Gray scores 21 points and Atlanta rallies to defeat Dallas 83-78 in WNBA home opener

ATLANTA (AP) — Allisha Gray scored 21 points to lead five double-digit points and the Atlanta Dream rallied in the second half to win their home opener, beating the Dallas Wings 83-78 on Tuesday evening.

The Dream recovered from an eight-point halftime deficit, taking a 63-62 lead on a Naz Hillmon layup early in the fourth quarter. With seven minutes remaining, Aerial Powers buried an 18-footer for a 69-64 Atlanta lead.

The teams then traded baskets until a three-pointer by Gray gave the Dream a 74-68 lead with five minutes remaining. Monique Billings made two free throws to bring Dallas within 80-76 with 2:30 left and Teaira McCowan hit a pair from the line to cut it to 81-78 with 40 seconds left.

With 13 seconds left, McCowan fouled Powers while blocking a layup and Powers made both free throws for a five-point lead. Arike Ogunbowale missed a 3-pointer for Dallas, Powers rebounded and time ran out.

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus had 16 points, Rhyne Howard 15, Tina Charles 12 and Powers 10 for Atlanta (2-1). Howard and Charles had double-doubles with 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

McCowan scored 21 points and 14 rebounds in 33 minutes coming off the bench for Dallas (1-2). Billings also had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ogunbowale, the WNBA’s early leader in scoring at 30.0 points per game, scored 24 points on 8 of 20 shooting. She was 1 of 8 from 3-point range and the Wings made just 2 of 16.

After trailing 27-26 in the first quarter, Dallas went on an 11-3 run early in the second and extended the lead to 48-40 at halftime while seeking a seventh straight victory over Atlanta.

Atlanta outscored Dallas 43-30 in the second half.

The Wings played without Natasha Howard for Game 2 and Satou Sabally has yet to play this season.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

The Associated Press