We’re at the end of a home-and-away series between the Dream and the Fever. The Dream managed to win the first game on the road, taking it by just one point. Now, only two days later, these teams face off in Atlanta, with their records evened up. We’ll see if the Fever can bounce back or if Atlanta will prove their dominance.
Sophie Cunningham Questionable
Jordin Canada Out
It’s not often that we see two teams play each other back-to-back, but this game couldn’t have come at a better time. After a razor-thin loss at home, the Fever have a chance to rebound and prove themselves against the Dream. However, they’ll have to do it on the road this time, which makes this matchup even more interesting.
The last game between these two ended 91-90 on Tuesday. With solid performances on both sides, this game was all about the starters. Clark, Mitchell, and Boston were all terrific; they shot a combined 56% from the field. Clark, in particular, was a force all over the court. She was hitting threes, finding the open shooter, and taking it to the rim. It was an impressive performance, only marred by their inability to close the game out in the fourth quarter. They allowed Atlanta to come back and outscore them by 10 in that quarter, showcasing a complete offensive collapse. I don’t expect to see that again tonight!
Atlanta, on the other hand, managed to claw their way back into the game mainly through the free-throw line. They had 32 free throws, but they were well-earned. They did a fantastic job of penetrating the Fever’s defense and attacking the rim. Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner excelled at forcing the action down low with their size. Even with the team struggling from three-point range, shooting only 26%, their interior play became the winning factor.
In tonight's game, we need to see that post dominance again. If the Dream’s forwards can continue to battle down low, get to the line, and find easy points at the rim, the Fever will be in trouble. They lack strong counters in the post against the Dream and will have to rely on their shooting to stay competitive. However, they do have Clark, who isn’t known for taking losses lightly. I expect to see her step up tonight, even after her exceptional performance on Tuesday.
This is going to be another close game for sure. However, I can’t shake how dominant the Dream were in the post. I’m always a sucker for a team that can score consistently with high-percentage shots and at the line, which is exactly what the Dream are built to do. I don’t expect them to find themselves in nearly the same hole as last time, and if the Fever don’t have another stellar shooting night, I think this matchup leans toward the Dream. That’s why I’m taking the Dream moneyline tonight, the over on 173.5 points, and the Dream spread at +4.5.
Money line: IND (-192) / ATL (+160)
Total Points: 173.5
Spread: -4.5 IND (-115) / +4.5 ATL (-105)
It’s hard not to take the over when you see a Clark line, and tonight is no different. We just saw her drop 27 on the Dream a couple of days ago, so with the line still at 22.5, the over looks enticing. Considering she is still the primary shot taker and is hitting at an insane rate early in the season, this line appears promising!
Griner was exceptional in the game against the Fever on Tuesday. She dominated the post and shot an impressive 8-13, with a few free throws added in, finishing with 21 points. She did experience a higher workload than usual in that game, but now playing at home, I expect Griner to excel in the post once again. With the line set at 17.5, the over fits her style perfectly.
We’ve seen Howard's rebounding game consistently improve throughout her career. Averaging nearly 7 boards a game last year and 8 the year before, she’s well on her way to hitting those numbers again. Snagging 9 boards in their last game against the Dream, she was crucial in defending the paint. Considering how vital post defense was in that game, I expect Howard to have another solid stint on the court, giving her an excellent opportunity to collect some boards.
Gray played a key role in Tuesday's game for the Dream. She had a solid shot volume that was essential in spreading the floor for the bigs. She made three threes in that game, but more importantly, she attempted ten shots in both of their regular-season games this year. If she sees a similar volume tonight, the over should look excellent.