Dream vs. Liberty: Jordin Canada and Angel Reese Push Atlanta Closer to a Top-Four Seed

The New York Liberty spent the pregame handing out flowers. Seven players who represented their countries at the women's FIBA World Cup were honored before tipoff, including Breanna Stewart, who led the United States to gold and was named tournament MVP. It was a lovely ceremony. Then the Atlanta Dream walked into Barclays Center and treated the rest of the evening like a business trip.

Jordin Canada scored 19 points with nine assists, Angel Reese posted 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Atlanta beat New York 95-84 on Monday night in front of 16,458. DeWanna Bonner added 17 off the bench and Rhyne Howard scored 16 as the Dream moved within one more result of locking up a top-four seed and first-round home court.

A Slow Start, Then a Statement

The first quarter belonged to New York, barely. Pauline Astier scored 10 points in the period, and the Liberty defense kept Howard and Allisha Gray quiet, as the two Atlanta wings missed all five of their combined shots in the opening 10 minutes, according to the AP. New York led 24-23 after one.

The second quarter was a slog. Neither team could create much space, and the Liberty were ice cold from deep, going 1 of 13 from 3-point range in the first half, per the AP. Atlanta grabbed momentum at the end of the period with an 8-0 run that started at the 1:11 mark, and Bonner capped the half in style: she snagged an offensive rebound with 3.1 seconds left, scored through contact and made the free throw for a 41-38 halftime lead.

The run carried into the third quarter, and that is where Atlanta took over. Gray, scoreless in the first half, poured in 12 points in the period, seven of them during a 9-2 burst to open it. New York responded with an 8-0 run of its own to cut a 55-45 deficit to 55-53, but Howard answered with a 10-point quarter, and the Dream closed the period up 73-62.

Stewart Kept Swinging

New York kept trying to claw back, and Stewart did almost all of the clawing. She scored 10 of the Liberty's points in the final 4:43, including two and-one finishes. The Liberty got within eight on more than one occasion, but every time, Atlanta had an answer.

The answers came from the usual suspects. Reese scored on a layup off a Canada feed at 3:31, Canada scored on a drive at 3:16, and Reese made four free throws in the last 2:36. At the 1:55 mark, a technical on New York gave Bonner a free throw, and Reese followed with two more to make it 91-80. Canada sealed it at the line by making all four of her free throws in the final 1:10.

The Turning Point

Halftime. Bonner's three-point play put Atlanta up three at the break, and the Dream came out of the locker room on a 9-2 run with Gray finally finding the bottom of the net. That burst turned a tight game into a double-digit Atlanta lead, and the Liberty never got all the way back.

Who Delivered

Canada was the conductor. She went 8 of 8 from the free-throw line, dished nine assists, came up with three steals and committed just one turnover in 34 minutes. Her plus-13 was the best on the floor.

Reese worked for her double-double, going 7 of 14 from the field and 4 of 8 at the line. Bonner was the most efficient player on either team, making 5 of 6 shots, including both of her 3-pointers, and 5 of 6 free throws in 29 minutes. Howard shook off a slow start to finish with 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks, and Gray finished 5 of 8 for 14. Naz Hillmon chipped in eight points with two 3-pointers and a plus-10 in 17 minutes.

For New York, Stewart scored 27 points on 11-of-19 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds. Jonquel Jones chipped in an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double. Sabrina Ionescu scored 15, but needed 12 shots to make three field goals and leaned on a 7-of-7 night at the line. Astier finished with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting before fouling out, while Leonie Fiebich scored one point and Marine Johannes went 0 for 6.

Stats That Matter

• 6: Atlanta's total turnovers. New York scored two points off them, while the Dream turned 11 Liberty turnovers into 14 points.
• 7 of 29: The Liberty from 3-point range, good for 24%.
• 23 of 30: Atlanta at the line, including Canada's perfect 8 of 8.
• 32-24: Atlanta's third-quarter margin.
• 40-32: New York's rebounding edge, which bought it nothing.

What It Means

Atlanta improved to 29-14, including 14-7 on the road, and our recount of the schedule shows the Dream have won four straight. Per the AP, Atlanta will clinch home court in the first round with a win over New York on Wednesday or one Indiana loss in the Fever's final two games.

The Liberty fell to 26-17 and 14-7 at home. The loss ended a three-game winning streak, and according to the AP, it also means New York will open the playoffs on the road. The Liberty were coming off a Sunday game in Toronto, a 106-69 win, so the quick turnaround did them no favors.

The season series between these two is now tied 1-1 after New York won 104-90 in Atlanta on June 11. The rubber match comes Wednesday, back in Brooklyn.

Closing Take

The Liberty threw a party, and the Dream played the role of the guest who eats all the snacks, takes over the aux cord and leaves with the good leftovers. The difference was not talent. It was care. Atlanta committed six turnovers in a road game against a playoff team, and that kind of discipline travels. If the Dream play like this on Wednesday, they will get to host a playoff series, and they will have earned it.

Stats from the official box score via ESPN. Additional context as reported by the Associated Press.