Allisha Gray poured in 26 points and converted a key three-point play in the final minute as the host Atlanta Dream avenged an ugly loss from earlier in the week by defeating the Washington Mystics 94-89 on Friday night.
Nia Coffey and AD Durr both ended up with 15 points for the Dream (6-8), who snapped a three-game losing streak. Rhyne Howard tallied 14 points, returning after limping off for treatment in the first half. Howard also provided a game-high eight assists.
Coffey also had a late three-point play, coming with 15.1 seconds left for the game’s final points. Gray shot 10-for-18 from the field.
Elena Delle Donne’s 31 points led the Mystics (9-6), and Brittney Sykes and Natasha Cloud both had 15 points. Ariel Atkins added 10 points. Washington was aided by 22-for-26 shooting on free throws, but made only 3 of 18 launches from 3-point range.
There was a vastly different tone from two nights earlier when the teams met in Washington, where the Mystics led by 28 at halftime on the way to a 109-86 romp. Plus, Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright was back with the team after missing the matchup earlier in the week because of personal reasons.
The Dream went up 65-57 late in the third quarter as Washington managed only nine points in the first 8 1/2 minutes of the second half, but was within 67-61 going to the fourth quarter despite a 2-for-12 mark on 3-pointers for the game at that juncture.
Durr’s three free throws expanded the lead to 73-64.
Washington held a 48-47 halftime lead despite four 3-point baskets by Atlanta.
The Dream led 28-22 after the first quarter. The Mystics led only temporarily until a 7-0 run late in the first half gave them a 46-41 lead.
Guard Linnae Harper made her season debut for the Mystics in the second half.
–Field Level Media
