The New York Liberty had a strong start in the playoffs on Sunday, defeating the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of their first-round series by 14 points.
(Updated version: Despite only covering the spread five times at home during the regular season, the Liberty managed to do so in Game 1. They were led by 20 points from Breanna Stewart and 21 points from Leonie Fiebich, who shot an impressive 7-for-8 from the field.)
Atlanta now faces a tough challenge heading into Game 2, needing to win consecutive games against the Liberty to move on to the next round.
With New York only losing eight games in the regular season, the No. 8 seeded Dream will have a difficult task ahead.
Oddsmakers are favoring the Liberty by 12.5 points for the second game in a row in this series.
Read on for a breakdown of the latest odds, key players to watch, and my prediction for Game 2 of the Dream-Liberty series.
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Dream Injury Report
Liberty Injury Report
Atlanta Dream
Allisha Gray struggled in Game 1, scoring only nine points. Rhyne Howard and Tina Charles were the only players in double figures. Gray needs to step up for the Dream to have a chance, as she averaged 15.6 points per game during the regular season.
New York Liberty
Leonie Fiebich, a rookie, had a standout performance in Game 1 with 21 points. She was a major factor in the Liberty’s victory.
More insights, analysis, and predictions can be provided for Game 2 of the Dream-Liberty series.
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