Gray, Howard get going early to fuel Dream past Mercury

New Mercury guard Kelsey Plum had 19 points and five rebounds, while Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

Key moment

The Dream just looked more in sync on Wednesday night. They got to the right spots on time and sparked energy in Gateway Center Arena that they fed off.

But nothing sent the crowd on their feet more than a defensive play in the second quarter.

Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner blocked Reese’s layup and pushed the ball ahead to Kahleah Copper. The Mercury guard looked like she had a clear look at a transition layup, but Howard chased her down.

The Dream wing got up and met Copper in the air, blocking her layup attempt.

Howard’s stop moved her to fifth in the Dream’s record books for blocks.

Funny moment

Things move fast in professional basketball and sometimes passes get telegraphed.

Then there are times when plays break up and passes or players sail out of bounds. That was the case when a pass from Thomas had a little too much power and Plum flew out of bounds chasing it.

But Dream coach Karl Smesko stopped the Mercury guard from going any further into the bench when he caught her on the sidelines.

Highlight play

The Dream had some trouble running their transition game against the Aces on Monday. They did not have that trouble on Wednesday, when they were able to get out in transition.

As the Dream separated from the Mercury in the second half, Howard found Gray charging down the court. Gray took it all the way to the hoop for the layup and drew a foul in the process.

What they said

“(I think) everything was working well, really. I think you know, we had what 29 assists on 33 made shots, so just moving the ball, finding the open man, finding open shots, you know, continue to be aggressive on the defensive end so that we force them into tough shots, all while you know making sure that we’re doing our best to get what we want to get.” - Rhyne Howard on what worked well for the Dream Wednesday night.

“We’re pros. We get paid to do this. So I know we know when to cut off the fun and when it’s time to have fun. When it’s not time to have fun (and) when we’re between the lines, we take the game very serious. When the game is over with, we go back to our normal lives. We’re human, as well. So we take the game very serious.” - Allisha Gray on the message the team wants to send about how seriously they take the game.

“I probably think the teamwork in the first half, moving the ball, and then seeing Rhyne play with some joy again. That felt really good. I thought she was back to herself, where she was aggressive. She was looking for opportunities. You know she’s playing how she was earlier in the season, and that was just great to see.” - Karl Smesko on what he wants to carry over to Friday’s game against the Mystics.

“I don’t know that she said anything, but I don’t move like I used to. I couldn’t get out of the way. So she was kind of going full speed at me.” -- Smesko on what Plum said to him when they ran into each other on the sideline.

Up next

The Dream head on the road and face the Mystics on Friday in Washington, D.C.