The New York Liberty visit the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday, October 7, for Game 2 of their WNBA semifinals series, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Atlanta looks to build on its 1-0 series lead, while New York aims to even the matchup and avoid falling into a deeper postseason hole. For bettors researching the best WNBA picks and predictions for Wednesday, this game offers opportunities to evaluate the spread, moneyline, total and player props. Below, we break down Liberty vs. Dream with our top betting picks and predictions for this pivotal playoff matchup.
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Wednesday’s Best WNBA Picks & Predictions: Liberty vs. Dream
We are treated to a two-game playoff slate in the WNBA today. The stars will no doubt give their all in an attempt to advance their team to the next round. Without any further delay, let's jump right into our favorite WNBA picks for Wednesday, October 7th’s game Liberty vs. Dream.
New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream
We start things off with what could end up being one of our sharpest selections. Allisha Gray will not be in uniform this evening. The veteran guard was injured (finger) after playing only 11 minutes in Game 1. Gray scored seven points in 11 minutes, as the Dream went on to win by 10. Without Gray in the lineup, Atlanta's offense and rotation completely change.
Atlanta has a decision to make in Game 2. Will they choose to have DeWanna Bonner start and sacrifice their best scoring option off the bench? That seems like the only path tonight unless the Dream choose to go with Isobel Borlase or Te-Hina Paopao. Bonner will certainly add to the starting lineup’s offense. However, without the veteran's points off the bench, the Liberty’s depth becomes a much greater advantage.
New York didn't unseat the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx only to go down 0-2 to a team missing one of the league’s best scoring options. The Liberty's bench should be a major factor in New York leveling the series at one game apiece this evening.
Pick: New York Liberty -1.5 (+112)
If the Liberty are to win this contest, it stands to reason they will score closer to 90 points. New York scored 82 points in Game 1, after scoring no fewer than 87 points through the opening round of the playoffs. Sabrina Ionescu was absolutely locked in on Sunday. The veteran guard led the contest in scoring, with 27 points on 50% shooting from the field.
New York relied heavily on its starters in Game 1, leaving the team unable to keep up with Atlanta's pace. Marine Fauthoux played the most minutes off the bench (12), and that simply cannot be the case tonight. Marine Johannes and Han Xu should see increased playing time tonight and contribute more significantly to the scoring.
The Liberty have eclipsed 85.5 points in four out of the last seven games, averaging 86.9 points over that span. With a few extra points from Jonquel Jones and the utilization of their bench, the Liberty should be able to score 86+ points against the Dream in Game 2.
Pick: New York Liberty Team Total Over 85.5 Points (-110)
Jonquel Jones had a tough first game as the Liberty look to advance to the WNBA Finals. Jones attempted nine shots on Sunday. The last contest in which Jones played at least 30 minutes and did not put up at least 10 attempts was on August 15th. We expect the veteran forward to be much more active this time around.
Jones also performed underwhelmingly in the first contest against the Lynx. The Liberty forward responded with 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting in Game 2. While 20+ points seems ambitious, 15+ is more than reasonable. Jones finished with at least 15 points in two of the three regular-season games against the Dream.
If you want to get a tad more aggressive, taking a look at Jones to record a double-double at +108 odds is also in play. Jones has produced at least 10 points and 10 boards in five of the last seven games - including four of the last five contests.
Pick: Jonquel Jones 15+ Points (-105)
