Two games on Monday's slate, and both were high-scoring affairs that came down to execution in the fourth quarter. Atlanta built an early cushion against Los Angeles and never fully let go of it, riding a complete team effort led by Angel Reese's double-double. And in Minneapolis, Minnesota trailed Phoenix by six entering the fourth quarter before storming back, with Kayla McBride's sixth three-pointer of the night breaking a late tie and delivering the win. Here's how it all went down.

Los Angeles Sparks 92, Atlanta Dream 101

Atlanta jumped out early and built a 14-point lead in the second quarter before Los Angeles chipped away, actually taking the lead briefly in the third. The Dream steadied themselves down the stretch, closing the game out with a balanced attack and a suffocating defensive effort that generated 11 steals and 21 points off Los Angeles's 18 turnovers. Final: 101-92, Atlanta.

Angel Reese was dominant, going 7-of-11 from the field for 23 points at 79.2 percent true shooting with 13 rebounds for a double-double, a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line, and three steals. Allisha Gray added 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, and Jordin Canada orchestrated the offense with 16 points and nine assists against just three turnovers. Madina Okot provided efficient scoring off the bench, going 3-of-4 for nine points. Atlanta's 54 points in the paint and their 70 percent shooting at the rim reflected a team that consistently found the highest-value shots all night.

Los Angeles competed hard and had real individual bright spots. Nneka Ogwumike hit three of five three-point attempts for 19 points with five assists, and Erica Wheeler added 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Rae Burrell shot 5-of-9 for 18 points, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. But Los Angeles's 18 turnovers, converted into 21 Atlanta points, proved too costly, and their 37.5 percent three-point shooting wasn't quite enough to offset the possession battle they lost throughout the second half.

ATL 101 · LAS 92

Phoenix Mercury 100, Minnesota Lynx 104

This game had the feel of a track meet from the opening tip, with both teams shooting over 55 percent from the field and combining for 204 total points. Phoenix controlled most of the night and led by six entering the fourth quarter, but Minnesota stormed back, taking the lead for the first time on an Olivia Miles three-pointer with 7:14 remaining. From there it was pure theater: multiple lead changes and ties, including a deadlock at 98 with just over a minute left, before Kayla McBride buried her sixth three-pointer of the night to put Minnesota ahead for good with 45 seconds to play. Final: 104-100, Minnesota.

Kayla McBride was nearly unstoppable, going 11-of-17 from the field (6-of-11 from three) for 37 points at 88.3 percent true shooting, adding four steals, two blocks, and a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Her efficiency score of 45 was the best of the game by a wide margin, and her sixth three-pointer of the night, with 45 seconds remaining, proved to be the game-winner. Olivia Miles was outstanding as well, scoring 33 points on 10-of-16 shooting (5-of-8 from three) with eight assists, including the go-ahead three that sparked Minnesota's fourth-quarter comeback with 7:14 to play. Natasha Howard added 13 points and seven assists. Minnesota's 92.3 percent free throw shooting as a team was a crucial factor in a game decided by four points, and their 41.4 percent three-point shooting kept pace with a red-hot Phoenix offense all night.

Phoenix fought until the final buzzer and nearly pulled off the upset. Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting (60 percent from three), and Alyssa Thomas posted a double-double with 19 points and 12 assists, though four turnovers were costly. DeWanna Bonner added 17 points and nine rebounds, and Monique Akoa Makani chipped in 17 points on efficient shooting. Phoenix shot 44 percent from three as a team and generated 28 assists on 35 made field goals, an impressively cohesive offensive performance that simply wasn't enough to overcome Minnesota's clutch shooting down the stretch.

MIN 104 · PHO 100

Monday's two games both delivered offense-heavy showcases with real defensive stakes attached. Atlanta's balanced attack and takeaway-driven defense proved to be the difference against a Los Angeles team that competed hard throughout. And Minnesota survived one of the more entertaining shootouts of the season, with McBride's 37-point night standing out as one of the best individual scoring performances by any player this year, even in a game where Phoenix matched them shot for shot for long stretches.

Star of the Night: Kayla McBride, Minnesota Lynx

37 points | 11-of-17 FG | 6-of-11 from three | 9-of-9 FT | 88.3% true shooting | 4 steals | 2 blocks | Efficiency score 45 | Game-winning three with 45 seconds left

McBride's shooting was nearly flawless in a game that saw six lead changes and a late tie at 98, and it was her sixth three-pointer of the night that put Minnesota ahead for good. Her ability to score from all three levels while also contributing defensively made her the best player on the floor in one of the most dramatic finishes of the season.

Dud of the Night: Dearica Hamby, Los Angeles Sparks

12 points | 6-of-11 FG | 5 turnovers | 36 minutes | 0.4 assist-to-turnover ratio

Hamby logged heavy minutes in a close game and finished with five turnovers against just two assists, a costly ratio in a contest decided by nine points. Her turnovers directly fueled some of Atlanta's 21 points off giveaways, and in a game Los Angeles needed to stay disciplined with the ball to keep pace, Hamby's night was the clearest individual example of where those extra Atlanta possessions came from.