New York Liberty look to even their WNBA semifinal series Wednesday night when they visit the Atlanta Dream for Game 2.
The Liberty visit the State Farm Arena at 7:30 p.m. ET after Atlanta opened the best-of-five series with a 92-82 victory Sunday.
Jordin Canada scored 25 points and recorded five steals for the Dream, while DeWanna Bonner came off the bench to score 23 points and grab nine rebounds. Rhyne Howard added 16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 27 points, while Breanna Stewart scored 19.
Atlanta’s biggest concern came when Allisha Gray suffered a left-hand injury in the first half. Gray tried to return after scoring seven points in 11 minutes but ultimately left for good.
Gray, Atlanta's leading scorer, has been ruled out for Game 2.
The Dream still took control without her, outscoring New York 32-15 in the third quarter. Atlanta forced 21 turnovers and converted them into 32 points, tying a WNBA playoff record.
Atlanta has now beaten New York three consecutive times after taking two of three regular-season meetings. The Dream enter Game 2 on an eight-game winning streak, while the Liberty need a victory to avoid returning home in a 2-0 series hole.
New York Liberty vs. Atlanta Dream Game 2 betting picks and predictions
Atlanta Dream -1.5 (-110)
Atlanta is a 1.5-point home favorite despite losing Gray for Game 2.
Her absence is significant. Gray led Atlanta in scoring during the regular season and had 24 points when the Dream defeated New York 83-65 in the teams' regular-season finale.
But Game 1 showed why Atlanta can survive without her for at least one night.
Bonner stepped into a larger role and scored 23 points, while Canada took over after halftime.
Canada scored 20 of her 25 points in the second half as Atlanta turned a three-point halftime deficit into a convincing victory.
The Dream's defense has also repeatedly created problems for New York.
The Liberty committed 21 turnovers in Game 1, and Atlanta scored 32 points off those mistakes. New York's problems were especially damaging during the third quarter, when seven different Liberty players committed at least one turnover.
That continued a strong defensive postseason for Atlanta, which also forced Washington into 31 turnovers during its two-game first-round sweep.
New York has enough talent to respond. Stewart remains one of the league's most dangerous postseason players, while Ionescu showed again in Game 1 that she can carry the offense.
But Atlanta has won eight consecutive games and three of those victories have come against New York.
Even without Gray, the Dream have enough depth and defensive pressure to win another close game at home.
Under 170.5 (-110)
Game 1 produced 174 points, but several factors point to a lower-scoring rematch.
Gray's absence removes Atlanta's leading scorer from the lineup, and New York has struggled offensively in recent meetings with the Dream.
Atlanta held the Liberty to 84 points and 65 points in the final two regular-season meetings before limiting them to 82 in Game 1.
That means New York has averaged just 77 points during its three-game losing streak against Atlanta.
New York actually led 40-37 at halftime Sunday before turnovers allowed Atlanta to get into transition and take over the game. If the Liberty protects the ball better Wednesday, that should reduce Atlanta's easy scoring opportunities.
Gray's absence could also force Atlanta to rely more heavily on its defense and half-court execution.
Bonner proved capable of replacing much of Gray's scoring in Game 1, but expecting another 23-point performance from the veteran off the bench is a significant ask.
New York, meanwhile, knows another sloppy, high-turnover performance could leave it down 2-0. Look for a more controlled game with fewer transition opportunities.
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New York Liberty vs. Atlanta Dream Game 2 odds
New York Liberty | +105 |
Atlanta Dream | -125 |
Spread | ATL Dream -1.5 |
Total Points | O/U 170.5 |
New York Liberty vs. Atlanta Dream Game 2 player props
Player points
Breanna Stewart (NY Liberty) | O/U 22.5 |
Rhyne Howard (ATL Dream) | O/U 19.5 |
Sabrina Ionescu (NY Liberty) | O/U 15.5 |
Angel Reese (ATL Dream) | O/U 15.5 |
Jonquel Jones (NY Liberty) | O/U 14.5 |
Jordin Canada (ATL Dream) | O/U 13.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
