Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever Prediction, Preview and Odds - 5/21/21
It’s an early-season matchup on the hardwood in the Hoosier State between a pair of Eastern Conference teams. The Atlanta Dream are on the road as they make the trip to face the Indiana Fever Friday night. Atlanta was dropped 85-77 at home by Chicago in their most recent game Wednesday night. Indiana was walloped 88-67 on the road by Connecticut Wednesday night in their most recent game. Last season, the teams met twice with each team prevailing at home. In the most recent matchup, it was the Dream taking a 102-90 home victory in Hotlanta on September 1, 2020. The home team has won nine of the last 10 meetings.
Atlanta Dream Trying to Break Through With First Win
Atlanta dropped their second straight to open the season as they were dumped at home by Chicago. The Dream now go on the road hoping to earn their first win of the year as they entered Thursday fourth in the Eastern Conference standings and 10th in the overall standings: only the top eight teams make the playoffs. On Wednesday, Atlanta dug too deep a hole in the first half to come back from. The Dream trailed by 11 after the opening quarter, by as many as 23 in the second quarter and by 20 at the half. Atlanta stormed back to make a game of it, getting within 70-69 with 3:51 to play before giving up an 8-2 run to trail 78-71 with 1:28 to go. That left the Dream out of gas and out of time in the loss. Atlanta shot 39% from the field, including five of 23 from three-point range, lost the rebounding battle 47-35 and hurt themselves by clanking half of their 24 free throws. Courtney Williams led the Dream with 24 points and eight boards in a losing effort.
The Dream is 10th in the league in scoring offense coming into this contest as they average 72 points a game this season. Atlanta is 11th in the league in rebounding (30.5 boards a night) and stands tied for 9th in assists with an average of 15 per game. The Dream are eighth in the league in scoring defense as they allow an average of 81.5 points a contest this season. Courtney Williams leads the team and is one of the two players for the Dream scoring in double figures as she puts up 19 points plus six boards a night. Chennedy Carter contributes 15.5 points plus four assists per contest. Odyssey Sims, Crystal Bradford, Tianna Hawkins, Elizabeth Williams, Monique Billings, Tiffany Hayes, Aari McDonald and Shekinna Strickland are other key rotation pieces for coach Nicki Collen. The Dream are ninth in field goal percentage as they shoot only 37.6% from the floor as a team. Atlanta stands tied for 10th in threes per game (four) and 9th in three-point percentage as they hit a meager 24.2% of their long-range attempts. The Dream is also 11th in the league in free throw percentage as they shoot 66.7% from the stripe as a team this year.
Indiana Fever Hoping to Prevail at Home
Indiana was clubbed on the road by Connecticut in their most recent game as they remain winless on the season. The Fever enters this one 0-3 overall and sits last in the Eastern Conference, not to mention the league, going into Thursday’s action. Against Connecticut, Indiana led 13-5 early in the first quarter before things started to slip away. The Fever trailed by six after the opening quarter, by 17 at the half and by as many as 28 in the second half en route to the loss. Indiana shot only 36.7% from the floor, including four of 15 from three-point range, lost the rebounding battle 38-31 and allowed Connecticut to shoot 55.2% in the game. Danielle Robinson led the Fever with 12 points in the loss.
The Fever comes into this game ninth in the league in scoring offense with 73 points per game. Indiana is sixth in the league in rebounding (38.7 boards per contest) and is second-last in the league in assists with an average of 14.3 per game. The Fever are 9th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 83.7 points a night. Kelsey Mitchell leads three Fever players averaging in double figures with 16 points a night. Teaira McCowan (12 points, 10.7 rebounds, two blocks) and Danielle Robinson (10.3 points, four assists) are the others. Tiffany Mitchell, Jantel Lavender, Bernadett Hatar, Victoria Vivians, Jessica Breland, Lindsey Allen, Kysre Gondrezick and Chelsey Perry are looked at to contribute for coach Pokey Chatman. Indiana is 10th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 37.2% as a team on the year. The Fever are 10th in threes per game (5.6) while standing 11th by hitting a putrid 18.5% of their long-range attempts. Indiana is seventh in free throw shooting as they sink 77.1% of their chances at the stripe this season.
Pick: Indiana Fever -3
Neither team has been overly awe-inspiring in the early going this season. Atlanta lost by 11 at home to Connecticut and by eight at home to Chicago. Meanwhile, Indiana dropped both ends of a home-and-home with the Liberty, falling by three on the road and by eight at home before getting clobbered by 21 in their road loss to Connecticut. Both teams have had their issues when it comes to shooting the ball, especially from the perimeter, but Indiana has been solid at the free-throw line this season, which is something that the Dream has struggled with so far this year. With the home team winning nine of the last 10 meetings and both teams winless coming in, lean slightly toward the Fever as they earn the home win here.
