The Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks meet Wednesday night at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, GA. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET with playoff implications on the line.
Atlanta enters at 26-14 and sits first in the East standings. Los Angeles is 19-20 and currently sixth in the West, still battling for a postseason spot. The two teams last played on May 27, when Atlanta earned an 88-82 road win over the Sparks.
Dream Preview – Protecting Home Court
Atlanta has been one of the top teams in the league this year and has set a franchise record for single-season wins. They are 13-6 at home and are tied with Las Vegas for the league’s second-best overall record. They’ve won four of their last five games, including a 93-76 road win over Connecticut in their last outing.
Offensively, Allisha Gray leads the team with 18.6 points per game, followed by Rhyne Howard at 16.8. Howard was sharp against the Sun, dropping 23 points while shooting 50% from the field. Naz Hillmon added 17 points and six assists in that game, showing Atlanta’s depth behind their stars.
On defense, the Dream allow 77.1 points per game, which ranks among the league’s best. They hold opponents to 43.3% shooting and 32.8% from three. Atlanta’s ability to control the perimeter is a strength, allowing just 6.7 made threes per game, the fewest in the league.
Sparks Preview – Pushing for Playoffs
The Sparks are still trying to push their way into the postseason, sitting 1.5 games behind the Storm and Fever for the final playoff spots. Los Angeles has won two in a row, including a key 91-85 win over Seattle on Monday. They now head to Atlanta for back-to-back games against the Dream.
Dearica Hamby is playing at a high level, averaging 18.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. She dominated the Storm with 27 points and 11 boards. Kelsey Plum continues to lead the Sparks in scoring at 19.9 points per game, while Rickea Jackson is another reliable option who scored 23 against Seattle.
Los Angeles averages 86.0 points per game on 46.2% shooting, ranking second in the league. They are also among the top three-point shooting teams at 34.8%. However, turnovers remain an issue as they commit 15.6 per game, which has cost them in close contests this season.
Betting Prediction
Oddsmakers have Atlanta as a 6.5-point home favorite with the total set at 168.5. Atlanta has been strong against the spread this season, posting a 24-15-1 record, while Los Angeles is just 16-22-1 ATS. The Sparks trend toward high-scoring games with a 25-13-1 Over record, while the Dream are more balanced at 18-20-2 on totals.
Recent head-to-head results show Atlanta winning seven of the last ten matchups. The Over has hit in seven of those contests, though Atlanta’s defense may keep this one tighter. With both teams motivated, expect a competitive game early, but Atlanta’s depth and defense should carry them. Predicted final score: Atlanta 85, Los Angeles 77.
Pick: Dream -6.5
