Dream use second-half rout of Valkyries to take 2-1 Finals lead

ATLANTA -- Offense had been at a premium through the first two games of the WNBA Finals.

While the trend continued for the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3 on Wednesday, the Atlanta Dream finally were able to break through the offensive doldrums to earn a 97-71 victory.

Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Dream take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Rhyne Howard added 16 points and Naz Hillmon scored 15.

On a night when Reese became the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to record 20 and 10 rebounds in consecutive games, it continues to become apparent that the 24-year-old might not only be the Dream's most important player, but a tone-setter.

"Like I've said time and time again, Angel shows up in every game," Hillmon said. "Some people only show up in big games, but she's consistent with that and she brings her teammates along. I think that's what happened today."

Neither team had shot better than 35% from the field across the first two games. Atlanta made 49.3% (34-for-69) on Wednesday and outscored Golden State 51-31 in the second half to secure its first home win in the Finals.

In just the second season of the franchise's existence, the Valkyries have built their run to the Finals on defense, making the 97-point Atlanta output a head scratcher for Golden State coach Natalie Nakase.

"Just undisciplined," Nakase said. "We weren't in our shifts correctly. We weren't communicating. We were kind of just late on certain rotations. It's just uncharacteristic, so I have to figure out and talk to them and listen to them more individually. ...

"If something is unclear, that's on me. I want to just have more conversations about that."

Isobel Borlase chipped in 12 points while Jordin Canada finished with 10 points, eight assists and six rebounds for fourth-seeded Atlanta, which won its second straight game.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points, shooting 5-for-18 from the floor. She also dished a team-high eight assists. Tiffany Hayes added 14 points, while Janelle Salaun and Cecilia Zandalasini scored 13 apiece. Kiah Stokes grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds for the second-seeded Valkyries, who never led.

Trailing by six at halftime, Golden State opened the second half with an 8-2 run, including a pair of 3-pointers by Zandalasini, to tie the score at 48.

After another tie at 49-49, the Dream responded with eight straight points to take a 57-49 lead at the 5:25 mark of the third.

A 3-pointer by DeWanna Bonner and a layup by Hillmon bookended a 12-2 run to close the third quarter and give Atlanta a 71-57 advantage.

Golden State's Veronica Burton made a 3-pointer for her only field goal of the night early in the fourth quarter, but Howard answered with five points during the Dream's ensuing seven-point run to extend the lead to 20.

While Game 3 was moved up a day to accommodate an overlapping concert at State Farm Arena, a sellout crowd for the Dream's first home Finals game since 2013 didn't disappoint.

"Man, our fans showed up," Reese said. "They showed up on every single possession. Atlanta came out -- on a Wednesday and a school night -- and they've got work tomorrow. I appreciate them for coming out and for supporting us."

Golden State missed its first eight shots from the floor and did not score until the 5:07 mark of the first quarter, when Kaila Charles split a pair of free throws to cut the visitors' deficit to 6-1.

Hillmon drilled consecutive 3-pointers to give Atlanta a nine-point lead before Reese hit a triple to make it 22-12. The Dream led 23-15 entering the second quarter.

After Canada made a layup to cap an 8-0 Atlanta run, Salaun connected from beyond the arc to spark an 11-4 spurt that pulled the Valkyries within five with 3:16 remaining in the first half.

Reese's 15 first-half points led Atlanta, which took a 46-40 lead into halftime.

The series shifts to a pivotal Game 4 on Saturday, moved up to 1 p.m. to accommodate the Atlanta Hawks' home opener. While Atlanta coach Karl Smesko was appreciative of his team's dominating effort on Wednesday, nothing is close to being celebrated.

"We have to have the realization that we're only halfway home," Smesko said. "This is two wins, you have to get four. This is a great day. We thank everybody in Atlanta for the support. It's meant the world, and we're going to need it going forward."

--Jack Batten, Field Level Media