The Minnesota Lynx travel to Georgia to take on the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena on Thursday night. Minnesota comes in with the best record in the league at 28-7, while Atlanta is 22-13 and pushing for playoff positioning in the East. The Lynx are strong on the road at 11-5, while the Dream have been reliable at home with a 10-5 mark.
These teams last met on July 27, when Atlanta earned a 90-86 road win. Minnesota has controlled much of the series history but the Dream have won two of the last three matchups. With both teams looking at deep postseason runs, this game carries weight for playoff seeding.
Lynx Preview – Looking to Bounce Back
The Lynx had their six-game win streak snapped Tuesday in an 85-75 loss to the Liberty. Minnesota’s starters struggled, with much of the scoring coming from the bench. Napheesa Collier, the league’s leading scorer at 23.5 points per game, has missed five straight games with an ankle injury but could return in this matchup.
Reserves Natisha Hiedeman, DiJonai Carrington, and Maria Kliundikova combined for 38 points in the last outing. That second-unit scoring has kept Minnesota competitive even with Collier sidelined. Still, the Lynx rely heavily on their starting unit to set the tone, and Cheryl Reeve’s group will look to correct their slow start from Tuesday.
Defensively, Minnesota has been one of the league’s best, holding opponents under 78 points per game. They rank top three in steals and blocks, making it tough for teams to score inside or from the perimeter. If Collier is back, the Lynx become even tougher on both ends of the floor.
Dream Preview – Returning Home with Momentum
Atlanta wrapped up a six-game road trip with a close loss to Las Vegas, 74-72. They went 4-2 on that stretch and now return home for a big test against the Lynx. The Dream have already matched their best win total in years and can set a franchise record with two more victories.
Allisha Gray leads the team in scoring at 18.5 points per game, while Rhyne Howard adds 16.5 per game. Brionna Jones also contributes 12.7 points and provides rebounding inside. Atlanta has relied on its balance across the roster to stay competitive against the league’s top teams.
The Dream’s defense has also been strong, giving up just 77.5 points per game, one of the top marks in the league. Their ability to defend the paint and rotate quickly has been a big reason for their success. Playing at home after a long road trip should give them added energy against the league’s top team.
Betting Prediction
The Lynx are listed as -2.5 favorites with a total of 160.5. Minnesota has been the most consistent team in the league all year, but Atlanta has been excellent against the spread, going 20-14-1. The Dream also already proved they can beat Minnesota, doing so last month.
If Collier returns, the Lynx should have the upper hand with their best scorer back in the lineup. Without her, Atlanta’s balance could make this a tight game into the final minutes. Expect a competitive battle, but Minnesota’s defense and depth should be enough to edge out a win. Predicted score: Lynx 82, Dream 78.
Pick: Lynx -2.5
