The shot chart was cold. The free-throw line was perfect. Paige Bueckers spent Friday night keeping Dallas alive with everything except the jumper that usually defines her.
Golden State still walked off Chase Center with a 77-73 win and a 2-1 first-round series victory, the Valkyries' first playoff series win in franchise history. Bueckers finished with 17 points, six assists, two steals and two blocks in 38 minutes - a full defensive and facilitating night that could not outlast Gabby Williams' fourth-quarter closer.
Perfect from the stripe, searching from the floor
Per ESPN's box score, Bueckers was 3-of-14 from the field and 1-of-4 from three, but 10-of-10 at the free-throw line. She grabbed one rebound and finished a minus-2 in a game Dallas led by as many as 16 in the third quarter.
Ten made free throws in an elimination road game is how a guard stays on the floor when the midrange and the threes are not falling. Six assists are how she still shaped possessions while Arike Ogunbowale hunted her own 30-point night.
The Valkyries' recap and ESPN's story both framed the swing around Golden State's recovery from an 18-0 Wings stretch that bridged halftime and the third. Veronica Burton's deep three over Bueckers ended a 0-for-9 Golden State start to the period. From there the Valkyries chipped the lead to five entering the fourth and outscored Dallas 23-14 in the final frame.
Playmaking when the series needed a pass
Bueckers' Game 2 heroics were assists on Ogunbowale's tying corner three and overtime opener. Friday asked for a different skill set: absorb contact, make every free throw, and keep the Wings organized while Golden State's bench (31 points to Dallas' eight) flipped the energy. Ogunbowale still produced a personal 7-0 burst that put Dallas up five with 3:13 left.
Williams answered with consecutive baskets, a go-ahead 17-footer around the 1:17 mark, and four free throws to seal it.
