Atlanta Dream ends two losses with 87-74 victory

The Atlanta Dream ended their two-game losing streak with a decisive 87-74 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks. This victory came as a much-needed boost for the Dream, who have struggled to find their footing in recent matches. This was the Dream’s biggest win of the season, as they dominated the Sparks in all areas of the game.

From the reports, it was clear that the Dream were determined to turn things around. They came out of the gates with intense energy, much different from previous matches where they started slowly.

The first quarter saw Allisha Gray lead the charge with a series of impressive plays, including going 2-for-4 from the field during the quarter. Gray set the tone for the game, finishing with 25 points, three rebounds and three steals. Gray has really worked on his defense as he aims to put it on par with his offense.

“Coach T (Wright) is on my ass, so I really have to lock in because she knows what I can do and accomplish on the defensive end. That’s just one of my roles: being a defensive stopper and really locking down the defensive end,” Gray said.

Tina Charles also had a huge game as she finished the game with 20 points and 11 rebounds. By the end of the first quarter, the Dream had taken a solid 20-14 lead.

The second quarter continued to showcase the Dream’s dominance. Their defense was particularly effective, forcing the Sparks into several turnovers that were converted into points on the other end of the court. Rhyne Howard was instrumental in this defensive effort, recording several steals and blocks.

Offensively, the Dream spread the ball well, with several players contributing to the score. Aerial Powers was huge off the bench once again as she opened the quarter with a 3-pointer. She finished the first half with seven points and three rebounds. Powers finished the game with 13 points coming off the bench.

At halftime, the Dream led 45-40.

Despite a valiant effort from the Sparks in the third quarter, where they managed to narrow the gap slightly, the Dream remained in control. The Sparks went on a brief run, powered by Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, who each scored 16 points in the loss.

However, the Dream would score 27 points in the final quarter to kill any hopes the Sparks had of winning the game. A 20-8 score for the Dream was the momentum they needed to secure a comfortable 87-74 victory.

“Good win for us, nice bounce-back win. We need to work on consistency. The message we send to them is not satisfied. Taking that feeling, taking it on the road and trying to win on the road. I thought we did a good job going downhill when the shots weren’t falling, and we also had good touch of the paint for our post players,” said head coach Tanisha Wright.