Mystics, Dream meet again with eye on final playoff spot

The head-to-head duel between the Atlanta Dream and Washington Mystics, with the WNBA's final vacant playoff spot still up for grabs, continues Saturday at Washington, D.C.

When the teams played Friday night, Washington broke a tie in the standings between the teams with a 72-69 victory in Atlanta.

"Everyone on this team, especially the second unit, came in and did their job," Mystics center Stefanie Dolson said.

The Mystics (13-24), who are beginning a season-ending three-game homestand, have won seven of their past nine games to move into a tie for eighth place in the overall standings with the Chicago Sky. The top eight WNBA teams make the playoffs.

The Dream (12-24) dropped alone into 10th place with Friday's defeat.

"We had plenty of opportunities that we should have been able to convert on," Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright said. "We have to have short-term memory and have to take all the things we did well (into this next game)."

Brittney Sykes racked up 20 points for Washington, which overcame a 41-33 rebounding deficit. It was the first time Sykes scored as many as 20 points in the past seven games. She has averaged 12.9 points per game, second to Ariel Atkins' 14.6 points.

The Dream collected 17 offensive rebounds and recorded 30 points in the paint, with 14 second-chance points in Friday's loss. Wright was encouraged by the hustle but perplexed by the team not taking better advantage of situations.

"We did a lot of good things," Wright said. "We should have been able to open up a lead."

The 72 points were the fewest for the Mystics in a victory this season. Washington reserves outscored Atlanta bench players by 26-11.

While Washington had key moments and a defensive stop in the waning seconds, the Dream had players step up as well. Allisha Gray (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Naz Hillmon (10 points, 11 rebounds) each recorded their first double-doubles of the season. It was the ninth career double-double for Gray, while Hillmon has two.

The Dream shot 28.8 percent (21 of 73) from the field.

The teams split two previous meetings, with the Mystics winning a Commissioner's Cup matchup between the teams in June.

--Field Level Media