East-leading Dream pull away in second half, crush Mystics

Rhyne Howard scored 19 points and Angel Reese posted an 18-point, 17-rebound double-double to help the Atlanta Dream coast to a 109-77 victory over the visiting Washington Mystics on Saturday in College Park, Ga.

Allisha Gray added 15 points, while Madina Okot and Jordin Canada scored 11 apiece for Atlanta (7-3), which improved on the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Dream's 109 points were their most since scoring 112 on July 2, 2023.

Kiki Iriafen's 24 points led Washington (4-5), followed by Sonia Citron's 18. The Mystics shot just 5 of 16 (31.2%) on 3-point attempts, while allowing the Dream to make 13 of 25 (52%) attempts from distance.

After taking a 12-point lead into the second half, the Dream's advantage ballooned to 21 on Canada's 3-pointer with 6:50 left in the third.

Iriafen's layup stopped the bleeding and cut Washington's deficit to 18, but Atlanta's 7-0 run extended the commanding lead to 68-43.

The Dream finished the third with Reese and Sika Kone's baskets, pushing their lead to 78-52 entering the fourth.

Washington showed signs of life to begin the final quarter as Cotie McMahon scored five straight to stamp a 7-2 Mystics run. Atlanta answered, though, as Te-Hina Paopao connected on the Dream's 10th triple of the game to give them a 90-64 edge with 5:52 remaining.

Kone's 3-pointer pushed the lead to 102-72, marking the Dream's first 100-point output since a 104-85 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 29 of last season.

After falling behind by four, Atlanta closed the first quarter on a 16-4 run, stamped with Gray's 3-pointer in the final seconds to give the Dream a 28-20 lead. Gray scored 10 points in the opening quarter.

Shakira Austin's 3-pointer pulled the Mystics within seven, but Reese scored four in a row to begin a 10-0 run, giving the Dream a 42-25 lead with 4:04 left in the second quarter.

Atlanta led 46-34 at halftime. Gray and Iriafen's 13 first-half points led each team.

--Field Level Media