Dream coast past Sky, 86-70

Jordin Canada scored a team-high 18 points, leading the host Atlanta Dream to an 86-70 win over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night.

Tina Charles added 16 points and a game-high 14 rebounds as Atlanta (14-25) won its second straight game. Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard each added 15 points for the Dream.

Rachel Banham led the Sky (13-26) with 22 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range. Lindsay Allen had 16 points and Isabelle Harrison tallied 13 points and 11 boards as Chicago dropped its fourth straight.

After the Sky fell into a 56-41 hole in the third quarter, Banham’s step-back triple and Allen’s layup cut Chicago’s deficit to 10 at the 3:46 mark of the frame.

Atlanta got its lead back up to 12, but Allen hit four straight free throws to get the Sky within 60-52 going into the fourth quarter.

With the hosts leading 63-54, Gray found Charles for a layup with 7:23 remaining in the game, forcing a Chicago timeout. Banham answered with a 3-pointer that was followed by Charles’ midrange jumper.

After a pair of Canada free throws, Banham continued her heat check with a floater. Canada then knocked down a trey, giving the Dream a 72-59 lead with 5:12 remaining.

Atlanta held a double-digit advantage the rest of the way, and Howard’s 3-pointer with 1:28 left gave the Dream an 82-68 lead to ice the game.

In the first quarter, Atlanta trailed 12-11 before Maya Caldwell’s putback started an 11-2 run. The Dream led 22-14 entering the second.

Charles began the second with a pair of free throws, then Nia Coffey sank a jumper, giving the Dream a 26-14 lead with 9:04 left in the first half.

Charles’ hook shot came before four straight points from Gray to extend Atlanta’s commanding lead to 38-21 with 3:08 remaining before the break.

Atlanta had a 46-32 cushion at intermission.

–Field Level Media