Dream Unable to Overcome Fever Surge in 83-71 Road Loss

The Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever faced off at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the Commissioner’s Cup. Atlanta entered the matchup, coming off a win over the Connecticut Sun, where the Dream starters accounted for all 91 points scored.

Both teams struggled offensively early in the game. By the 4:25 mark of the first quarter, neither team was shooting above 30 percent from the field. Indiana also started 0-for-5 from three-point range.

With 3:23 remaining in the opening quarter, Aliyah Boston knocked down the Fever’s first three pointer of the game, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 10-9. Angel Reese picked up two early fouls in the quarter and was forced to the bench.

Sophie Cunningham and Kelsey Mitchell connected on back-to-back three pointers to give Indiana a 15-12 advantage. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the period, Makayla Timpson committed her third foul, sending Madina Okot to the free throw line. Okot scored three points through a free throw and a second chance layup, giving the Dream bench its first points since Atlanta’s game against the Portland Fire on May 29.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was tied 15-15. Atlanta also committed five turnovers during the period.

Indiana opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run behind three pointers from Boston and Caitlin Clark. As the shot clock expired on one possession, Okot scored her fifth point of the game. In just five minutes of action, she had already recorded five points and two rebounds.

Jordin Canada hit her second three pointer of the game to cut the deficit to 23-21. However, Mitchell answered with a three pointer during a 7-0 Fever run that extended Indiana’s lead to 30-21.

Naz Hillmon responded with a three pointer of her own, but Mitchell continued to lead the Fever offense, hitting a long mid-range jumper to push Indiana’s lead to its largest margin of the night at nine points.

Izzy Borlase scored her first points of the game to trim the deficit to 36-29. Unable to get a shot off before the halftime buzzer, Atlanta went into the break trailing 38-29.

Mitchell led all scorers with 14 first half points for Indiana, while Atlanta struggled to find its offensive rhythm. MVP candidates Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray combined for just four points in the first half on 1-for-9 shooting.

Gray opened the second half with an off-balance basket and converted the foul shot for a three-point play, cutting Indiana’s lead to five. Atlanta followed with a 9-2 run to make it a 40-38 game, with Gray scoring seven of the Dream’s nine points during the stretch.

Clark and Reese exchanged baskets on their teams’ next possessions before Naz Hillmon knocked down a three pointer to give Atlanta a 43-42 lead. Hillmon followed her basket with a steal, helping the Dream maintain momentum.

Indiana quickly responded. Boston recorded a block on Reese, and a Mitchell layup capped a Fever run that put Indiana back in front. Mitchell continued her dominant performance, reaching 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting by the 2:30 mark of the third quarter.

Howard connected on her second field goal of the game with a three pointer for Atlanta, but the Fever continued to control the quarter. By the end of the third period, Indiana had extended its lead to 65-51.

Okot scored her first points since the first half to begin the fourth. After a Reese layup, Atlanta was able to trim the deficit to 10 points. With 4:25 remaining, the Dream cut the Fever lead to single digits at 66-57.

Sophie Cunningham answered with a three pointer to push Indiana’s advantage back to 14 with 3:57 left to play. Atlanta responded with a quick 4-0 run to get back within 10 points with less than three minutes remaining.

Canada picked up her fifth foul of the game during the closing minutes. Borlase attacked the basket for a layup that cut the deficit to nine, but Raven Johnson answered with a three pointer to extend Indiana’s lead back to 12.

Facing a double-digit deficit late in the game, Atlanta went to its bench and accepted defeat as the final seconds ticked away. The Fever defeated the Dream 83-71.

The Dream return home on Saturday to face the Washington Mystics at 6 p.m. for Pride Night and their third Commissioner’s Cup game.