08/28/26 10:05:00
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08/28 22:03 CDT Carla Leite and Emily Engstler help Fire stop Dream's 4-game
win streak with 101-83 victory
Carla Leite and Emily Engstler help Fire stop Dream's 4-game win streak with
101-83 victory
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 could be suspended for Sunday's home game against the Minnesota on Sunday
after being assessed her eighth technical foul of the season in the loss.
Reese was tangled up in the paint with the Fire's Carla Leite as Dream guard
Rhyne Howard made a 3-pointer from the right corner during the fourth quarter.
Leite was facing the basket and trying to box out Reese, who was directly
behind her. Leite had both arms extended backward in an effort to contain
Reese, who pushed herself free after Howard's basket went down. Reese protested
the call on the court and could appeal to the WNBA league office to have the
technical rescinded. If successful, she would not be suspended on Sunday.
Howard scored 26 points for the Dream in their return home after an unbeaten,
four-game West Coast trip. Atlanta has one more game before the FIBA Women's
World Cup break, on Sunday against visiting Minnesota.
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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