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Jul 13, 2010 - 6:04 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Atlanta (14-5) at Minnesota (6-11), 1:00 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Dream went into the All-Star break atop the Eastern Conference. Staying there during this upcoming stretch could be tough, especially if All-Star Sancho Lyttle is out for an extended period.

The Dream, who could again be without Lyttle, go for their sixth win in seven contests when they open a four-game road trip Wednesday against the Minnesota Lynx.

Led by the dynamic scoring combination of Angel McCoughtry and Iziane Castro Marques, Atlanta (14-5) has a one-game lead in the East.

The Dream's 5-1 surge into the break came at home, and their schedule is about to get much tougher with six of the next seven away from Atlanta. The stretch includes trips to Washington, Indiana and two games in Connecticut. Those teams are a combined 21-3 at home.

The Dream, 2-3 in their last five away from Philips Arena, are also uncertain of the status of Lyttle.

The 6-foot-4 forward, who averages 14.2 points and is second in the league in rebounding with 10.6 per game, suffered a concussion against Chicago on July 3. She was unable to play in Atlanta's final game before the break and the All-Star game.

Despite missing their top post player, the Dream managed to hold off the Sun 108-103 in overtime last Wednesday. McCoughtry and Castro Marques stepped up in Lyttle's absence, with each scoring 32.

McCoughtry, third in the league with 20.4 points per game, and Alison Bales, who started in place of Lyttle, had 10 boards apiece.

"When you don't have one of your top rebounders and scorers, it hurts," Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors said. "We definitely missed her."

In her final game before being injured, Lyttle had 10 points and 14 rebounds in a 76-58 win over Minnesota on July 1. Castro Marques, sixth in the WNBA with an average of 17.8 points, led all scorers with 22.

While the Dream are opening a daunting portion of their schedule, Minnesota's appears to be getting a bit easier with the next five games coming at home.

After losing in Atlanta, the Lynx (6-11) bounced back with an 89-66 win over San Antonio on Thursday. It was Minnesota's fourth victory in six games and the club's most lopsided win of the season.

"Everybody chipped in and did little things to put this team in a position to grow and we just want to take it from here," All-Star Rebekkah Brunson told the Lynx's official website. "I think the momentum is within our grasp and we just want to carry forth with it."

Brunson had a season-best 24 points and 10 rebounds against the Silver Stars after scoring a season-low three versus the Dream. She had six points in 19 minutes for the WNBA All-Stars in Saturday's 99-72 loss to the U.S. national team.