While 3-point shooting accuracy has not always been on display for the Portland Fire, it has appeared in recent games for the expansion club.
Coming off one of their better performances from behind the arc, the Fire look to maintain their form Tuesday morning when they visit the league-worst Connecticut Sun in Uncasville, Conn.
Portland (10-13) is sixth in the league at 34.6% from 3-point range and is seeking a third win in four games after making 14 of 29 triples in its 102-92 win Saturday at Atlanta. It was the fifth time this season the Fire made at least 14 treys, and it came as part of a 60% shooting performance from the field.
Seven players scored in double figures, including Bridget Carleton, who is shooting 37.2% from 3-point range and made 7 of 13 last month in a five-point win over Seattle.
“We’re so pick-and-roll dominant with the offense and for good reason, but I felt like that was our best game of the year in terms of pick-and-roll setups and creating advantages with (it),” Portland coach Alex Sarama said.
Connecticut (5-18) is coming off consecutive home losses to Minnesota and Golden State. The Sun were held to their third-fewest points of the season in Friday’s 79-64 loss to the Valkyries and went 4-for-16 from 3-point range, marking the 14th time they shot under 30% from deep this season.
The Sun played without two of their top-three scorers in Brittney Griner and Aneesah Morrow. Griner leads the team with 13.5 points and sat out Friday with a quad strain, while Morrow (10.5) has missed the past three games.
“Whoever is on the floor (has to step up) but tonight the energy and the efforts were not at the level of our expectation,” Sun coach Rachid Meziane said after Friday’s setback.
Diamond Miller led the Sun with 14 points and Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 12 points and eight rebounds while starting for Griner. Nelson-Ododa is averaging 12.0 points and 8.9 rebounds in nine starts this season and would start again if Griner remains out.
Portland swept the first two meetings this season, both at home, winning 83-82 on May 18 and 71-61 on May 27.
–Field Level Media
