If the Atlanta Dream are to record their first five-game winning streak in five seasons, they’ll need to beat the Chicago Sky for a second time in 48 hours.
The Dream look to stay hot when they play a second consecutive contest at Chicago on Sunday night.
The Dream (9-8) passed the first part of that test by outscoring the Sky 23-10 in the fourth quarter for an 82-68 victory on Friday.
All-Star Allisha Gray led the way with 21 points. Rhyne Howard scored 17 and ex-Sky Cheyenne Parker added 14 with 10 rebounds for Atlanta, which shot 47.8 percent, enjoyed a 44-32 scoring advantage in the paint and held Chicago to 36.8 percent shooting from the field. Gray is averaging 21.5 in the last four games for the Dream, who matched their six road wins from 2022.
“It’s not about consistent wins, it’s just about consistency in how we play,” Dream coach Tanisha Wright said. “We’re trying to be consistent in the things we’re asking (the team) to do.”
Atlanta, averaging 94.5 points while winning the last four by an average margin of 14.5, last won five straight during a six-game run from Aug. 3-12, 2018.
Chicago (8-10), meanwhile, won three in a row entering Friday, and trailed by one after three quarters. However, a Sky team that ranks near the bottom of the league in scoring (78.1 ppg), was held to fewer than 70 points for the sixth time this season.
“They’re trying hard,” said interim head coach/general manager Emre Vatansever, who is 1-1 since James Wade left to take an assistant coach job with the Toronto Raptors.
“We have to keep improving. That’s part of the process.”
Chicago All-Star Kahleah Copper (16.4 ppg) tallied 16 points Friday, but Courtney Williams, who averaged 20.3 and 8.3 boards in the previous three games, was held to three points and two rebounds.
Sitting 4-5 at home, the Sky have one more loss there than they did all of last season.
–Field Level Media
