Dream’s latest mistakes result in home defeat

Atlanta (7-11) has lost nine of its last 12 games and hasn’t won a home game since June 16.

It was the first time Chicago (7-11) beat Atlanta since July 12, 2022, and the Sky snapped a five-game losing streak against the Dream.

Carter scored 26 points, her best in a game this season. She followed that up with a 6-0 run with less than two minutes left in regulation. Carter’s layup, which capped her personal streak, was the coup de grace and gave Chicago an 82-77 lead with 31.7 minutes left.

Reese recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 12 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds.

“It’s a tough loss for us today,” Dream coach Tanisha Wright said. “I can take a lot of that on myself. I probably should have changed some things defensively. Especially with Carter putting his head down and keeping going.”

Credits: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credits: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Atlanta shot 51.4 percent (18 of 35 overall, 4 of 8 from long range) in the first half, but slowed down considerably in the second half. The Dream shot 36.4 percent and went 3 of 14 from long range over the final 20 minutes.

“I think we weren’t able to keep our composure in the fourth quarter and find the right shots at the right opportunities,” Wright said. “It’s more of a question on my part, because I didn’t prepare and set us up to find those things. We have to work on getting better as players — me as a coach — so that when we get in those situations again, we can have a different outcome.”

Atlanta has turned the ball over a season-high 19 times, and Chicago has scored 22 points off turnovers. The Dream’s previous record for turnovers was 17 against Washington on May 29. Atlanta has turned the ball over 10 or more times in every game this season.

“I think we need to understand better that we want to play fast and with pace,” Wright said. “The last three games, we’ve played that way. But with that, you still have to be able to take care of the ball. Those are opportunities and shots on goal that we’re not having. We had 68 field goal attempts with (19) turnovers. Take that down to 10, that’s eight more field goal attempts that you have.”

The Dream, who shoot about 80 percent from the line as a team, were uncharacteristically cold at the line, going 10-of-16 (62.5 percent).

“Those are the points that cost us,” Wright said. “We have to take our time. (Allisha Gray) missed two tonight. She’s a typical 70 percent shooter in her career, 80 percent on free throws. We just have to take our time. It’s a mentality thing.”

On a positive note, Atlanta won the rebounding battle 37-34 thanks in large part to Tina Charles’ double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds.

“I thought the guards did a good job of coming in and helping,” Wright said. “Tina obviously was really good at rebounding and continues to be. Naz (Hillmon) came in and got some rebounds, especially in that second quarter. When we play teams like this that are really good at rebounding, our guards have to help rebound.”

Credits: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Credits: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Atlanta also had 27 assists to Chicago’s 20. Gray had four of those assists and scored 19 points. Jordin Canada led the team in assists with seven.

“I thought they did a great job moving the ball,” Wright said. “Especially early in the game. We’re going to need that. That means everybody was touching the ball, everybody had opportunities. When we were playing in transition, I thought our position did a good job of finding cutters in the back end tonight.”

The Dream hit the road for a three-game series against Dallas (Friday), Connecticut (Sunday) and Chicago on July 10.