Different kind of dagger. Different kind of outcome for Jewell Loyd and the Seattle Storm.
Loyd hit nothing but net on a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 22.3 seconds left, then added a pair of clinching free throws with 9.8 seconds to go as the Storm scored the final eight points of the game to get past the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday night in Climate Pledge Arena, 85-81.
“When you have elite players with elite mindsets and with capabilities to execute and hit shots, that’s what happens,” coach Noelle Quinn said. “It looked good when it left her hands. That’s an excellent shot by Jewell. Her feet were set; it looked good when it came out of her hands.”
Those final five points gave Loyd 28 for the night as the Storm (19-11) inched closer to clinching a WNBA playoff spot. Unofficially, they could clinch on Friday by getting a win vs New York or a loss by Atlanta at Las Vegas, or a win over New York and a loss by Chicago at home against Indiana. Wednesday’s outcome game Seattle the season series, 2-1, and that would be the first tiebreaker if the two teams should somehow wind up deadlocked for a spot.
Nneka Ogwumike added 18 points for the Storm, and Skylar Diggins-Smith tallied 16 to go along with nine assists, five rebounds, and three blocked shots.
26 сен 2024
