The Atlanta Dream are getting healthy and making a playoff push.
The Dream (10-17) lost their final eight games before the break for the Paris Olympics, but they are 3-0 since as they prepare to host the Phoenix Mercury on Friday in College Park, Ga.
Atlanta beat the visiting Mercury 72-63 on Wednesday to pull within one game of the Chicago Sky for the final playoff spot.
Fellow guards Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada are healthy after missing 10 games and 20 games, respectively, this season.
Atlanta center Tina Charles had 12 points Wednesday to pass Tina Thompson as the No. 2 scorer in NBA history. She added a season-high 17 rebounds and the Dream had a 47-33 advantage on the boards, including a 16-3 edge in offensive rebounds.
Atlanta held a 19-6 lead after holding Phoenix (15-14) to its lowest first-quarter point total this season.
Kahleah Copper scored a game-high 22 points for Phoenix and Brittney Griner added 14 points and eight rebounds, but that wasn’t enough to prevent a second loss in three games. Phoenix sits in sixth place in the standings.
