by Troy Jenkins

The Atlanta Dream saw a late-game rally come up short as they lost the Los Angeles Sparks 84-75 Thursday afternoon at Staples Center.

 

Here Are a Few Notes From Thursday’s Game:

Dream Rally Falls Short in Loss to Sparks

• The Atlanta Dream went on an 8-2 run to cut the deficit down to three late in the fourth quarter, but ultimately fell short in their comeback effort against the Sparks. The Dream are 2-7 over their last nine game after opening the season with a 6-1 record.
• The Dream saw three players reach double-digits in points. Tiffany Hayes led the way with a career-high 32, Elizabeth Williams scored 15 points to go with 10 rebounds, and Layshia Clarendon added 12.
• Thursday’s loss snaps the Dream’s two-game winning streak against the Sparks. Atlanta still leads the overall series with an 11-5 record.
• Coach Cooper’s Take: “We did all the little things it took for us to stay in the game. We outrebounded them but against the best basketball teams you must keep that up for not just twenty minutes but for the entire forty minutes.”
• Player’s Take: “We need to keep working hard and stay positive, stay together, that’s the most important thing. We just have to be on to the next one, we can’t dwell on a loss”, said Hayes after the loss.

 

Three Key Statistics From Thursday’s Loss:

• The Sparks held a 52-to-42 advantage on points in the paint over the Dream. The Dream fall to 2-3 when they’re outscored in the paint by their opponent.
• The Dream committed 16 turnovers in the game. They are now 3-5 when committing more turnovers than their opponent.
• The Sparks shot 50.8% from the field in Thursday’s game. The Dream are now 0-3 when their opponent shoots at least 50% from the field. The Sparks are the second straight team to shoot 50% or better against the Dream.

 

Hayes Has a Career Day

• Dream Guard Tiffany Hayes made her return to the lineup in a big way. She scored a season and career-high 32 points with 19 coming in the first half alone. Her efforts down the stretch in the fourth quarter helped the Dream make it a one-possession game.

 

Elizabeth Williams Records Double-Double

• Dream center Elizabeth Williams posted her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds in Thursday’s game.
• During the month of June, Williams averaged 15.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and two blocks per game.

 

McCoughtry’s Streak Comes to an End

• Going into Thursday’s game, Dream forward Angel McCoughtry had scored double-digit points in 30 consecutive games. After her nine-point game on Thursday, that streak has come to an end.

 

Player of the Game: Nneka Ogwumike

• Sparks Forward Nneka Ogumike posted a career-high 38 points to go with 11 rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots. What sets her game apart was her performance in the fourth quarter. She scored 16 points in the final 10 minutes which helped the Sparks endure the Dream’s run and pull away in the end.

 

A Glance At the Standings

• Thursday’s defeat drops the Dream down to an 8-8 record. That puts them three games back of the first place New York Liberty and a half a game behind the Washington Mystics in the Eastern Conference Standings.
• The Dream also fall to fifth in the overall WNBA standings.

 

Up Next

After traveling nearly 6,000 miles on a three-game road trip, the Dream will return home for a three-game homestand which will begin this Sunday at 6 p.m. as the Dream host Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury.

Following the visit from the Mercury, the Dream will host Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, July 5 in a 7 p.m. tip.

The final game of the three-game homestretch will see the Dream take on Skylar Diggins and the Dallas Wings Friday, July 8 at 7:30 p.m.