The Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream meet again Thursday night at State Farm Arena. This is a quick rematch after a close game two days earlier. Atlanta won that first game 91-90, thanks to clutch free throws by Rhyne Howard in the final seconds.
Both teams are 1-1 on the season. Indiana opened with a big win over Chicago before the narrow loss to Atlanta. The Dream bounced back from a season-opening loss to beat Indiana for their first win under new head coach Karl Smesko.
Dream Preview – Frontcourt Duo Setting the Tone
Atlanta leaned on Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones in Game 1 of this back-to-back set. Griner scored 21 points and added 8 rebounds. Jones chipped in 19 points and grabbed 13 boards. The two have been strong through the first two games, averaging a combined 37 points and 19.5 rebounds.
Howard added 20 points and hit the game-winning free throws. She also had 3 steals and was active on both ends. Point guard Aari Gray contributed 16 points and 6 assists. Even with Jordin Canada out, the Dream have found enough balance to stay competitive.
Atlanta is shooting 47.6% from the field, fifth-best in the league. They’ve also hit the Over in both games. Defensively, though, they allow 92 points per game, which ranks 11th. The Dream are still building chemistry but have been solid at home and will look to keep pressure on Indiana inside.
Fever Preview – Clark and Boston Carry the Load
Caitlin Clark is averaging 23.5 points and 10.5 assists through two games. She had 27 and 11 in the loss to Atlanta. Her performance included 9 made field goals and a pair of three-pointers. Clark now has ten career games with 20+ points and 10+ assists, tying a league record in just her second year.
Aliyah Boston added 24 points and 10 rebounds in the last game. She’s also averaging 21.5 points and 11.5 rebounds so far. Together with Clark, they form one of the league’s most productive duos. Kelsey Mitchell also had 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, giving the Fever three reliable scoring options.
Indiana shoots 39.5% from three, which ranks second in the league. Their offense is scoring 91.5 points per game, fourth-best overall. On defense, they allow 92 points per game and struggle on the glass, giving up too many second-chance opportunities. Fixing that will be key in the rematch.
Betting Prediction
Indiana enters the game as a 3.5-point road favorite. The total is set at 173.5. Both games for these teams so far have gone Over the total, and both teams rank in the top five in scoring. Neither team has shown consistency on defense yet.
Atlanta is 1-1 against the spread and plays well at home. Indiana is 0-0 on the road this season but looks better on offense. Expect another close game. The Dream’s size gives them an edge in the paint, but Indiana’s guard play may be too much. Clark and Boston should bounce back with better execution late. Predicted final: Indiana 93, Atlanta 87.
Pick: Indiana -3.5
