The host Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces both have some cushion in the playoff chase, but they seem to be heading in different directions as they face off Monday.

The Aces (20-9) currently have a better playoff position, but have dropped two of their last four games by a single point, including Saturday’s 84-83 loss at Chicago. Las Vegas led by 10 points with 7:29 to play but allowed the Sky to pull even in the next three minutes and then lost on a Sydney Taylor 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining.

The Aces had pulled ahead with 3.2 seconds left on an A’ja Wilson layup, part of Wilson’s 36 points and 12 rebounds, but they couldn’t hold on. Jackie Young added 18 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for Las Vegas.

“This loss was completely avoidable,” said Aces coach Becky Hammon, who criticized her team’s “inability to get stops when we needed it.”

In looking ahead to Monday’s game, Hammon called the Dream “a come-from-behind type of group” and noted that against Atlanta, “no lead is ever safe, you can’t get comfortable.”

The Dream (18-10) are one of the hottest teams in the WNBA, with five consecutive wins since a loss to Portland on July 11. That run included both a buzzer-beater and a comeback from four points down with 18 seconds to play.

Atlanta didn’t need last-second drama in Friday’s 98-89 win over Seattle. Angel Reese led five Dream players in double-figure scoring with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Atlanta was particularly effective at the foul line, connecting on 34 of 39 attempts (87.2%). Atlanta also had 14 steals, leading to many of Seattle’s 20 turnovers.

“I think we’re getting better,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said. “I think the other thing is all teams are getting better at this point.

“I still think we have a big step left to take and we’re capable of taking it.”

–Field Level Media