Dream, unbeaten at home in the playoffs, host the Valkyries in Game 4 with a 2-1 Finals lead

Golden State have scored 11 fast-break points in three WNBA Finals games. Atlanta have scored 43. In Game 2 the Valkyries did not score one. That gap, and Angel Reese on the glass, is most of the story of a series the Atlanta Dream lead 2-1 going into Game 4 on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena.

A Dream win would put them one win from the first title in franchise history. A Golden State win would tie the series and send it back to San Francisco for Game 5 on Monday.

How the series got here

The Valkyries took Game 1 at Chase Center 68-64, closing on a 7-0 run, and Gabby Williams scored 26. Since then it has been Atlanta. The Dream won Game 2 in San Francisco 79-65 behind 30 points and 16 rebounds from Reese, and then routed Golden State 97-71 in Game 3 on Wednesday. Golden State never led in that game.

Over the last two games Atlanta have outscored the Valkyries 176-136.

Reese and the paint

Reese is averaging 21.7 points and 13.3 rebounds in the Finals. She has made 22 of 39 shots and grabbed 40 rebounds in three games, 12, 16 and 12.

The Dream have won the paint 98-78 over the series, and 44-20 in Game 3. Jordin Canada has 25 assists in three games, 10 of them in Game 2.

Atlanta have also taken care of the ball. They turned it over eight times in Game 3. Golden State had 15, after 18 in Game 2.

Allisha Gray, back from the finger injury that cost her most of the semifinal, has 45 points in the series: 19, 18 and 8. Rhyne Howard has 33 on 9-of-32 shooting, 28%, and the Dream lead 2-1 anyway.

The three-point line has not saved Golden State. The Valkyries have made 26 threes in the series to Atlanta's 20, and 12 of them in Game 3, which they lost by 26.

Williams and the Golden State shooting

Williams leads Golden State with 18.3 points a game but has made 16 of 55 shots, 29%. After her 26 in Game 1 she scored 14 on 3-of-15 shooting in Game 2 and 15 on 5-of-18 in Game 3.

Tiffany Hayes has scored 31 off the bench in the series. Cecilia Zandalasini made four of six threes in Game 3. Kiah Stokes has 29 rebounds in three games, the most on the team.

Home and away

Atlanta are 4-0 at home in these playoffs: two wins over New York, one over Washington and Wednesday's win over Golden State. The Dream were 5-0 before the Finals.

Golden State were unbeaten at Chase Center until Game 2. On the road in the playoffs they are 1-2: a loss at Dallas in the first round, a win at Las Vegas that finished the semifinal sweep, and Wednesday's loss in Atlanta.

Both teams are chasing a first WNBA title. Golden State are in their second season. Atlanta were swept in their three earlier Finals, in 2010, 2011 and 2013, and won the first Finals game in franchise history on Monday.

What is next

Game 4 is Saturday, October 24, at 1 p.m. ET in Atlanta. Game 5 is Monday, October 26, at 8 p.m. ET in San Francisco. If needed, Game 6 is Thursday, October 29, at 8 p.m. ET in Atlanta, and Game 7 is Saturday, October 31, at 8 p.m. ET in San Francisco.

Update: Golden State won Game 4 67-62 to tie the series 2-2.