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Sky unable to close ground on Dream

Angel McCoughtry scored 22 points, including a pair of free throws with 2.5 seconds left, to lead the Atlanta Dream to an 83-80 win over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night.

Lindsey Harding added 15 points for the Dream (14-13), who opened a two-game led on the Sky (12-15) for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with seven to play.

Sylvia Fowles hit a turnaround jumper to give Chicago an 80-79 lead with 6.3 seconds left, but McCoughtry was fouled on the ensuing possession by Michelle Snow and hit the game-winners.

Fowles had 20 points and 12 rebounds, and reserve Shay Murphy added 16 points for the Sky.

Erika DeSouza scored 13 points and Sancho Lyttle added 12 for Atlanta.

Fowles had 11 points and Murphy had 10 in the opening half, but Chicago still trailed 40-38 at the break. McCoughtry, the WNBA's No. 2 scorer, had nine first-half points — all in the first quarter — and five rebounds to lead Atlanta.

The Dream led 61-55 following Harding's jumper with 52 seconds left in the third. The Sky answered with a 3-pointer from Cathrine Kraayeveld and Dominique Canty's putback to cut the deficit to 61-60 heading into the fourth.

Kraayeveld hit another 3-pointer 24 seconds into the fourth to give Chicago its first lead since the opening. The Sky moved ahead 69-63 with 7:55 left before Atlanta chipped away and went back ahead for good at 76-74 with 2:42 left.