Allisha Gray had 27 points and the Atlanta Dream tallied 21 assists on their 27 field goals made in an 80-73 victory over the short-handed Washington Mystics on Sunday in College Park, Ga.
Atlanta (14-11) has won nine of its last 12 games while Washington (12-13) has lost five of its last six.
Washington cut the lead to 73-70 with 1:35 remaining on a jump shot by Myisha Hines-Allen. Nia Coffey answered with a layup on Atlanta’s next possession.
A jump shot by Washington’s Brittney Sykes trimmed the lead to 75-72 with 25.8 seconds left.
Aari McDonald was fouled away from the play and made the subsequent free throw. Gray followed with two free throws with 23.1 seconds remaining to build the Dream lead to 78-72, putting the game out of reach.
Coffey finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Atlanta. Rhyne Howard had 11 points, five rebounds and five steals and Cheyenne Parker added 11 points. McDonald contributed seven points and five assists off the bench.
Washington was led by Sykes’ 25 points. Tianna Hawkins finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Washington’s regular starters Elena Delle Donne (ankle), Ariel Atkins (ankle) and Shakira Austin (hip) as well as reserve Kristi Toliver (plantar fasciitis) did not play.
Queen Egbo (ankle sprain) was questionable entering the game but played and finished with five points while attempting only five shots.
Delle Donne has missed nine games because of her ankle sprain. Atkins has missed six.
Sykes led the Mystics to a 41-40 halftime lead with 17 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line.
Atlanta took its biggest lead of the third quarter, 53-48, with 4:40 left on a 3-pointer made by Gray. The Dream led 56-53 going into the fourth quarter.
Atlanta took a 65-59 lead with 7:40 remaining after scoring on four straight possessions. Gray scored on strong moves to the basket in the last two possessions.
After the Dream led 69-61 with 4:56 left after Gray made two free throws, Washington rallied back and cut the lead to 69-66 with 3:40 remaining on Natasha Cloud’s 3-pointer.
–Field Level Media
