ATLANTA — Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko insisted that a good shooting night was coming for his team. He said it after Game 1, and he repeated the message after Game 2. The coaching staff liked the shot quality Atlanta was getting, even against the Golden State Valkyries’ excellent defense.
The shots would start falling.
In Game 3, the Dream finally delivered, and the Valkyries couldn’t compete in a shootout. Atlanta took control early, weathered a comeback attempt by Golden State to start the third quarter and cruised in the second half to a 97-71 victory on Wednesday night. The Dream take a 2-1 series lead into Saturday’s Game 4 at State Farm Arena.
After shooting below 34 percent in both games in San Francisco, the floodgates opened in Atlanta. The Dream made 49 percent of their field goals and shot 41 percent from beyond the arc. All seven rotation players — excluding those who took the floor during garbage time — scored at least 7 points.
Atlanta never trailed after scoring the first six points. Golden State tied the game at 49 in the third quarter, but Rhyne Howard responded with a reverse layup on the ensuing possession and the Dream never looked back.
Angel Reese led the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Howard added 16 points for the Dream. Golden State shot only 35 percent, and made just 11 of 17 free throws.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Atlanta Dream, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA
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