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Maya Moore Drops 48 Points on Dream



Earlier this week, Maya Moore took time out of her very busy July schedule to score 48 points — the second most in WNBA history.

On Tuesday night, Moore led her Minnesota Lynx in a double-overtime win against the Atlanta Dream, 112-108. Moore made 16 of 30 attempts and went 7-9 from the three-point line. Her huge night gave her the second highest points total in league history, behind Riquna Williams’ 51 points last season for the Tulsa Shock. (Moore's stat line also included 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block.)

Her mindset was simple: “If it’s my shot and I’m open, shoot the ball,” Moore said. “If it’s not, pass to an open teammate.”

She started the night passing to teammates. One of Moore’s first assists was delivered to teammate Rebekkah Brunson. Despite missing the first 23 games of the WNBA season, Brunson ended the night with 17 points and 12 rebounds in her first game back from knee surgery.

Moore’s career high came days after she was named Best WNBA Player at the ESPY Awards and appeared in her third All-Star game in four seasons. In the All-Star game in Phoenix, she scored 24 points for the West in the first-ever WNBA All-Star Game to go to OT.

This isn’t just a streak of high-scoring games. Moore leads the league in scoring this season with 25.1 points per game. In 10 contests this year, she has scored 30 or more points, which ties a league record with 10 more games still to go in the 2014 season.



Moore has a reputation as one of the best players in the league. But even more remarkable is her consistent performance. Moore had the Dream’s full attention throughout the game, according to Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve.

“That’s what’s impressive,” Reeve said. “They’re not trying to let her drop 48 points on their heads.”

But she did it anyway. And even after putting up career-best numbers, Moore looked at her performance as if it were any other day on the court.

“Sometimes they go in,” she said. “And sometimes they don’t.” 

Photos: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

maya moore minnesota lynx atlanta dream 48 points
maya moore minnesota lynx atlanta dream 48 points