Atlanta Dream Win Game Three: Prepare For Upcoming Closeout Game

The Atlanta Dream won a pivotal game three of the WNBA semifinals 81-76, over the Washington Mystics. The win puts the Dream one win away from their fourth conference title, and first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013.

Tiffany Hayes returned to her All WNBA first team form, notching her first playoff double-double. Her 23 points and 11 rebounds powered the Atlanta Dream to a 81-76, game three victory. Hayes scorched the nets with 7-13 shooting from the field, and 3-4 from deep.

Guard Brittany Sykes stepped up and put in 17 points. She shot the three ball well, shooting 3-6, a 50% clip. Alex Bentley struggled shooting for the first time in the series, but added ten points.

Guard Renee Montgomery continued her slump, making just one of seven shot attempts. The two-time WNBA champion missed all four, three-point shots she attempted. If Montgomery who made the second most three-point shots in the league during the regular season, can get on track, the Atlanta Dream will be nearly impossible to defeat in this year’s playoffs.

Atlanta’s dynamic front-court duo was strong on the glass as usual. Elizabeth Williams was close to a double-double, with 14 points and 8 boards. Her running mate Jessica Breland narrowly missed a double-double also, notching 9 points and 11 rebounds. The duo battled foul trouble in the game, combining for nine fouls.

Jessica Breland was just named to the All WNBA defensive first team. She joins guard Tiffany Hayes as players for the Atlanta Dream, to receive major accolades for the team’s stellar season. Coach Nikki Collen and General Manager Chris Sienko also received the highest WNBA awards for their positions, winning coach of the year, and executive of the year.

The Washington Mystics were definitely affected by the absence of their best player Elena Delle Donne. She missed the game due to a bone bruise in her knee, suffered in game two. The All WNBA first team forward Delle Donne being out, allowed the Atlanta Dream to focus their “nightmare” defense on all-star Kristi Toliver. Toliver struggled mightily shooting just 3-15 from the field and 1-9 from behind the arch.

Now that the Atlanta Dream have won consecutive playoff games to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA semifinals, Washington finds themselves in a pressure situation. The Dream will either send the Mystics packing, or the two teams will meet at McCamish Pavillion in Atlanta, for a deciding game five. Should game five be necessary, it would take place on Tuesday at 8pm.

Prediction

Elena Delle Donne will likely be a game time decision for game four. I believe she is the key to rather the Washington Mystics win at home, or the Atlanta Dream close them out. If Delle Donne plays, and scores around her 21 points average, I predict that the Mystics will win 86-83. If Delle Donne is unable to play, or is a shell of herself, I see the Atlanta Dream moving on to the WNBA Finals, by the score of 87-76.

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