Kahleah Copper decided the matchup against Dallas, finishing with a game-high 31 points and scoring the go-ahead layup for an 87-86 lead. Alyssa Thomas found Copper for the deciding layup, connecting the night's leading scorer with the game's decisive possession. The finish made Copper the central figure in both the scoring column and the closing sequence. The 87-86 margin reflects a game settled entirely in the closing action.

What happened

Copper carried the scoring load against Dallas and finished with a game-high 31 points. The output held as the highest total in the game, setting up a final possession with the result still in question. Dallas remained within one possession into the closing sequence, leaving the outcome to the last action.

Thomas found Copper for the deciding layup that produced the 87-86 advantage. The connection moved directly from Thomas to Copper for the go-ahead score. That layup stands as the deciding basket in the one-point result.

Why it matters

The finish centers Copper as the late-game option in close games. The role was defined by possession and production aligning on the same player in the final sequence. A game-high scorer taking the deciding action establishes a clear closing hierarchy. The closing possession reinforced that positioning.

A 30-point night decided in the final possession carries standings weight in the 2026 regular season. Results settled by a single possession hold added importance across the schedule. Closing a 31-point performance with the go-ahead basket links individual production to the final margin.

By the numbers

Copper: 31 points, the game high. The total marks a 30-point night capped by the decisive score. The go-ahead layup accounts for the 87-86 lead.

The margin reflects a one-point game decided on the final possession. The deciding connection went from Thomas to Copper for the layup. The sequence ties the scoring lead directly to the final margin.

What to watch next

Watch how Dallas defends Copper without help on the next late possession. The question is whether that coverage can disrupt the Thomas-to-Copper connection. A repeat of the deciding layup would test the adjustment.

The late-game option designation now travels with Copper into the next close game. Dallas must account for Copper on the final possession. The next closing sequence will show whether the outcome moves elsewhere. The focus remains on the late possession without additional help.