Allisha Gray had 25 points, and the visiting Atlanta Dream overcame a rough first half to win their fourth game in a row, 86-65 over the Chicago Sky on Thursday night.
Atlanta (19-11) never led during a first half in which they shot 30.3 percent, trailing by as many as nine points and 34-28 at intermission. Then the Dream scored the first 10 points of the second half to take their first lead and assume control of the game.
Gray knocked down a 3-pointer near the corner out of the break, and Te-Hina Paopao (12 points) followed with her own make from distance. Two free throws from Naz Hillmon, who recorded 11 rebounds, gave the Dream their first lead with 8:27 left in the third, and another Gray basket made it a 38-34 lead the visitors would never give up.
Jordin Canada added 17 points, six assists and six rebounds for the Dream, who shot 64.3 percent and outscored Chicago 32-18 during the pivotal third quarter. Nia Coffey scored all 10 of her points in the second half for Atlanta, which has won six of seven and swept the four-game season series from the Sky.
Atlanta, which also owned a 13-2 advantage in fast-break points, won all four meetings with Chicago by at least 13 points.
Rachel Banham went 3-of-6 from 3-point range and finished with 18 points for the Sky (8-22), while star teammate Kamilla Cardoso notched 12 points, five assists and four blocks.
Chicago committed 13 turnovers that led to 15 Atlanta points. Losers in nine of 10, the Sky played without injured star Angel Reese (back) for the seventh time in the last nine games.
Chicago scored 12 of the game’s first 15 points and held Atlanta to 3-of-11 shooting from behind the arc during the first half. Cardoso had eight points, five rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals through the first two quarters for the Sky, who totaled 12 assists on 15 field goals to that point.
–Field Level Media
