DeWanna Bonner scored 11 points in Atlanta's decisive third quarter as the Dream beat the Mystics 92-77 to take a 1-0 playoff series lead.
DeWanna Bonner had no points at halftime Sunday in Atlanta. She scored 11 in the third quarter, when the Dream outscored the Washington Mystics 29-12, and Atlanta pulled away for a 92-77 win to open the best-of-three first-round series.
Washington led 41-36 at the break. Bonner finished with 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals on 4-of-8 shooting, ESPN's Michael Voepel reported.
Bonner still has to tell herself to take a deep breath, relax, and just play.
"One thing you can't do in the playoffs is be uptight," Bonner said. "You've still got to play fun basketball. You've still got to laugh and enjoy this moment. I think the second half settled us down, and we had fun."
Bonner Brings Playoff Experience to Atlanta
The Phoenix Mercury bought out Bonner's contract in late August to give her a chance at the playoffs. Atlanta signed her Aug. 27, and she played five regular-season games with the Dream. She has not decided whether this will be her final season.
Sunday was Bonner's 99th career playoff game. The 39-year-old is in her 17th season and won titles with Phoenix in 2009 and 2014.
Washington's starting lineup had six combined games of playoff experience before Sunday. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton was the only Mystics reserve who had played in the postseason, and she appeared in her 27th playoff game. Washington claimed her off waivers from the New York Liberty on Aug. 8.
Dream coach Karl Smesko said Bonner brought more than her playoff experience.
"She made so many big plays for us," Smesko said. "And the enthusiasm she played with ... it's not just the playoff experience [she has], it's the joy of playing basketball. And that was contagious for everyone. It just made a huge difference in the outcome of the game."
Rhyne Howard Leads Dream With 26 Points
Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 26 points. She made all 10 of her free throws and had 5 steals. Allisha Gray scored 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting, and Jordin Canada had 10 points and 10 assists.
In her first career playoff game, Angel Reese had 13 points and 12 rebounds on 4-of-15 shooting. The Associated Press named Reese its Defensive Player of the Year earlier Sunday.
The Dream had 16 steals. Washington committed 23 turnovers, and Atlanta scored 27 points off them to the Mystics' 4. At the line, the Dream went 25-of-26.
Mystics Get Big Games From Young Core
Sonia Citron led Washington with 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Shakira Austin had 12 points and 16 rebounds, and the Mystics outrebounded Atlanta 55-38, including 15 offensive boards.
Kiki Iriafen, 23, had 15 points and 14 rebounds in her first playoff game. Nine of those rebounds came on the offensive glass.
Iriafen said the Mystics know Bonner is great in the playoffs.
"We let DB kind of get hot, and we know she's great in the playoffs," Iriafen said. "It gave them a lot of momentum and really helped them win this game."
Dream Take 1-0 Series Lead
Atlanta finished the regular season 30-14 and Washington 28-16. The Mystics won the season series 2-1, beating the Dream 81-76 on July 2 and 79-74 on Aug. 7 after losing 109-77 on June 6.
Last year, Atlanta lost its first-round series 2-1 to the Indiana Fever. The Dream have not won a playoff series since 2016, and the Mystics' last series win came in the 2019 Finals.
Game 2 is Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET in Washington on ESPN. A Game 3 would return to Atlanta on Friday, Oct. 2.
