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Naz Hillmon scored a career-high 24 points on a perfect shooting night, going 8-of-8 from the field with four 3-pointers and 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, as the Atlanta Dream beat the Toronto Tempo 111-92 on Friday.
Dream coach Karl Smesko said the whole offense clicked in a way that made the individual numbers possible.
"Naz had a perfect shooting day and a career-high 24 points. Jordan Canada had 13 assists and no turnovers. She was just outstanding," Smesko said. "It was another double-double from Angel. Rhyne, after a slow start, came out in the second half and did exactly what we wanted. It's fun when everybody plays well on the same night."
Angel Reese added 23 points and 12 rebounds for her latest double-double, along with three steals as part of a defensive push she's made a point of emphasis this season. Canada finished with 18 points and 13 assists without a turnover, and Allisha Gray also scored 18 as all five Atlanta starters reached double figures for the second time in as many games with the Dream (15-10) topping 100 points.
Reese credited her frontcourt partnership with Hillmon.
"Thunder Twins. We talk about it all the time," Reese said. "Karl emphasizes how important we are for our guards because we knew they were going to hedge a lot and go under Jordan Canada's screens. We just had to be available."
Brionna Jones made her season debut off the bench under a minutes restriction and made an immediate impact, finishing with six points, six rebounds, and four assists in just over 15 minutes, with Atlanta outscoring Toronto by 17 points while she was on the floor.
Smesko said the team had been waiting a long time to get her back.
"I know I say it every time, but Bree is just so good. She's such a talented player and such a great teammate. She makes such a huge difference for our team on both sides of the ball," Smesko said. "We're just a different team when she's there. Now we're getting our whole team together, and we want to see how good we can become."
Hillmon said sharing the floor with Jones again, after facing her as a rookie the year before, was a welcome sight.
"It's so exciting to have Bree back. Seeing her on the sideline and then finally being able to play with her after competing against her all last year during my rookie season felt really good," Hillmon said. "My teammates did a great job finding me and giving me really easy, open shots, so I have to credit them for making my life easy tonight."
Marina Mabrey led Toronto (10-15) with 26 points, and Nyara Sabally added 16 before leaving the game after a hard hit left her with a rib injury. Brondello said the severity wasn't yet clear. Maria Conde scored 13, Isabelle Harrison had 10, and Julie Allemand finished with nine points and five assists. Tima Pouye also returned to action after an extended absence, and Brondello said she looked rusty early but settled in the more she played. The Tempo played without Kiki Rice (left ankle) and Brittney Sykes (left foot) and committed 20 turnovers that Atlanta turned into 22 points.
Brondello said the giveaways, more than anything else, decided the game.
"It comes down to turnovers. We can't turn the ball over 20 times and let them score. We knew that was one of their strengths," Brondello said. "We just have to be tougher." Brondello also said she felt her team wasn't getting a fair whistle. "I thought Marina had defenders with their hands on her all night without fouls being called. Freedom of movement was something I know I was part of emphasizing, and I don't think that's being called as much anymore, at least not in our favor."
Harrison, who has now faced Reese three times this season, said the matchup remains a physical test.
"She's just a physical player," Harrison said. "I think we could've exposed that matchup a little bit more tonight. We kind of went away from what was working, but really that's what makes it difficult."
Atlanta hosts the Chicago Sky on Sunday. Toronto hosts the Las Vegas Aces on Monday.
Continue reading...
Dream coach Karl Smesko said the whole offense clicked in a way that made the individual numbers possible.
"Naz had a perfect shooting day and a career-high 24 points. Jordan Canada had 13 assists and no turnovers. She was just outstanding," Smesko said. "It was another double-double from Angel. Rhyne, after a slow start, came out in the second half and did exactly what we wanted. It's fun when everybody plays well on the same night."
Angel Reese added 23 points and 12 rebounds for her latest double-double, along with three steals as part of a defensive push she's made a point of emphasis this season. Canada finished with 18 points and 13 assists without a turnover, and Allisha Gray also scored 18 as all five Atlanta starters reached double figures for the second time in as many games with the Dream (15-10) topping 100 points.
Reese credited her frontcourt partnership with Hillmon.
"Thunder Twins. We talk about it all the time," Reese said. "Karl emphasizes how important we are for our guards because we knew they were going to hedge a lot and go under Jordan Canada's screens. We just had to be available."
Brionna Jones made her season debut off the bench under a minutes restriction and made an immediate impact, finishing with six points, six rebounds, and four assists in just over 15 minutes, with Atlanta outscoring Toronto by 17 points while she was on the floor.
Smesko said the team had been waiting a long time to get her back.
"I know I say it every time, but Bree is just so good. She's such a talented player and such a great teammate. She makes such a huge difference for our team on both sides of the ball," Smesko said. "We're just a different team when she's there. Now we're getting our whole team together, and we want to see how good we can become."
Hillmon said sharing the floor with Jones again, after facing her as a rookie the year before, was a welcome sight.
"It's so exciting to have Bree back. Seeing her on the sideline and then finally being able to play with her after competing against her all last year during my rookie season felt really good," Hillmon said. "My teammates did a great job finding me and giving me really easy, open shots, so I have to credit them for making my life easy tonight."
Marina Mabrey led Toronto (10-15) with 26 points, and Nyara Sabally added 16 before leaving the game after a hard hit left her with a rib injury. Brondello said the severity wasn't yet clear. Maria Conde scored 13, Isabelle Harrison had 10, and Julie Allemand finished with nine points and five assists. Tima Pouye also returned to action after an extended absence, and Brondello said she looked rusty early but settled in the more she played. The Tempo played without Kiki Rice (left ankle) and Brittney Sykes (left foot) and committed 20 turnovers that Atlanta turned into 22 points.
Brondello said the giveaways, more than anything else, decided the game.
"It comes down to turnovers. We can't turn the ball over 20 times and let them score. We knew that was one of their strengths," Brondello said. "We just have to be tougher." Brondello also said she felt her team wasn't getting a fair whistle. "I thought Marina had defenders with their hands on her all night without fouls being called. Freedom of movement was something I know I was part of emphasizing, and I don't think that's being called as much anymore, at least not in our favor."
Harrison, who has now faced Reese three times this season, said the matchup remains a physical test.
"She's just a physical player," Harrison said. "I think we could've exposed that matchup a little bit more tonight. We kind of went away from what was working, but really that's what makes it difficult."
Atlanta hosts the Chicago Sky on Sunday. Toronto hosts the Las Vegas Aces on Monday.
Continue reading...
