Allisha Gray and Tina Charles lead Dream over Sparks – Daily News

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ATLANTA — Allisha Gray scored 25 points, Tina Charles added a double-double and the Atlanta Dream pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat the Los Angeles Sparks 87-74 on Sunday.

Gray made 9 of 14 shots from the floor, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, for the Dream (6-6). She added three steals to help Atlanta end a two-game skid. Charles finished with 20 points – also on 9-of-14 shooting – and 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.

Rhyne Howard scored 16 points and five assists for Atlanta, but she made just 4 of 15 from the floor – 1 of 7 from beyond the arc. Aerial Powers added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists coming off the bench.

Rickea Jackson and rookie Cameron Brink led the Sparks (4-10) with 16 points each. Brink, the second pick in this year’s draft out of Stanford, added seven rebounds. Dearica Hamby was limited to 10 points and eight rebounds, well below her season averages. Reserve Aari McDonald finished with 14 points and five assists.

Charles and Gray scored six points each to help Atlanta take a 20-14 lead after one quarter.

Jackson made a three-point play in the first minute of the second half to bring the Sparks within three points. Gray made a 3-pointer, Charles followed with a layup and Atlanta took its largest lead at 43-32 with 71 seconds left. Brink responded with a 3-pointer, Kia Nurse made two free throws and McDonald hit from beyond the arc to cap an 8-0 run, pulling the Sparks to 45-40 at halftime. Brink led all scorers with 14 points in the first half.

Charles made 1 of 2 foul shots to give the Dream a 55-46 advantage with 5:03 left in the third quarter. Hamby scored on a rebound and added two free throws after a Jackson basket, starting a 15-1 run to give the Sparks a 61-56 lead just over three minutes later. Gray hit a step-back jumper and Naz Hillmon added two foul shots to bring Atlanta within 61-60 after three quarters.