Dream vs Lynx Odds
| Dream Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+8.5 -110 | 151.5 -110o / -110u | +320 |
| Lynx Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-8.5 -110 | 151.5 -110o / -110u | -410 |
The Atlanta Dream (7-16) travel to face the Minnesota Lynx (16-8) before the W takes an extended All-Star and Olympics vacation.
Since Rhyne Howard injured her left ankle in late June, Atlanta owns a pitiful 1-9 record and the worst offensive rating in the league. On the other side, Minnesota’s red-hot start has cooled off recently due to poor offensive efficiency and Napheesa Collier’s injury.
Can the Lynx make it three consecutive wins against the Dream this season?
Let's dive into the Dream vs. Lynx odds and make a pick and prediction in our WNBA betting preview for Wednesday, July 17.
Atlanta Dream
Howard remains out, which is a significant blow to the Dream's offense. She averages 15.4 points per game and thrives as a self-creating scorer. Her ability to orchestrate pick-and-rolls will also be missed.
Offseason acquisition Jordin Canada is also sidelined once again. She earned first-team All-Defensive honors last year and notched six assists per game, so her continued absence is a huge loss on both ends of the court.
How will Atlanta consistently generate desirable offensive shot quality without arguably its two best playmakers? That’s the crucial question because shot quality is key for a team that doesn't feature efficient off-ball players and struggles against tight coverage.
For example, the Dream rank 10th in catch-and-shoot effective field-goal percentage and 11th in points per possession on cuts, per Synergy Sports.
They do boast a decent half-court defense, which is essential against a Lynx squad that loves to slow the pace to a screeching halt.
Atlanta can somewhat limit guards that are high-volume scorers. However, bigs with strong post-up skills and a knack for finishing out of rolls have plagued the Dream. Collier being out for the Lynx will only help the Dream.
Minnesota Lynx
With averages of 20 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.7 stocks per game, Collier’s injury has Minnesota reeling like it took a punch from Ivan Drago. The Lynx outscored opponents by 9.7 points per 100 possessions before her foot ailment, but opponents have topped Minnesota by 4.2 points per 100 possessions over the past four games since the news.
The Lynx will need to thrive from 3-point territory until Collier returns in order to maintain an effective offense. They possess the shooters to accomplish this feat, as Kayla McBride, Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith and Cecilia Zandalasini have combined for a scorching 43.8 3-point percentage on a whopping 408 attempts this season.
Minnesota’s bread-and-butter is definitely its stifling defense, though. Nobody across the W owns a lower defensive rating than the Lynx, and they have still managed to maintain an above-average unit without Collier.
Dream vs Lynx
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Dream are lost offensively at the moment and have averaged 74.2 points per game since Howard’s injury. Their struggles should only be more pronounced against an excellent Lynx defense that can take away Atlanta’s eagerness to run in transition.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has notched just 73.3 points per game without Collier’s interior scoring and gravity. Atlanta’s solid perimeter defense can limit a potential 3-point outburst, and the Lynx lack the tools to dominate inside.
Both offenses come into this game limping. The slow pace and competent defenses will not help in the slightest. The best bet is to take under 151.5 total points, and I recommend playing it down to 149.5 points.
