The Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream meet Friday in WNBA action at the Gateway Center. The Washington Mystics look to build on their 4-1 start to the season. The Atlanta Dream also look to build on their 4-1 record.
The Washington Mystics are averaging 84.2 points on 46.9 percent shooting and allowing 74.8 points on 41.3 percent shooting. Elena Delle Donne is averaging 18.5 points and 6.5 rebounds, while Natasha Cloud is averaging 15.3 points and 4.7 rebounds. Ariel Atkins is the third double-digit scorer and Kennedy Burke is grabbing 3 rebounds. The Washington Mystics are shooting 38.3 percent from beyond the arc and 82.1 percent from the free throw line. The Washington Mystics are allowing 34.6 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 35.2 rebounds per game.
The Atlanta Dream are averaging 80.4 points on 42.3 percent shooting and allowing 77.6 points on 36.9 percent shooting. Rhyne Howard is averaging 20.4 points and 4.6 rebounds while Cheyenne Parker is averaging 11.2 points and 2 assists. Erica Wheeler is grabbing 4.4 rebounds and Aari McDonald is dishing 2.2 assists. The Atlanta Dream are shooting 38.9 percent from beyond the arc and 81.1 percent from the free throw line. The Atlanta Dream are allowing 34.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 37.8 rebounds per game.
The Mystics are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 Friday games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Dream are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 games playing on 2 days rest and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The under is 5-1 in Mystics last 6 overall. The under is 12-4 in Dream last 16 overall. The Mystics are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Atlanta and 15-5-2 ATS in the last 22 meetings.
You can make a case for either side here and this is actually an early statement game for the Atlanta Dream at home and a chance to prove they belong with the upper class of the league. However, we're getting a free bucket with the Washington Mystics, the team that has far and away more offensive depth and can really test that Dream defense. Either team that was getting free points probably would have been my lean. The Mystics happen to have more players who can hurt you offensively. Give me the road dog.
AUTHOR: Randy Chambers
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