Atlanta Dream vs. Dallas Wings Prediction, Preview and Odds - 9/5/21
It’s an interconference battle on the parquet floor as a pair of WNBA teams do battle in the Lone Star State. The Atlanta Dream are on the road as they travel to face the Dallas Wings in the second game of a two-game set Sunday afternoon. In the first game of the series Thursday night, it was Dallas clawing out a 72-68 victory to assure no worse than a split of the two games. That victory evened the series as the Dream took a 101-95 victory in the first meeting this season at home on May 27 before the Wings squared things up Thursday. Which team gets the upper hand in the season series by prevailing here? We give you the insight you need to hit a winner.
Atlanta Dream Dropping in WNBA Standings
Atlanta lost their 11th straight game and their 18th in their last 20 games as they were knocked off in the first game of this two-game set Thursday night. The Dream fell to 6-20 on the season and entered Saturday in the basement of the WNBA standings, four games behind the Mystics for the final playoff spot. On Thursday, Atlanta surrendered an early 12-0 run to trail 15-4 in the opening quarter. The Dream trailed by eight after the opening quarter and by five at the half before taking a three-point lead to the final quarter. Atlanta held a 58-57 lead with 5:04 to play before surrendering an 11-4 run to trail 68-62 with 2:18 to go. They were unable to get back to even again as they took the loss. Atlanta shot 43.1% from the floor, including seven of 21 from three-point range, and lost the battle of the boards 43-34. Courtney Williams led the Dream with 25 points and seven assists in the loss.
The Dream is 8th in the league in scoring offense coming into this contest as they average 80.6 points a game this season. Atlanta is 9th in the league in rebounding (33.7 boards a night) and stands 8th in assists with an average of 18 per game. The Dream are 12th in the league in scoring defense as they allow an average of 86.1 points a contest this season. Tiffany Hayes is one of four players for the Dream scoring in double figures as she puts up 13.8 points a night. Chennedy Carter contributes 14.2 points plus 3.3 assists per contest. Odyssey Sims, Crystal Bradford, Tianna Hawkins, Elizabeth Williams, Monique Billings, Courtney Williams (16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists), Aari McDonald, Cheyenne Parker (10.2 points, 4.5 boards), Candice Dupree and Shekinna Strickland are other key rotation pieces for coach Darius Taylor. The Dream are 9th in field goal percentage as they shoot 41.6% from the floor as a team. Atlanta stands 10th in threes per game (6.6) and 11th in three-point percentage as they hit 31.9% of their long-range attempts. The Dream is 12th in the league in free throw percentage as they shoot 71.5% from the stripe as a team this year. Carter is suspended indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team during the game against the Aces July 4. Parker is out for the year as she announced she was pregnant last month. Bradford (foot) was ruled out for the remainder of the season on August 31. Hawkins (foot) and Dupree (back) both missed Thursday’s game and are questionable for this contest.
Dallas Wings Looking to Solidify Playoff Position
Dallas managed to survive a back-and-forth contest with Atlanta as they picked up the victory with a solid performance down the stretch. The Wings improved to 12-15 on the year and entered Saturday seventh in the WNBA playoff picture, two games clear of the Liberty to remain on the right side of the cut line. Dallas used an early 12-0 run to take an 11-point lead in the opening quarter and remained up eight after one. The Wings held a five-point edge at the half, trailed by three after three quarters and were down one midway through the fourth before reeling off a critical 11-4 run to take a six-point edge with 2:18 to play. Dallas hit their free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win. The Wings shot 36.5% from the field, including six of 28 from three-point range, and controlled the glass by a 43-34 margin. Allisha Gray led four Dallas players in double figures with 19 points in the win.
The Wings come into this one fourth in the league in scoring with 82.9 points per game this season. Dallas is fourth in rebounding (36.4 boards per contest) but rank 10th in the league in assists with 17.7 per game. The Wings are struggling defensively, ranking 8th by allowing 82.1 points per contest. Arike Ogunbowale (19 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists) is one of five players scoring in double figures for the Wings this season. Allisha Gray (11.9 points), Marina Mabrey (12.9 points, four rebounds, 2.7 assists), Isabelle Harrison (10.8 points, six rebounds) and Kayla Thornton (7.5 points, 5.7 rebounds) are all capable scoring options as well. Charli Collier, Tyasha Harris, Chelsea Dungee, Awak Kuier, Moriah Jefferson, Satou Sabally (12.4 points, 6.3 boards), Dana Evans and Bella Alarie all can be looked to for minutes for coach Vickie Johnson. The Wings are seventh in the league in field goal percentage as they hit 42.8% as a team. Dallas is fourth in three-pointers per game (8.1) and stand fourth in the league in three-point shooting as they hit 36% from long range. The Wings are fourth in free throw shooting as they convert 83.2% of their chances at the stripe. Sabally (Achilles) missed the last four games and is questionable for this contest.
Atlanta has dropped 18 of their last 20 games and took another blow with the loss of Bradford for the rest of the season with a Jones fracture in her foot. With Hawkins and Dupree as question marks for this contest, you have to be concerned about depth and scoring options. Hayes has really struggled when it comes to putting points on the board since she returned from a knee injury. She has just 13 points combined over 74 minutes in the four games since her return. Dallas hopes to have Sabally back but they won without her Thursday night. Given how Atlanta has struggled to get things done after their decent start, you have to fade them here and back the Wings as they earn the victory.
Total: Under
We saw the teams combine for 196 points in the first meeting back in late May when the season was in its early stages. Thursday’s game was a marked difference with a combined 140 points on the board as injuries took their toll on both sides. Atlanta is the league’s worst team in scoring defense, field goal percentage defense (47%) and in three-point field goal percentage defense (39.1%) this season. That plays to Dallas’ strengths as the Wings are more than capable of putting up a hefty point total on any given night. With that said, the Dream have turned in five straight unders while Dallas has seen the under hit in five of their last six games. Look for this one to end up short of the mark as well.
