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The Los Angeles Sparks’ playoff push hit a speed bump on Wednesday night, as the Atlanta Dream defeated the visitors from Southern California, 86-75.
Atlanta earned the win despite missing Allisha Gray. The freshly-named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for August and MVP candidate missed her first game of the season due to a knee soreness. So, the current Eastern Conference Player of the Week stepped up, with Rhyne Howard leading the Dream with 19 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Brionna Jones assumed the co-star role with a 16-point and 13-rebound double-double. Albeit in a starting role, Sixth Player of the Year candidate Naz Hillmon added 15 points, including an encouraging three 3-pointers, and seven rebounds. The win vaulted the Dream into the No. 2 seed in the standings.
The Sparks, meanwhile, are stuck at No. 9, sitting 1.5 games behind the Indiana Fever with four games remaining. Friday night’s rematch in Atlanta is a near must-win for LA. On Wednesday, Georgia native Dearica Hamby led the visitors with 21 points and nine boards, with Kelsey Plum contributing 18 points and seven assists.
Swish Appeal’s photographer Christina Merrion was at Gateway Center to capture all the action. Here’s a look at what she saw.
