Atlanta Dream Rally Late to Defeat Phoenix Mercury 82-80 After Fourth Quarter Comeback

The Atlanta Dream came into the game against the Mercury with the number one record in the league. At the start of the game, both teams came out shooting well. Kahleah Copper scored a quick four points for the Mercury, while Rhyne Howard responded with five points in the first three minutes of the game.

Turnovers and fouls hurt the Dream early in the first quarter, and Phoenix went on a 9-0 run to open a 17-6 lead with 5:09 remaining in the period. With Howard dealing with foul trouble, the Dream brought Izzy Borlase off the bench to provide a spark. Shooting was a major issue for the Dream, who shot 25% from the field and 16% from three-point range. Copper led the Mercury in scoring with 10 points, followed by Alyssa Thomas with eight.

Known as a dominant rebounding team, the Dream were outrebounded 11-7 in the first period. Atlanta trailed 25-13 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second period, Atlanta shifted its intensity and came up with quick stops and quick buckets, including an Angel Reese layup at the 8:35 mark. Two Reese free throws and an up and under basket cut the deficit to 28-21. After exchanging buckets, the lead was extended to 10 with 3:24 left in the half.

Rookie Indya Nivar contributed a big three pointer with less than a minute remaining in the half, making the score 44-37 in favor of the Mercury. The Dream outscored the Mercury 24-19 in the second quarter, shot nearly 53% from the field, and recorded 12 points in the paint. Reese contributed seven points in the quarter.

Howard continued her impressive game in the third with a three pointer off a Mercury miss, closing the gap to five at 57-52. Gray’s fast break layup put the Dream within three.

Two fouls came under review. First, a foul on Angel Reese was challenged, and the Dream lost the challenge as the foul was upgraded. A second foul on Jordin Canada was also challenged and upgraded, resulting in the loss of two timeouts and extending the Mercury’s lead to eight with seven minutes left in the game.

Reese had a block on Natasha Mack, but Mack got the ball back and scored. Reese followed up with a layup of her own. Needing a big shot, Te-Hina Paopao hit a 3 pointer, followed by one from Howard, cutting the score to 70-64.

Borlase’s three point shot with 90 seconds left in the game brought the Dream within two. A challenge on a Reese foul was deemed successful, giving the Dream the ball back with an opportunity to tie or take the lead.

Canada’s and one layup gave the Dream its first lead of the game. Howard hit a three pointer with 24 seconds left, giving the Dream a 79-75 lead.

Copper answered with a three pointer, bringing the score to 79-78. After grabbing the rebound on a Reese missed layup, Gray was fouled, hit two free throws, and gave the Dream an 82-78 lead with 7.9 seconds left.

Copper was fouled on a three pointer with 3.5 seconds left and missed the final free throw. With 0.5 seconds left on the clock and an opportunity for a last second shot, the Mercury could not get a shot off, and the Dream held on to win 82-80.