The race for the finish line is expected to go down to the wire, as the sides in the mid-table fight it out for the last few playoff spots.
On Friday evening, a blockbuster clash is on cards when Atlanta Dream takes on New York Liberty in what is a potential knock-out. The records of both the teams are so identical that it all comes down to who flinches first.
The Atlanta Dream carries a significant home advantage with the New York side hoping to pull off an important win, to run clear off their opponents in the table.
Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty: Odds
Platform | Dream | Liberty | Predicted Winner |
FiveThirtyEight | 54% | 46% | Dream |
Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty: Recent Form
The Atlanta Dream have improved massively when compared to the previous season but they might still fall short if they fail to hold on, in the remaining games. They have so far won 14 games in 34 appearances with a home record of 8-9 while they have struggled to find success on the road.
In the last five outings, they managed to register victories against Fever and Sparks while losing to Lynx, Aces and Wings.
On the other hand, the New York Liberty have left everything on the court so far but they will need to win the remaining games to cement their postseason spot. The one thing that’s favoring the Liberty in this contest, is that they have a better conference record when compared to Dream.
They have a balanced record of 5-5 in the last 10 games, but a massive win against the Wings seems to be a confident booster.
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Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty: Head to head
Matches: 7: Dream: 5 Liberty: 2
Last Meeting: Mystics won against Dream by a 92-81 margin on 1st July 2022.
Nevertheless, they are always a fun couple of teams to watch.
Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty: Best Picks
Brittney Sykes
Despite being 5’9, Sykes is a formidable defender. She can guard anyone full court without any problems, and once she has the ball in her hands she shoots and passes with a smoothness not every player possesses. She’s leading the Sparks’ defensive side, and loves the roles she plays for the team.
This season, she is averaging 10.8 points per game along with 3.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds. She has been consistent with her performance throughout.
Sabrina Ionescu
Sabrina Ionescu is the Liberty’s lead scorer this season. She excels at three-point shooting and is very proficient in slashing through the defense to bank in a floater with a little finger-roll. Her speed and athleticism helps her get around the court fast enough to put a pause to defensive plays and turn them into offense.
This season, Ionescu has averaged 17.2 points, 6.2 assists and 7.2 rebounds this season. She seems to be on the way to become this season’s MVP with these stats.
Betnijah Laney
The 2021 All-Star Betnijah Laney is definitely one of the top picks for Sunday’s matchup. She excels at shooting, be it from beyond the arc or under the rim. Displaying extreme athleticism, she can weave through the defense with her layups and deploy a step-back-3 pt shot whenever required.
Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty: Possible Lineup
New York Liberty: Point Guard – Sabrina Ionescu, Shooting Guard – Sami Whitecomb, Small Forward – Betnijah Laney, Power Forward – Natasha Howard, Center – Stefanie Dolson
Atlanta Dream: Guard- Asia Durr | Guard- Erica Wheeler | Forward- Rhune Howard | Forward- Tiffany Hayes | Center– Cheyenne Parker
Atlanta Dream vs New York Liberty: Prediction
It is expected for this match to be a tight one with the outcome being a potential deal-breaker in the lead-up to the postseason. The Dream has got a huge boost as they are playing in their own backyard whereas New York Liberty have the winning momentum going into the clash.
FiveThirtyEight has also stated that this is going down to the last second with just a speck of chance differentiating the teams.
According to Oddschecker, the Atlanta Dream are behind in the clash with odds of 2.10 while the New York Liberty are clearly in the driver seat with better odds of 1.80 to secure their 4th spot in Eastern Conference.
The prediction and betting platforms also predict a win for the home side, Dallas Wings.
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