COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — Allisha Grey and Rhyne Howard scored 20 factors apiece to assist the Atlanta Dream beat the Indiana Fever 80-68 on Sunday in Recreation 1 of the best-of-three first-round playoff collection.
Naz Hillmon, who was the AP Sixth Individual of the Yr, added 16 factors and 9 rebounds for the third-seeded Dream. Atlanta can advance to the semifinals with a win in Recreation 2 on Tuesday in Indianapolis.
Brionna Jones made a tiebreaking layup and Grey hit a pull-up jumper earlier than Howard hit a 3-pointer that gave Atlanta a 47-40 lead virtually 4 minutes into the second half and the Fever trailed the remainder of the best way.
Kelsey Mitchell led No. 7 seed Indiana with 27 factors. Odyssey Sims scored 10 factors and Aliyah Boston grabbed 12 rebounds to go together with eight factors and 5 assists. The Fever have been lacking Caitlin Clark, who’s sidelined for the playoffs with a groin harm she suffered in the midst of July.
Indiana was additionally lacking Sophie Cunningham (knee), Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (knee).
Mitchell made a free throw that reduce Indiana’s deficit to 10 factors with 3:32 left within the fourth quarter however Hillmon, who scored 14 second-half factors, answered with a three-point play and Atlanta led by double figures thereafter.
The Dream, beneath first-year coach Karl Smesko, doubled their win complete from final 12 months, shattered the membership report for wins in a season (30) and completed with their highest win share (.682) in franchise historical past.
Mitchell hit a fast-break 3-pointer to cap a 9-0 run that gave Indiana a 15-6 lead with 4:55 left within the first quarter.
