The Dream returned home on Sunday intent on stopping their losing streak at five games. Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury, however, had another outcome in mind.
Griner recorded the seventh triple-double in WNBA history with 27 points, 10 blocks and 10 rebounds in a 95-87 victory for the Phoenix. Atlanta’s loss marks its sixth consecutive defeat, which is tied for the longest losing streak in the WNBA this season.
“Our goal was to let her score,” Dream coach Michael Cooper said. “Double-teaming her does no good. Our goal was to stop those other players. (When) you’re giving other people points, that’s where it hurt us.”
Tiffany Hayes continued her strong stretch for Atlanta (8-9). Coming off a season-high 32 points against Los Angeles, she responded with a team-high 26 points. Angel McCoughtry, who scored in single digits for the first time all year against the Sparks, finished with 22 points.
The Dream were in prime position in the fourth quarter and led 83-79 with five minutes and 30 seconds left on the game clock. That’s when Phoenix (8-10) found its stride, outscoring Atlanta 16-4 to close out the game.
According to Cooper, his players had nobody to blame but themselves for fading down the stretch.
“Our decision-making on offense (made the difference),” Cooper said. “Going down, taking bad shots, trying to get it all back at once. When you’re in a situation like that, you have to be really disciplined and make good passes to one another.”
Atlanta controlled Griner in the first quarter by getting the center in foul trouble early. With the 6-foot-9 star sidelined, the Dream’s offense went to work. The Dream shot 50 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes and led the Mercury 27-20 at the quarter’s end.
But Griner came back strong in the second quarter. She scored 17 points for the Phoenix and blocked several shots from the Dream. Her play left Atlanta down 50-44 at the half.
The game swayed back and forth in the third quarter, but Griner drew her fourth foul in the waning minutes. She returned to the bench, which allowed Atlanta to pull ahead 70-65 going into the fourth quarter.
What followed was another poor showing to end a promising game.
Once situated in first in the Eastern Conference, the Dream now find themselves below .500. They will try to get things figured out on Tuesday when they host the Seattle Storm.
“We’ve wasted that 6-1, 7-1 (start to the season),” Cooper said. “We have to get on a good foot now.”
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