Griner shines as Dream hands Lynx first home loss of the season

Moments after Brittney Griner watched her turnaround fadeaway swish through the nets, she walked to the sideline and smiled for a picture with 35.1 seconds left.

That was the perfect way to sum up the 10-time All-Star’s season-high 22-point performance to lead the Atlanta Dream to a 90-86 victory against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.

With the win, the Dream handed Minnesota its first home loss of the season, snapping the Lynx’s 14-game winning streak at Target Center. Atlanta also ended a six-game skid against Minnesota, earning its first win in the series since July 18, 2023.

The Dream (15-10) had a 46-32 lead at halftime and had to hold on in the second half. Atlanta traded baskets with the Lynx to open the fourth, then pulled ahead as Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Te-Hina Paopao combined for 10 of Atlanta’s first 14 points in under three minutes to build a 74-63 lead.

Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier (32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists) answered with a reverse layup to cut it to eight, but the Dream continued to respond. Canada converted a tough three-point play to push the lead to 81-68.

The Lynx (22-5) rallied with an 11-4 run, capped by a Collier basket and foul that cut the deficit to 85-79 with under a minute left. Griner answered with a signature fadeaway to make it 88-79 with 1:23 to play. Out of a timeout, Collier scored four of Minnesota’s final six points, including a stepback bank shot to pull within 89-86. But Canada iced the game with a free throw, sealing the win for Atlanta.

Minnesota opened the third quarter with a quick burst from Courtney Williams and Collier, who hit a three to cut the deficit to single digits. With the Dream up 53-41, Diamond Miller came off the bench and sparked the Lynx with a corner three and a strong finish at the rim on back-to-back possessions, trimming the lead to 53-46. The Lynx locked in defensively, holding the Dream scoreless for over six minutes.