Game Day

Instant Takeaways: Fire Erase Storm’s Double-Digit Lead, Spoil Malonga’s Career Night

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Seattle Storm forward Dominique Malonga (14) puts up a layup in the Storm’s 94-89 loss to the Portland Fire on Wednesday, June 17, at the Moda Center. Credit: Courtesy of Seattle Storm [/caption]

Dominique Malonga’s career night, the Storm’s best offensive game of the season and a formerly 12-point lead were spoiled by the Portland Fire in a 94-89 loss on Wednesday, June 17, at the Moda Center.

Malonga totaled a career-high 28 points (12 for 19 FG) and 11 rebounds to lead the Storm. Seattle shot 48% from the field, which is well above their season average, but they allowed the Fire to sink 17 triples and attempt eight more free throws — both of which massively influenced the result.

The first three quarters were excellent for the Storm, but they fell back to Earth in the fourth quarter and fumbled away a should-be victory.

Here’s what we learned from the Storm’s ninth-straight loss on Wednesday.

A promising start

Natisha Hiedeman and Malonga carried the first quarter for the Storm. The duo combined for 17 of Seattle’s 23 first-quarter points, and they helped carry the team back from an early nine-point deficit.

All of Hiedeman’s nine points came from 3-point range, keeping pace with the Fire, who were hot from that area to begin the game. It remained back and forth into the second quarter with both teams trading buckets.

The Storm, in uncharacteristic fashion, was especially efficient in the first two quarters. They converted 55% of their shots, and that made up for the Fire pulling down four more offensive rebounds. That was well above their season average of 40.5% shooting from the field.

Portland had a very balanced approach in the opening half. Nine players scored for Portland as opposed to the Storm’s six. It was still mostly Hiedeman and Malonga throughout the opening half for the Storm, and that duo combined for 27 first-half points as Seattle led 48-47 at halftime.

Seattle was efficient in transition, and they scored 20 first-half points in the paint in addition to their five 3-pointers. That balance has been rare for the Storm so far this season, but they found it early against the Fire.

Fumbling a sizable lead

Malonga began taking over in the third quarter, and she remained extremely efficient. It was the kind of game the Storm have been looking to get from her since she returned from her eight-game absence with a concussion.

Portland isn’t a strong defensive team, ranking 11th in points per game allowed (88.0). But that doesn’t take away from the Storm finally playing up to their competition, whereas they’ve previously looked the part of a 3-12 offensive team.

The Storm built up a lead that peaked at 12 points. Seattle was as confident as it has been in a long time while in an eight-game losing skid. Even if the Storm wasn’t quite living up to their first-half shooting efficiency, it was still their best offensive game of the season.

Portland, however, wasn’t ready to roll over.

In the fourth quarter, it was all Fire. Portland used a 10-0 run spanning more than 2.5 minutes to take a five-point lead late in the final period. The Storm needed a bucket with 7.1 seconds remaining, but it was off. The Fire got the rebound and ran out the clock.

After outscoring Portland in two of the first three quarters, a 27-15 difference in the fourth quarter made all the difference in the game.

Hiedeman added 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and a steal for the Storm. Awa Fam tied her career high of 18 points, five rebounds, one assist and a block.

Malonga’s stellar night

In addition to her double-double, Malonga totaled three assists, two steals and two blocks. She didn’t foul a single time and had just one turnover. It was inarguably the best game of the former No. 2 overall pick’s short career.

Hiedeman, as good as she was, had some blemishes on her performance. She turned it over five times. Malonga was nearly spotless in her performance, and that’s why the Storm will continue to look to her as their No. 1 scoring option moving forward.

Malonga has been great offensively, but this was the first time the Storm saw her potential to take over a game and nearly will them to victory. It wasn’t enough, but the potential is growing.

Slimmer rotation

Jordan Horston missed the game against the Fire with a foot injury, and Jade Melbourne (career-high eight assists) took her place in the starting lineup. All five starters played more than 22 minutes, and three played 30 or more. Only Zia Cooke (23 minutes) played more than 11 minutes off the bench.

That was much different from the approach head coach Sonia Raman has employed for most of the season, which has relied on frequent rotations and a relatively balanced amount of playing time for most of the lineup.

Needless to say, it worked for the Storm much better than the wider lineup did. Sure, they couldn’t close it out, but the overall efficiency was encouraging. Keep Malonga, Fam and Hiedeman on the court more and let the bench come in to aid tired legs.