Dream beat defending champs, equal last season’s win total

The shot clock was running down, and Chamique Holdsclaw threw up a what-the-heck 3-pointer.

Like most of the shots the Dream star took Friday night, it fell through the hoop.

“It was one of those shots you’re like, Wow, OK. Thanks!” Holdsclaw said.

The Dream made all manner of baskets against the defending champion Detroit Shock at Philips Arena, shooting a franchise-record 56.1 percent from the floor in a 96-86 win. The Dream, which held the Shock to 31.1 percent shooting, returned to .500 at 4-4 and in the process matched their win total from all of their inaugural 2008 season. Detroit is 1-5 and has lost four in a row, three since coach Bill Laimbeer resigned.

“It’s just rhythm,” said Holdsclaw, who scored a season-high 28 points on just 15 shots from the floor. “When you start making easy baskets, the basket gets bigger and bigger and bigger.”

Holdsclaw showed the form that has earned her six all-star game berths, dropping fadeaways, floaters and getting to the free-throw line.

Before 5,935 fans — a crowd that included Hall of Famer Julius Erving and Orlando Magic star and Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy grad Dwight Howard — the Dream took leads as large as 12 points before going into the half up 50-49. They then hammered the Shock with a 24-12 third quarter to take a 74-61 lead that Detroit never challenged.

“When it came time to close out the game, we did that, and that’s something we haven’t done [this season],” said Dream coach Marynell Meadors.

Dream guard Nikki Teasley and center Erika de Souza figured prominently for the Dream, who last year finished a league-worst 4-30. Teasley handed out a season-high 11 assists to tie the club record, while de Souza scored a career-high 20 points and latched onto 13 rebounds.

Said Meadors of de Souza, “She was awesome tonight.”

The Dream play tonight at the Connecticut Sun.