Monique Billings scored a career-high 16 points to lead the Dream Tuesday night, but it was not enough to prevent a 78-66 home loss to Los Angeles.
The Dream (5-15) led the Sparks through the first three quarters but couldn’t hold on in the fourth.
Nneka Ogwumike had 24 points, nine rebounds and five assists for Los Angeles and the Sparks closed on a 15-1 run.
Atlanta was just one for its first 17 from 3-point range until Tiffany Hayes sank one from the corner for a 65-63 lead with 3:14 to go. But Chelsea Gray answered at the other end with a 3-pointer and the Dream didn't score in the final 1:50.
Atlanta has lost five straight games.
Billings scored eight of her points in the first half, including a buzzer-beater to give the Dream a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
Los Angeles pulled into the lead in the third quarter and the game saw five lead changes in the second half before the Sparks were able to move ahead for good.
Hayes scored 15 for Atlanta. Elizabeth Williams added nine points and eight rebounds. Hayes returned after missing two games with a hamstring injury.
“I thought for three quarters we defended really, really hard,” Dream coach Nicki Collen said.
The Dream will take a break as the league hosts the WNBA All-Star game Saturday in Las Vegas.
Atlanta returns to the court on July 31 for a road game against the Indiana Fever.
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