Dream drops opener of playoff series

By Keith Dunlap

For the AJC

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — At first the game was won.

Then, it was seemingly lost.

Somehow, the game then became winnable again.

Finally, though, the first-ever playoff game for the Dream will go in the history books as an opportunity lost.

Unfortunately for the Dream, they will be the team that needs to win the next two games to stave off elimination following a 94-89 loss to the Detroit Shock in Game 1 of a best-of-three WNBA Eastern Conference first-round series.

Game 2 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Gwinnett Arena, which would also host a Game 3 if necessary at 3 p.m. Sunday.

The Dream took an 18-point lead late in the first quarter, fell behind by 10 points in the fourth quarter, and then staged a furious rally that saw them close to within one point in the final minute.

“I really thought we got off to a great start,” Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. “We had a lot of turnovers that we don’t normally have, and they capitalized.”

The Dream seemed to be in control by taking a 61-48 lead with 5:02 left in the third, but the Shock then produced the critical stretch of the game, going on a 19-0 run to take a 67-61 lead with 9:47 left in the game.

Detroit then took a 10-point lead on two different occasions, but the Dream closed to within 90-89 with 51. 2 seconds remaining.

After each team failed to score on their next possession, Shock guard Deanna Nolan, who played for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs, was fouled going to the basket with 16.2 seconds left.

However, Nolan was unable to shoot the free throws because she had to leave the game with dizziness from a foul she took with 1:07 remaining.

By rule Meadors could choose the replacement shooter from the Shock’s bench.

Gambling that reserve guard Crystal Kelly was cold because she hadn’t played in the game, Meadors chose Kelly, a career 84.2 percent free-throw shooter.

Kelly made both free throws to give Detroit a 92-89 lead, and following a missed 3-pointer by Iziane Castro Marques, Shock guard Nikki Teasley was fouled and put the game away by making two free throws with 5.6 seconds left.

“At the time, [Kelly] could’ve missed them both, and I would’ve looked pretty good,” Meadors said. “As it was, she made it.”

Castro Marques led the Dream with 25 points.