NW Atlanta News

COLLEGE PARK, GA – SEPTEMBER 6: Jordin Canada of the Atlanta Dream drives to the basket during a game at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. By downloading or using this photograph, users agree to the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Tori Newman, Atlanta Dream Communications Assistant

ATLANTA, Ga. (9/6/24) – The Atlanta Dream overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat the Dallas Wings by double digits in their first overtime game of the 2024 season. Led by Rhyne Howard’s season-high of 33 points, all five starters scored for the first time this season, resulting in the most points scored in a game by Atlanta this year.

The win improves Atlanta’s record to 12-22 overall and 7-10 at home.

“What a phenomenal effort by our athletes tonight,” head coach Tanisha Wright said postgame. “Just heart, resilience, not giving up in a playoff atmosphere. That was a playoff game. We understand that every game from here on out is going to be like that for us. And that type of fight, that type of energy is going to be needed as we continue to make our playoff push.”

Howard tallied 33 points, three rebounds, six assists and one steal, going 12-for-26 from the field and 6-for-17 from 3-point range. She became the first Dream player since Angel McCoughtry in 2013 to put up consecutive 30+ point performances, having dropped 31 against Phoenix just three days earlier.

The all-around effort saw several season and career achievements for the Dream. Tina Charles marked her sixteenth double-double of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds, claiming No.2 in Dream franchise history for most double-doubles in a single season.

Forward Naz Hillmon notched a career-high with 18 points on the night, paired with eight rebounds. The forward went 6-for-7 from the field and 6-for-10 from the free throw line.

Guard Jordin Canada recorded her first double-double of her Dream career with 15 points and a season-high ten assists.

“We knew that going into this game and we wanted to be aggressive,” Hillmon said regarding the team’s momentum. “Once you just get into your rhythm and your feel, it just kind of takes off.”

Atlanta left a slow start behind after putting together a 16-6 run in the final minutes of the third quarter and early minutes of the fourth to come within five points of Dallas at an score of eighty-to-eighty-five.

The Dream’s comeback continued with another run at seventeen-to-five. Charles gave Atlanta its first lead at ninety-one-to-eighty-nine with an easy hook shot before Dallas’ Natasha Howard sent it into overtime with a jump shot with two seconds remaining.

In overtime, Atlanta's second-half stamina suffocated Dallas as Hillmon, Canada and Howard all made shots to open overtime with a seven-zero run clinching victory.

Next up for Atlanta is an away game against Indiana Fever on September eighth at four p.m., airing on Peachtree Sports Network and ESPN3.

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