Atlanta Dream vs. Dallas Wings Predictions, Picks, and Odds 9/19/23

The 4 and 5 seed matchup has proven to be the most evenly matched series in the WNBA playoffs thus far, with the upcoming second game of Wings vs. Dream highly anticipated after a barnburner to open in Texas.

Dallas took home the first game 94-82, but the final score doesn’t come close to painting the picture of a raucous game. Atlanta burst out of the gates with a 36-21 first quarter, spurred on by a 19 point quarter from Rhyne Howard, who had the highest scoring playoff debut in WNBA history, finishing with 36 points on the night.

However, Dallas evened the score by halftime and went on to outscore the Dream by 15 in the 4th quarter, using a demonstrative late game run to put it out of reach. Satou Sabally and Arike Ogunbowale combined for 56 points, over half of Dallas’ offensive production, while also playing vital defense to contain Atlanta’s perimeter options.

The Wings are 6.5 point favorites, per DraftKings Sportsbook, with -285 odds on the moneyline. The Dream have +230 moneyline odds to pull the upset. The scoring total is set at 170.5.

Betting Predictions for Game Two of Wings vs. Dream

• Wings -6.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook
• Wings -285 moneyline at DraftKings Sportsbook
• Over 170.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook

Prediction

The fun part of this series is how unpredictable and erratic game one was. It felt like three or four games rolled into one, which just throws all reason out the window when trying to understand how game two might play out.

If the Dream are going to win a game and make this interesting, they need to finish inside the arc, period. They were spurred on by 13 made threes, including an 8 of 15 performance from Howard; however, they shot just 30.6% on twos, a stark contrast from the 50.9% the Wings shot.

Dallas also outrebounded the Dream by 12, something that played out well in their favor down the stretch as they secured the game and victory.

Atlanta got 57 points from Howard and star two-guard, Allisha Gray; They got 25 from the remaining six players that saw court time, and that is an incredibly tough recipe for any sort of success, but particularly in the playoffs.

The second Atlanta’s pace slowed, their offense gummed up, and they started to get shots up without purpose, Dallas took control of the game. Can the Dream find their pace and keep in the flow for a full 40 minutes? Based on how the first game and the season series went, it seems unlikely.

Score Prediction: Wings 95 Dream 81

Players to Watch

Teaira McCowan owned the game for the Wings, locking down the second half with 12 points and 7 rebounds, finishing with 7 offensive rebounds for the game. The Dream in particular, and few teams at all, have an answer for McCowan.

She was able to stay on the court defensively, a huge reason for Atlanta’s struggles scoring inside the arc as she made her presence felt. She hit a point in the game where you just kind of threw your hands up and said “well, there’s nothing we can do about her,” and that’s crushing for Atlanta. Her ability to break some gameplans is a significant factor in Dallas’ dark horse title contender status.

How to Watch

The Dallas Wings will host the Atlanta Dream at College Park Arena on Tuesday September, 19th at 9:00pm EST. You can watch the game on ESPN.