The Atlanta Dream's backcourt duo of Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray is expected to be a primary factor in tonight's matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks, who will be without their star point guard Kelsey Plum and forward Cameron Brink.
The Sparks, currently hovering around the .500 mark with a 10-11 record, have struggled with consistency, partly due to Plum's limited availability. Plum has played in only 12 of the team's 21 games this season. Brink has also seen limited action, playing in just 14 games. Without these key players, the Sparks have relied on Nneka Ogwumike, who is averaging 16.9 points per game, and Dearica Hamby, who is scoring nearly 15 points per game, shifting the team's offensive focus to its frontcourt.
The Atlanta Dream have seen significant changes over the past two seasons. After finishing 15-25 two years ago, the team improved to 30-14 last season with the strong contributions of Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Brionna Jones. This season, the Dream have experienced some regression following the departures of Brittney Griner in free agency and an injury to Jones. Rookie Angel Reese has stepped in, averaging a double-double, but the team's overall scoring has been impacted.
Howard and Gray are each averaging 18 points per game. Their ability to create scoring opportunities is anticipated to be particularly effective against a Sparks team that may struggle to defend the perimeter without Plum. This offensive advantage could lead to significant scoring outputs from both guards.
Despite the Sparks' recent two-game winning streak, the absence of their primary ball-handler and scorer, Plum, presents a considerable challenge. The Dream, who have lost four of their last five games, are expected to leverage their backcourt advantage. The projected total for the game has seen movement since opening, with an expectation of a lower-scoring affair, potentially around an 89-82 score in favor of the Dream.