The Atlanta Dream welcome the Dallas Wings to School Park, Ga. in a matchup between two groups who sit on reverse ends of the standings on Friday night time.
However each groups are competing for various issues on the finish of the WNBA common season.
The Dream (24-14) can clinch a assured spot within the playoffs with a win over the Wings and stay in a battle for favorable seeding. Though Atlanta sits third within the standings with six video games to go, the third by way of eighth spots are separated by solely 4 1/2 video games.
On Wednesday, the Dream did not step as much as the problem of defeating the Las Vegas Aces, the most well liked staff within the league.
Regardless of 19 factors from each Rhyne Howard and Brionna Jones, late threes by Las Vegas sunk Atlanta within the ultimate minute of an 81-75 defeat. The Dream, who’ve taken the second-most 3-point photographs within the league, couldn’t match the Aces’ scorching capturing with a 16.7 % capturing night time from distance. This allowed Las Vegas to win its twelfth straight recreation and take command of the No. 2 spot within the standings.
“We’re not going to be successful playoff video games and successful championships capturing sub-20 % from three,” head coach Karl Smesko stated. “However we’re undoubtedly competing on the defensive finish.
“One factor that I want to see us get again to is our conversion. Our transition offense recreation was higher earlier this yr, and I would prefer to get that again going once more.”
Dallas (9-30) sits in final place, already mathematically eradicated from the playoffs, however remains to be combating to see what works and what does not for the way forward for the franchise. Paige Bueckers, who scored a rookie-record 44 factors towards the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 20, was absent as a consequence of sickness Wednesday night time in a 101-95 defeat to the Connecticut Solar, the Wings’ sixth loss in a row.
“I feel what Paige is doing, if she was an eighth-year participant could be wonderful,” teammate Maddy Siegrest stated. “To come back in proper off the school season and have the ability to do that is simply so spectacular and it simply speaks volumes, you already know, to the kind of participant, kind of particular person she is. She actually makes folks round her higher.”
With Bueckers out, it was fellow rookie Aziaha James who took the scoring lead with 22 factors within the defeat. Nevertheless, she left the sport with an ankle harm and is listed as uncertain for the sport at Atlanta, whereas Bueckers is listed as questionable.
Friday is the fourth and ultimate time the 2 groups meet this season, with Atlanta holding a 2-1 file, together with an 88-85 win the final time they performed on July 30.
–Subject Stage Media
