Published May 23, 6:51pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated May 23, 6:51pm ET
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Updated May 23, 6:51pm ET
One of Sunday's WNBA matchups features the Atlanta Dream hosting the Phoenix Mercury. Who has the edge in our Dream vs Mercury pick?
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| Atlanta Dream | -5 (-110) |
| Phoenix Mercury | +5 (-110) |
Atlanta has won three of its first four games this season. This stretch includes an 86-69 victory against the Dallas Wings on Friday night.
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The Dream raced out to a 19-9 lead after the opening stanza and held a 42-31 advantage at the break. Dallas did not go away quietly, however, and fought back to take its only lead 64-63, with 7:35 left to play. But Atlanta responded with a devastating 23-5 surge to close out the game.
Rhyne Howard, who returned from concussion protocol, scored 25 points and dished out eight assists. Allisha Gray added 16, while Angel Reese contributed 15 points and nine boards.
On the other side, the Mercury opened their season with a 33-point win over the defending-champion Las Vegas Aces. But since then, they have dropped four of their last five games. This painful stretch includes a 97-88 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Phoenix kept it close early, trailing by one point through the first 10 minutes. Unfortunately, the Sparks responded with a 35-19 surge in the second quarter, resulting in a 60-43 deficit at the break. The Mercury did not get any closer than nine points the rest of the way.
Four players were in double figures for the home team. Alyssa Thomas produced a 23-7-7 stat line on 7-for-13 shooting from the field. Kahleah Cooper added 22 points and five rebounds, but shot 35 percent from the field and just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc.
Atlanta enters this tilt as a five-point favorite. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of Sunday's matchup.
The Dream are 3-2 in the previous five meetings in this series. On top of that, Atlanta boasts a 7-3 mark across its last 10 outings. The aforementioned trends, along with the league's top defensive rating, contribute to Atlanta getting the win here.
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Pick
Atlanta Dream (-5)
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