Atlanta, GA
Indiana Fever stun Atlanta Dream
The Atlanta Dream were defeated 91-84 by the Indiana Fever for their second consecutive loss on Thursday night. The game was held at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis in front of a large crowd. For the Dream, it was another slow start for the team as they were again outscored in the first half 44-59.
“We got to start the game better. At the end of the day we can’t dig ourselves a hole like that, because it takes to much energy to try and come back. Especially with a team that shoot the 3 the way they shoot. They got up early, and we got to do a better job of starting those games,” said head coach Tanisha Wright.
“Defensively, we didn’t do a great job in the first half taking away their options when they got hot. [Kelsey] Mitchell got hot and obviously [Aliyah] Boston got hot, and we need to do a better job of that. But I think the second half we got a little bit back to ourselves, which is playing Atlanta basketball like we have the last two years.”
The Fever started strong, quickly establishing a lead in the first quarter. Led by the dynamic duo of Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana’s offense was firing on all cylinders. Boston, known for her aggressive approach in the paint and mid-range accuracy, scored a game-high 27 points along with 13 rebounds. Mitchell, the team’s floor general, orchestrated the offense with precision, contributing 24 points.
Despite the early deficit, the Dream responded with resilience. Rhyne Howard, continued her strong shooting as she tied her career high with six 3-pointers. She finished the game with 26 points. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, added 18 points and six rebounds to help keep the Dream within striking distance with her clutch shooting. It was Parker-Tyus 100th career game in a Dream uniform. She was a big part in why the Dream outscored the Fever 30-17.
The second half saw both teams exchanging baskets in a back-and-forth battle. Atlanta managed to narrow the gap to just 11 points in the third quarter, thanks to 14-6 run making the score 62-73. However, Indiana defense tightened up in the final minutes, forcing crucial turnovers and securing key rebounds.
The Dream will look to regroup and address their defensive lapses as they prepare for their next matchup against the Sparks on Sunday afternoon.
Atlanta, GA
Philadelphia Phillies lose fifth straight game to end homestand, swept by Atlanta Braves
Michael Harris II homered and had three hits as the streaking Atlanta Braves defeated the slumping Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rivals.
Ozzie Albies hit an RBI double and Austin Riley also drove in a run for the Braves, who have won five in a row and nine of 11. It was Atlanta’s first series sweep of at least three games at Philadelphia in 10 years.
Kyle Schwarber went deep for the Phillies, who have lost five straight and 10 of 13. They were outscored 56-33 on a 2-7 homestand against the Diamondbacks, Cubs and Braves, leaving Philadelphia 6 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the division standings.
Raisel Iglesias escaped trouble in the ninth inning for his fifth save. Philadelphia put runners on first and second with one out, but Trea Turner struck out and Schwarber lined out to right field on an excellent running catch by Ronald Acuña Jr.
Tyler Kinley (3-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win.
Schwarber’s two-run shot in the first gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.
Harris homered leading off the third before the Braves went ahead in the fifth with three runs against rookie starter Andrew Painter (1-1) and lefty reliever Tim Mayza.
Painter was lifted after he opened the inning by allowing singles to Harris and Acuña. Mayza loaded the bases with a walk, and the Braves tied the game on Matt Olson’s groundout. Riley’s dribbler to third went for an RBI infield single, and Albies’ double to the left-field wall made it 4-2.
Riley saved at least one run while ending a Philadelphia threat in the bottom of the fifth with a stellar defensive play at third base.
Braves starter Grant Holmes allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
On a chilly night, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto sat out after leaving Saturday’s game with lower back tightness.
Up next
Braves: Begin a four-game series Monday night at Washington. RHP Bryce Elder (2-1, 0.77 ERA) opposes Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (1-2, 6.16).
Phillies: Open seven-game trip Monday night with the first of four games against the Cubs. RHP Aaron Nola (1-4, 4.03 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 3.63).
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
-
Delaware3 minutes agoViVA Awards luncheon celebrates service across Delaware County
-
Georgia15 minutes agoGeorgia Tech salvages finale vs. North Carolina ahead of UGA matchup
-
Hawaii21 minutes agoHawaii Snorkel Tour Hits Rough Waters After Tourtist Allegedly Stabs Boat Captain | Oxygen
-
Idaho27 minutes agoThe Camas Prairie is Biblical Idaho
-
Illinois33 minutes agoHas Trump’s approval dropped in Illinois amid Pope Leo feud? See polls
-
Indiana39 minutes agoOp-ed: Healthy rural communities strengthen all of Indiana
-
Iowa45 minutes agoSen. Chuck Grassley shares he’s recovering from gallstone surgery
-
Kentucky57 minutes agoKentucky will get a visit from a forward with three-point upside