The Atlanta Dream had a chance in the final minute to send the opening game of the WNBA Finals into overtime, but it couldn’t solve Golden State’s league-best defense.

The miss, one of many for Atlanta in the game’s final three minutes, 12 seconds, sealed a 68-64 defeat. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be Monday in San Francisco’s Chase Center.

The loss snapped Atlanta’s five-game postseason win streak. Allisha Gray, back from a hand injury that forced her to miss part of the semifinals, led the Dream with 19 points. Angel Reese added 14, and Rhyne Howard 12.

Atlanta was held to 32.8% shooting, including just one field goal for the final 7:16.

Still, the Dream, trailing by two and with the ball with 23.8 seconds remaining, had a chance to win. Howard couldn’t get past her defender and hurried a pass to Gray, whose long 3-pointer missed the mark. Atlanta missed three 3-pointers in the final minute and a few seconds.

“We had a couple of good looks, they just didn’t go down for us,” Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said.

Atlanta fouled Gabby Williams, who hit both free throws to put Atlanta four points behind with 4.1 seconds left.

Williams led the Valkyries with 26 points. She was the only Golden State player to surpass eight points. Atlanta held the Valkyries to 32.1% shooting.

The Dream built a 22-14 lead to end the first quarter, powered by Reese’s 11 points. She hit 5-of-6 shots.

Golden State fought back with 28 points in the second quarter to build a 42-39 halftime lead. The Dream missed nine of 13 shots, while the Valkyries hit 11 of 16 in the quarter, most from inside the free-throw lane.

“We need to maintain how we want to play for all four quarters,” Smesko said.

Atlanta, which has dominated the third quarter of playoff games this season, did so again Saturday. The Dream built a 56-51 lead by limiting Golden State to 16% shooting (4-of-25), while it hit 50% (6-of-12).

Kiah Stokes tipped in to cut the Dream’s lead to 60-59 with 4:45 remaining.

Atlanta held its lead until Gray missed a tough layup and Reese was called for a foul, sending Williams back to the free-throw line. She hit both shots to put Atlanta behind, 65-64, with 1:18 left.

Howard missed a 3-pointer. Golden State grabbed the rebound. Atlanta forced a turnover that was recovered by Reese.

Canada drove into the free-throw lane before sending the ball back out to Hillmon, who missed the 3-pointer. Reese was called for a foul while trying to grab the offensive rebound. Stokes missed the first free throw but made the second to give Golden State a 66-64 lead with 23.8 seconds left.

That set up the possession that sealed the defeat.

Atlanta dropped to 0-for-10 in WNBA Finals, including losses in 2013, ’11, and ’10.

“When we have an opportunity to finish a game, we’ve just got to do it,” Smesko said.