COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Rhyne Howard had 23 points and eight assists, Allisha Gray added 20 points and the Atlanta Dream beat the Phoenix Mercury 96-82 on Wednesday night. Howard made five of Atlanta’s 14 3-pointers, while Phoenix was just 7 for 24 (29%). Kelsey Plum scored 19 points in her first start for Phoenix (12-20), which never led. Alyssa Thomas scored 17 points, and DeWanna Bonner had 11 points and 11 rebounds. She finished the first half with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting and Howard added 15 to help Atlanta build a 54-47 lead.