Minnesota Lynx vs. Atlanta Dream Prediction, Preview and Odds - 6/23/21
There's an interconference matchup on the WNBA hardwood down in Hotlanta. The Minnesota Lynx are on the road as they make the trip to face the Atlanta Dream Wednesday night. Minnesota comes in off a 95-77 road loss to Dallas Saturday night to earn a split of their two-game set. Atlanta was dropped 96-93 on the road by Washington as they split a home-and-home series Thursday night in their most recent contest. The Lynx swept a two-game home set earlier this season, taking an 86-84 victory on June 4 and following up with a 100-80 win on June 6. That gave Minnesota four wins in the last five meetings between the teams.
Minnesota Lynx Hoping to Bounce Back
Minnesota ended up with a split of their two-game set with Dallas on the road as they were drubbed soundly in Saturday’s contest. The Lynx dropped to 5-7 on the year and held the ninth seed in the WNBA playoff picture, half a game behind the Mercury for the final playoff spot. Minnesota led by three early on before giving up a 14-2 run that put them in an 18-9 hole with 3:46 to play in the opening quarter. The Lynx never got closer than six after that: they were down 15 after the opening quarter, by 20 at the half and by as many as 25 in the loss. Minnesota shot 40.3% from the field, including 11 of 27 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 40-26. Napheesa Collier (six rebounds) and Crystal Dangerfield each had 17 points to lead the Lynx in a losing effort.
On the season, the Lynx are 6th in the league in scoring offense with an average of 81.4 points per game. Minnesota is 10th in rebounding as they collect 34.4 boards a night while the team is fifth in assists by dishing 19.5 dimes a night. The Lynx are eighth in the league in scoring defense as they give up an average of 82.9 points per contest this season. Sylvia Fowles is second on the team with 15.6 points plus 8.8 rebounds per contest. Kayla McBride (12.9 points), Crystal Dangerfield (11.1 points, 3.8 assists) and Aerial Powers (10 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists) are solid secondary scoring options. Damiris Dantas, Napheesa Collier (17.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists), Jessica Shepard, Layshia Clarendon (7.5 points, 4.8 assists), Bridget Carleton, Rachael Banham, Natalie Achonwa and Linnae Harper are looked at to be contributors for coach Cheryl Reeve. Minnesota stands fourth in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 43.3% from the field as a team this year. The Lynx are 8th in the league in three-pointers per game (7.3) and 6th in three-point shooting as they hit 34.1% of their attempts from beyond the arc. Minnesota is 5th in the league in free throw shooting as they hit 81.2% of their attempts at the charity stripe. Powers is out eight to 10 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery June 18 for a torn UCL. Shepard (groin), Achonwa (knee) and Rennia Davis (foot) are out indefinitely at this point in time.
Atlanta Dream Looking to Regroup Despite Losing Hayes
Atlanta ended up with a split of their home-and-home set with Washington as they were edged on the road Thursday night. The Dream fell to 5-7 on the season with the loss and stand 11th in the WNBA playoff picture, half a game behind the Mercury for the final playoff spot. Atlanta led 8-2 early and was up as many as 11 in the first quarter before seeing their lead trimmed to eight after one quarter. Their lead remained eight at the half and the Dream extended to a 14-point lead early in the third quarter before seeing the lead trimmed to two at the end of three. Atlanta re-extended to an eight-point edge with six minutes to play only to give up a 14-2 run that left them down 86-82 with 2:46 to go. The Dream couldn’t get closer than one the rest of the way and took the loss. Atlanta shot 48.6% from the field, including eight of 27 from three-point range, and won the rebounding battle 37-31 yet fell short. Odyssey Sims led the Dream with 22 points and seven assists in the loss.
The Dream is 4th in the league in scoring offense coming into this contest as they average 84.3 points a game this season. Atlanta is 8th in the league in rebounding (35.2 boards a night) and stands 8th in assists with an average of 18.2 per game. The Dream are 11th in the league in scoring defense as they allow an average of 87.3 points a contest this season. Tiffany Hayes is one of three players for the Dream scoring in double figures as she puts up 17.6 points a night. Chennedy Carter contributes 15.7 points plus 3.5 assists per contest. Odyssey Sims, Crystal Bradford, Tianna Hawkins, Elizabeth Williams, Monique Billings, Courtney Williams (16.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists), Aari McDonald, Cheyenne Parker and Shekinna Strickland are other key rotation pieces for coach Nicki Collen. The Dream are 7th in field goal percentage as they shoot 42.3% from the floor as a team. Atlanta stands seventh in threes per game (7.4) and 8th in three-point percentage as they hit 34% of their long-range attempts. The Dream is 12th in the league in free throw percentage as they shoot 72.8% from the stripe as a team this year. Carter (elbow) is expected to return to action here after getting injured in the game against the Liberty on May 29. She has missed the last six games. Hayes is out four to six weeks with a Grade 2 tear in her MCL that she sustained on June 17 against Washington.
Pick: Minnesota Lynx
This one is based heavily on the fact that while the Dream may be getting Carter back after a six-game absence, they lost Hayes against Washington. Losing your leading scorer is a blow for any team and it remains to be seen who can step up and deliver for Atlanta. Minnesota beat Atlanta twice at home already this season and, while they are shorthanded themselves, they do still have the 1-2 punch of Fowles and Collier leading the way. The Lynx are better defensively and we know how poorly Atlanta has played on the defensive end of the floor. Minnesota takes care of business and earns their third win in as many meetings over the Dream here.
Total: Over
The first two meetings this season saw the teams combine for 170 and 180 points. Those easily went over the totals of 161.5 and 162.5 points, respectively. We’ve seen each of the last three meetings and four of the last five contests between these teams wind up over the total. On the season, Minnesota has seen the over hit in seven of their 12 games, including five of their last seven contests. Atlanta has seen the over hit in seven of their 12 games as well though they’ve been an over machine of late. Seven of the last nine games for the Dream have wound up over the total after the first three contests fell short of the mark. With Atlanta’s poor defense and the track record we’ve seen when these teams meet, this one goes over the total.
