ATLANTA — The Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever needed extra basketball to settle things Sunday night, battling through a tightly contested matchup that went to overtime before Indiana walked away with the 95-91 victory.
The Dream rolled out a new-look starting five of Jaylyn Sherrod, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon and Angel Reese, a lineup making its first start together this season. The starting five now holds a 0-1 record. Sherrod also reached a career milestone, earning the first WNBA start of her career.
But it was Allisha Gray who put on a show. Gray came out hot, leading Atlanta with 17 points in the first half. She kept it going after the break and finished with 32 points, tying her career high. Gray also added seven rebounds and five assists in another big-time performance for the Dream.
Atlanta had four players finish in double figures, with Gray joined by Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese and Isobel Borlase.
Howard finished with 17 points and five assists, while also contributing one steal and one block.
Meanwhile, Reese continued to make her presence felt on both ends of the floor. She recorded her 23rd double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Reese also showed off her playmaking ability, dishing out a season-high six assists.
Borlase provided another spark for Atlanta with 10 points, three rebounds and three assists, while Madina Okot contributed eight points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block.
Atlanta’s bench combined for 21 points, while the Dream were nearly perfect at the free-throw line, shooting an impressive 96.2 percent.
Four quarters weren’t enough to decide this one. Atlanta and Indiana entered overtime tied at 81-81, but the Fever were able to pull ahead in the extra period and hold off the Dream for the 95-91 win.
With the loss, Atlanta’s all-time record against Indiana moves to 37-35 overall and 22-13 at home.
Gray finished the night with 32 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Howard added 17 points, five assists, one steal and one block. Reese recorded 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, while Borlase added 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. Okot rounded out the Dream’s top performances with eight points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block.
The Dream will now hit the road and head to Las Vegas, where they will take on the Aces on August 18. Tipoff is set for 9:00 p.m. ET.
