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 Minnesota after being assessed her eighth technical foul of the season.
Reese was tangled up in the paint with 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Reese protested the call on the court and could appeal to the league office to have the technical rescinded. If successful, she would not be suspended on Sunday, which is Atlanta's final game before the FIBA Women's World Cup break.
Howard scored 26 points for the Dream in their return home after an unbeaten, four-game West Coast trip.
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.
___
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
The Associated Press
