Connecticut Sun vs. Dallas Wings Prediction and Odds - 9/7/21
It’s an interconference battle on the parquet floor as a pair of WNBA teams do battle in the Lone Star State. The Connecticut Sun are on the road as they travel to face the Dallas Wings Tuesday night. Connecticut won their ninth straight regular season game their last time out as they dropped the Mystics 85-75 on the road last Tuesday. Dallas split a two-game home series with Atlanta as they were beaten in the back half of the set 69-64 Sunday afternoon. The Sun have won six straight meetings and nine of the last 10 matchups between the teams. That includes a pair of wins this season, 80-70 at home June 22 and 80-59 on the road in the most recent matchup August 15.
Connecticut Sun Looking to Stay Hot
Connecticut ran their win streak to seven games as they stopped Washington in their most recent contest last Tuesday. The Sun entered Monday holding the top spot in the WNBA playoff picture, 1.5 games ahead of Las Vegas for the top overall seed. Against Washington, Connecticut started strong, had a lull in the middle and then finished strong for the win. The Sun were up six after the opening quarter, by as many as 10 in the first half and saw the lead trimmed to two with 1:26 to play in the half. Connecticut closed the first half on a 6-0 run to restore an eight-point edge and didn’t let Washington closer than six the rest of the way. The Sun used a 29-16 third quarter edge to put the game out of reach. Connecticut shot 49.3% from the field, including eight of 20 from three-point range, and controlled the glass by a 38-20 margin. Jonquel Jones led the Sun with 31 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in the win.
The Sun are 9th in the league in scoring offense as they put up an average of 79.1 points per game so far this season. Connecticut is fourth in the league in rebounding (36.5 boards a night) while they stand 9th by dishing out 17.9 assists a game on the year. The Sun have been good defensively as they are first in scoring defense by allowing an average of 71.3 points per game. DeWanna Bonner is second on the Sun with 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists a game. Jonquel Jones (team-high 20.3 points, 11 rebounds), Natisha Hiedeman and Brionna Jones (14.8 points, 7.3 rebounds) each are valuable contributors. Jasmine Thomas (10.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists), Briann January, Beatrice Mompreier, Stephanie Jones, DiJonai Carrington and Kaila Charles are important pieces for coach Curt Miller. Connecticut is fifth in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 44.5% as a team. The Sun are seventh in three-pointers per game (6.9) and sixth in three-point percentage (35.2%) on the year. Connecticut has been mediocre at the charity stripe as they convert on 80.5% of their attempts, which is 8th in the league. Alyssa Thomas is still out as she recovers from offseason surgery for a torn Achilles.
Dallas Wings Trying to Maintain Playoff Position
Dallas became the victim that allowed Atlanta to snap their 11-game skid as the Wings were clipped at home Sunday afternoon. The Wings dropped to 12-16 on the year and entered Monday seventh in the WNBA playoff picture, 1.5 games clear of the Mystics to remain on the right side of the cut line. On Sunday, Dallas gave up an early 10-0 run to trail 14-5 but rallied in a back-and-forth contest. The Wings trailed by four after the opening quarter, were tied at the half and after three quarters. Dallas was even with under six minutes to play but struggled shooting down the stretch and ended up with the loss. The Wings shot 33.3% from the field, including nine of 25 from three-point range, and turned the ball over 14 times in the loss. Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 21 points in the loss.
The Wings come into this one fifth in the league in scoring with 82.2 points per game this season. Dallas is third in rebounding (36.7 boards per contest) but rank 10th in the league in assists with 17.5 per game. The Wings are struggling defensively, ranking 8th by allowing 81.6 points per contest. Arike Ogunbowale (19.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists) is one of five players scoring in double figures for the Wings this season. Allisha Gray (11.8 points), Marina Mabrey (12.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists), Isabelle Harrison (10.8 points, six rebounds) and Kayla Thornton (7.4 points, 5.8 rebounds) are all capable scoring options as well. Charli Collier, Tyasha Harris, Chelsea Dungee, Awak Kuier, Moriah Jefferson, Satou Sabally (12.4 points, 6.3 boards), Dana Evans and Bella Alarie all can be looked to for minutes for coach Vickie Johnson. The Wings are eighth in the league in field goal percentage as they hit 42.4% as a team. Dallas is fourth in three-pointers per game (8.1) and stand fourth in the league in three-point shooting as they hit 36% from long range. The Wings are fourth in free throw shooting as they convert 82.9% of their chances at the stripe. Sabally (Achilles) missed the last five games and is questionable for this contest. Jefferson (knee) left Sunday’s game and is questionable while Harrison is in the league’s health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19.
Pick: Connecticut Sun
Connecticut has rung up seven straight wins coming out of the Olympic break and nine straight regular season tilts coming into this one. The Sun were beaten in the Commissioner’s Cup final in the midst of that but the game doesn’t factor in the standings. Eight of those nine victories have come by double digits as they have clicked on both ends of the floor. Dallas is banged up with Sabally missing the last five games, Jefferson ailing and Harrison in the health and safety protocols at this point. The Wings just lost to an Atlanta team that had dropped 11 straight games, on their own floor. You can’t rely on Dallas in this contest so look for Connecticut to run their win streak to 10 games by prevailing here.
Total: Under
Connecticut has seen the under hit in 17 of their 27 games on the year and they are well rested for this contest after a week off. The Sun are the league’s stingiest team when it comes to scoring defense while they are second in field goal percentage defense (41.2%) and fourth in three-point field goal percentage defense (32.7%) on the year. Dallas has seen the under hit in 17 of their 28 games with one push on the season. The Wings have had the under hit in six of their last seven games coming into this one. We saw Dallas post just 72 and 64 points in their two games against Atlanta, the league’s worst team in scoring defense, you can’t expect a ton of points here. Seeing how the under has hit in the last four meetings and eight of the last 10 contests, this one likely falls short of the mark as well.