We have one more day to go before the FIBA World Cup break. But neither the Minnesota Lynx nor the Atlanta Dream can afford to coast into the two-week hiatus. Both have clinched their WNBA playoff spots, but still have to fight for seeding. That makes this star-studded affair all the more compelling.
The Lynx enter as 2.5-point home favorites with -130 Moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Dream are +110 underdogs, with the game total set at 179.5 points.
Let’s dive into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Lynx-Dream matchup.
Lynx vs. Dream Preview
It has been more than three months since these two teams faced off. They tipped off their seasons against one another, with the Dream winning a tight 91-90 game. Later that month, the Lynx exacted their revenge, winning 96-81 at home. Now we come to the rubber match for the season series between these two contenders.
Allisha Gray has been both a bucket and a problem against the Lynx this season. She’s the only player on the Dream to score 20+ points in both matchups, scoring 45 total. The combination of her elite perimeter shotmaking and scoring off the drive proved a lot for this vaunted Lynx defense to handle. Atlanta will need her buckets to get going here, and the Lynx will be hell-bent on stopping her.
Minnesota’s key to victory in the second matchup was a balanced attack. After getting only two double-digit scoring nights from their starters in the first game, all five Lynx in the starting lineup scored 10+ in the second. Getting that kind of performance against a strong Dream defense is no small feat. And this time around, they have Napheesa Collier in the fold. Phee’s return from her ankle injury has gone swimmingly, and her chemistry with fellow superstar Olivia Miles grows by the day.
If Minnesota wants to win on the road, Miles has to be the connective tissue. Find Kayla McBride openings to get off three-pointers. Put Napheesa and Natasha Howard in good spots in the paint. Defer to Courtney Williams when she’s feeling her shot. For a rookie, she’s surprisingly adept at reading what her teammates need most. The pressure to do so is heightened against this Dream defense.
Angel Reese finds herself in a crucial position here. Already the anchor of Atlanta’s defense, the league’s top rebounder will have her hands full with Collier. First things first, Reese needs to ensure she wins the rebounding battle over the former DPOY. Lately, that hasn’t been an issue for Reese; she has 13 straight games with double-digit rebounds, averaging a whopping 14.3 boards per night. If she can tip the possession battle in Atlanta’s favor, that gives them a real leg up.
Lynx vs. Dream Pick, Best Bet
Courtney Williams’ possible absence looms large over this game. However, I’m not too concerned. Minnesota has beaten the best of the best while shorthanded throughout the entire season, and if Williams is out, they won’t fret. And if she does play, it’s another dangerous scorer and defender for Atlanta to contend with. I’ll take the all-around better team on the road, putting the Lynx on the brink of clinching the top seed in the playoffs.
