Losing your regular-season top scorer to injury in the postseason would usually spell trouble. The Atlanta Dream, however, managed to win Game 2 against the New York Liberty without Allisha Gray and lead the five-game series 2-0. With the potentially deciding game set to be played tomorrow at the Barclays Center, the Dream haven’t confirmed whether she’ll return to the court.
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“Atlanta Dream star Allisha Gray is listed as QUESTIONABLE for tomorrow’s semifinals Game 3 in New York,” wrote ESPN’s Alexa Philippou in an X post.
Gray suffered the injury in Game 1 of the semifinals. In an off-the-ball sequence, Gray went down to the baseline while covering her hand in the first quarter. She got her ring and pinky fingers taped. However, the Dream management took her out of the contest for good in the second quarter, when it became clear she was still struggling.
At one point before being taken off, Gray even tore off the tape and seemed to have further injured her fingers while going for a loose ball.
Allisha Gray was Atlanta’s top scorer in the regular season, averaging 19.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. She continued in the same form in the postseason, putting up 17.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in the three games she featured.
With Gray off the lineup for Game 2, the Dream replaced her with fellow WNBA veteran DeWanna Bonner. While the Liberty did manage to tie the game 88-88 and force OT, the Dream ultimately won 101-98.
Atlanta relied on their strong defense to get the job done, forcing the Liberty to make 17 turnovers in the game. Reese led the Dream with 23 points, and Jordin Canada added another 23. Reese was grateful to her teammate Naz Hillmon for stepping up on the night.
“My thunder twin is always right there when you need her🤞🏽🖤,” wrote Reese in an X post.
The game was closely contested. Liberty needed a three-pointer at the end of regulation, and with just 10.3 seconds left, New York had rookie Marine Fauthoux to thank for tying the game. Liberty needed another three-pointer at the end of OT, but this time, Breanna Stewart air-balled the three-pointer attempt.
With Game 3 happening in New York, Allisha Gray’s absence wouldn’t be ideal for the Dream, but in Game 2 the team has shown that when one of their key pieces is knocked out, they can still step up to the challenge.
Time for Isobel Borlase to shine?
After a fine outing in the World Cup with Australia, where Borlase averaged 11.6 points per game, Borlase has proved her ability as a two-way guard.
Standing at 5’11”, her physical presence can take some of the burden off Angel Reese in the paint.
Borlase also boasts a modest 32.4% from beyond the arc, which, although it is not very high, should get the job done, especially if she is used off the bench to provide depth and coverage to Rhyne Howard.
Borlase once again proved her two-way impact against the Liberty coming off the bench on October 7. She became the fifth Dream player to score in double digits on the night with 11 points and four rebounds in 14 minutes. She also became the highest scorer off the bench, knocking down 3-of-5 three-pointers.
On the flip side, Sabrina Ionescu shouldered the blame after her side came so close to leveling the playing field in their five-game series.
Ionescu on their Game 2 loss
It was a night to forget for Ionescu, as she finished the game with just 10 points in 38 minutes of playing time. Ionescu felt it was her responsibility to shoulder the blame for Liberty’s close loss.
“It was my fault,” Ionescu said after the game, per the New York Post. “This loss is on me. I got to take it on the chin, and I got to be better.”
If Game 2 was any indication, Ionescu and Co. will get another chance to get back in the series, as without Gray, Atlanta is still a little bit exposed. While DeWanna Bonner’s 23 points did the job in the first game, Bonner could only manage 10 points in Game 2.
For the most part, the Dream will look to complete the sweep in Game 3. Then again, you can never count Liberty out, as they have already shown by knocking out the number one seed Minnesota Lynx in round one.