Howard scores 19 as Dream beat Fever, again, 101-79
INDIANAPOLIS -- — Rhyne Howard scored 19 points, Cheyenne Parker added 17 and the Atlanta Dream beat the Indiana Fever 101-79 on Tuesday night.
Erica Wheeler had a season-high 16 points and rookie Kristy Wallace added a career-best 15 for Atlanta. Wallace was a second-round pick out of Baylor in 2018 and made her WNBA debut in the season opener after playing professionally in her native Australia the last four seasons.
Howard hit 3-pointers to start and end an 11-2 opening run and the Dream never trailed. Wheeler made a basket to give Atlanta a 17-point lead late in the second quarter and Indiana trailed by double figures throughout the second half.
Atlanta (4-1) is off to its best start since 2017 when the Dream won four of their first five games before winning just eight of the last 29 — including a nine game losing streak.
Victoria Vivians led Indiana (2-4) with 16 points. Danielle Robinson and Kelsey Mitchell score 12 points apiece.
NaLyssa Smith, the No. 2 overall selection in last month's draft, did not play for the Fever due to an ankle injury suffered in Atlanta's 85-79 win over the Fever on Sunday. Emily Engstler, who was taken two picks after Smith and replaced her in the starting lineup, finished with seven points and a season-high 10 rebounds.
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Regular Season Series
ATL wins 4-0
Game Information
- Referees:
- Tim Greene
- Dannica Mosher
- Clare Aubry
2023-24 Eastern Conference Standings
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York | 32 | 8 | .800 | - | L1 |
Connecticut | 28 | 12 | .700 | 4 | W1 |
Indiana | 20 | 20 | .500 | 12 | L1 |
Atlanta | 15 | 25 | .375 | 17 | W3 |
Washington | 14 | 26 | .350 | 18 | W1 |
Chicago | 13 | 27 | .325 | 19 | L5 |