ATLANTA (AP) — Carla Leite scored 26 points, Emily Engstler added a career-high 25 and the Portland Fire beat playoff-bound Atlanta 101-83 on Friday night, ending the Dream’s four-game winning streak.
Leite shot 9 of 13 and Engstler was 11 of 14 as Portland finished at 58% (38 of 65) from the field.
Angel Reese had 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Dream (25-14), who fell into fifth place in the standings, one-half game behind Indiana. Reese, who has already set the league record for rebounds in a season, matched a WNBA record with her 28th double-double of the year.
Reese was assessed her eighth technical foul of the season, but the call was rescinded by the WNBA a few hours after the game ended. As a result, Reese will be available for Sunday’s game against league-leading Minnesota, which is Atlanta’s final game before the FIBA Women’s World Cup break.
Rhyne Howard scored 26 points for the Dream in their return home after an unbeaten, four-game West Coast trip.
DeWanna Bonner, signed to give the Dream some veteran help in the playoffs, did not play Friday. A two-time NBA champion with Phoenix, the Mercury bought out Bonner’s contract so she could sign with a contender.
Expansion Portland (16-23) led 52-38 at halftime. Atlanta got within 60-55 on a pair of 3s by Howard and a layup by Reese, but Portland’s Holly Winterburn responded with a banked-in 3 to beat the shot clock and put the Fire back ahead by eight.
Atlanta shot 37% from the field (26 of 71).
Up next
Fire: Host Golden State on Sunday.
Dream: Host Minnesota on Sunday.
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