The Atlanta Dream’s attempt to go 3-for-3 in comeback wins to start its season fell
one shot short in an 85-84 loss to Las Vegas on Sunday at State Farm Arena.
The Dream rallied from a 19-point deficit against the defending WNBA champs to
take a one-point lead with 36 seconds left on a layup by Jordin Canada.
But the Dream's final inbounds play didn’t go off as planned, resulting in it losing
its first game this season in its home-opener before a sold-out crowd of more than
17,000.
“We made a run in the fourth, had a chance to win it, and just came up a
possession short,” Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said. “I think we have a lot of
room for improvement, which is really exciting for what we're capable of doing,
but obviously that doesn't make us feel any better in particular.”
The Dream was led by Allisha Gray, who scored 25 points, Te-Hina Paopao, who
scored a career-high 19 points, and rookie Madina Okot, who set career-bests in
points (14) and rebounds (11). Angel Reese finished with nine points and eight
rebounds.
“We should have to do a better job not getting down so much, because it hurt us
tonight, and it didn't hurt us last game, but tonight it really did, because we lost
by one point after being down 20-plus,” Paopao said. “We're just going to come
out firing and not as flat as we usually are, and we’ve got to come out better in
the second half as well, because that's how they gain their lead. So, super proud
of our fight tonight. Just hope that we did put all four quarters together.”
The Aces’ Chelsea Gray hit a 12-foot jump shot with 3.8 seconds left to reclaim a
one-point lead. After burning the nets for most of the first three quarters, Gray’s
basket was just the Aces’ fourth in the final period as Atlanta’s defense, fueled by
a raucous crowd that included Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, roared with every
stop.
The Dream called a timeout to set up its final play and attempted to do what it did
previously against Minnesota and Dallas.
Reese couldn’t inbound the ball on the first try. After a timeout reset, Paopao took
the inbounds and passed to Allisha Gray, who was stripped of the ball by Chelsea
Gray to end the game.
“There was just a little bit of confusion because they were playing different
positions, and it kind of just short-circuited the play,” Smesko said.
The fourth quarter started with Las Vegas’ NaLyssa Smith hitting a short jumper
to increase her team’s lead to 14, 77-63.
The Dream’s deficit grew to 17, 81-64, when Jewell Loyd hit two free throws with
7:57 left.
Atlanta went to work.
It started with a layup by Allisha Gray as part of her scoring the next four points
to cut the Dream’s gap to 81-70 with 5:21 left.
A free throw by Naz Hillmon, two baskets by Okot, and a layup by Hillmon pulled
the Dream to 81-77 with 3:06 left.
Paopao buried a 3-pointer from the corner after an offensive rebound by Reese to
pull the Dream within a basket, 81-80.
“I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I'm down and ready,’” Paopao said as she waited for the
pass. “And what I say is, ‘corner threes get you paid,’ and I made the corner three,
so I was super hyped.”
Las Vegas A’ja Wilson hit a layup to break Atlanta’s pressure and give her team an
83-80 lead with 2:16 left.
Gray was fouled by Wilson and hit both free throws to cut Atlanta’s gap to one
again, 83-82, with 59.9 seconds remaining.
After a Las Vegas timeout, it predictably went to Wilson, but Canada stole the ball
and hit a layup to give the Dream an 84-83 lead with 36 seconds remaining.
Canada fouled Wilson with 22.6 seconds left. After Las Vegas called a timeout,
Chelsea Gray drove into the lane but missed her short jumper. Jackie Young and
Allisha Gray jumped on the rebound, resulting in a jump ball with 8.5 seconds
left.
Young won the jumper. Chelsea Gray got the ball and hit a 12-foot jumper to put
the Dream behind by one and set up the final unsuccessful play.
“Obviously, we don't want to live in a situation where we're having to battle back
from 19 down, but I do like that we just keep playing, and we have a lot of belief
that we can get back in these games,” Smesko said. “If we just start executing a
little better … to be playing a championship level team and have the lead in the
final minute, and on a day where we really didn't shoot that well … we just
competed and found a way to give us a chance at the very end."