA Mock Draft post-lottery picture presents one of the most consequential draft classes since 2023. Four players in the top four selections all project as potential franchise cornerstones. The Clippers’ No. 5 pick carries dramatic variance depending on how Aday Mara’s combine measurements translate to NBA evaluators in the coming weeks. And Darius Acuff’s slide to Sacramento — if it holds — would represent one of the great draft-night value picks of the decade.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Clark’s 24-point WNBA season opener in Los Angeles is a reminder that the league’s two biggest storylines in the summer of 2026 — the NBA Draft and the WNBA regular season — are both generating the kind of anticipation that brings new audiences to basketball. For more on the biggest stories in sports, visit The Tech Marketer.
Latest Updates
Both the Fever-Sparks box score and the NBA Mock Draft are live and developing. Here is where to follow the full story:
- WNBA.com has the complete Indiana Fever vs Los Angeles Sparks box score from Wednesday night, including all player statistics, quarter-by-quarter scoring, and full team stat breakdowns. Read more at WNBA.com
- NBA.com via Yahoo Sports has Kevin O’Connor’s complete post-lottery 2026 NBA Mock Draft with all 60 picks, full prospect scouting reports, and analysis of every lottery selection from Washington to Charlotte. Read more at NBA.com
- CBS Sports has Cameron Salerno’s post-lottery 2026 NBA Mock Draft featuring the Clippers’ bold Aday Mara swing at No. 5 and Darius Acuff falling to Sacramento at No. 7, with NBA Draft Combine measurements factored in. Read more at CBS Sports
FAQ: 2026 NBA Mock Draft and Fever vs Sparks
1. Who goes No. 1 in the 2026 NBA Mock Draft? Both Yahoo Sports analyst Kevin O’Connor and CBS Sports analyst Cameron Salerno project AJ Dybantsa of BYU as the No. 1 overall pick to the Washington Wizards. Dybantsa led the nation in scoring at 25.5 PPG and set a BYU freshman scoring record.
2. Where does Darius Acuff land in the 2026 NBA Mock Draft? Despite entering the season as a potential top-2 pick, Acuff has fallen to No. 7 in both major post-lottery mock drafts, projected to the Sacramento Kings. His 6-foot-2 height with a 6-foot-7 wingspan measured at the NBA Draft Combine influenced the slide.
3. What did Caitlin Clark do in the Fever vs Sparks opener? Clark scored 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting with 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block as the Indiana Fever beat the Los Angeles Sparks 87-78. She also picked up a technical foul and posted the highest efficiency game score on the court at 19.1.
4. What is the Clippers’ pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and who might they select? The Clippers hold the No. 5 pick, acquired via the Indiana Pacers in the Ivica Zubac trade. CBS Sports projects them taking 7-foot-3 Michigan center Aday Mara — a bold swing based on his combine measurements — while Yahoo Sports has them taking Illinois guard Keaton Wagler.
5. What was the final score of Fever vs Sparks on May 13, 2026? The Indiana Fever defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 87-78 at Crypto.com Arena. Indiana led by as many as 21 points and was led by Caitlin Clark (24 pts, 9 ast) and Kelsey Mitchell (23 pts). Kelsey Plum scored 25 for Los Angeles.
Sources and References
- WNBA.com: Indiana Fever vs Los Angeles Sparks Box Score — May 13, 2026
- NBA.com / Yahoo Sports (Kevin O’Connor): Yahoo Sports Mock Draft: The Wizards Won the Lottery! Here’s How Every Pick Could Play Out Now
- CBS Sports (Cameron Salerno): 2026 NBA Mock Draft: Clippers Take a Huge Swing at No. 5, Darius Acuff Falls to Kings at Pick No. 7
