The Dream are hosting the Tempo on Monday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Atlanta is favored by 14.5 points and this game carries a total of 186.5 points.
Let’s get into my pick and prediction for this contest.
Dream vs. Tempo Preview
The Dream have owned the Tempo this season. Atlanta is 3-0 vs. Toronto and two of these wins have been by 19+ points. The Dream are the No.6 seed at 19-12 and a lock to make the playoffs, while the Tempo are the No.13 seed at 10-21 and guaranteed to be in the lottery. In terms of net rating, Atlanta ranks six, whereas Toronto ranks 14th.
The Dream are coming off a 79-74 loss to the Mystics this past Friday, but this is only Atlanta’s second loss in its last eight. Meanwhile, the Tempo have lost eight in a row and all but one of these defeats have been by double-digits.
The Dream have a strong core of Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada and Allisha Gray, and this group is going to make them a tough out come playoff time. These four players are all healthy right now and Atlanta has a strong chance to move up the standings before the postseason. The Dream are only a half game back of the Fever for the No.4 seed, so taking care of business vs. the Tempo tonight is important.
Toronto continues to be without Brittney Sykes, who has been sidelined since mid-June with a foot injury and the Tempo are 3-13 since she went down. Leading scorer Marina Mabrey, who is averaging a career-high 20.2 PPG, is also dealing with a neck injury right now.
Mabrey has played in the last two after missing one game, but she has been very ineffective by her standards, scoring just 12 and nine points while ranking dead last for the team in plus/minus during this stretch. Mabrey is probable to play tonight and she has had strong moments vs. the Dream this season, scoring 23+ points in 2-of-3 matchups, but it’s hard to have confidence in Mabrey right now with the neck injury clearly bothering her.
Nyara Sabally has come alive with Mabrey hurting, scoring 17+ points in three straight, including 21 points vs. the Valkyries and their league-best defense. Sabally may continue to fill it up as a scorer tonight, which could make the Tempo more competitive, but nonetheless, Toronto’s chances of winning this game are very low.
Dream vs. Tempo Pick, Best Bet
The Dream are a lock to win this game and complete the season sweep over the Tempo. Both these clubs rank inside the top-six in pace this season, making over 186.5 points my preferred bet for this tilt.
Toronto is a league-best 20-11 for the over this season while Atlanta is 17-14. Specifically in away games, the Tempo are notably 12-2 for the over.
