Los Angeles Sparks (+154) vs. Minnesota Lynx (-5)
The two teams who battled for the WNBA championship last season square off when the Los Angeles Sparks take on the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, July 5, 2018. Los Angeles has won both contest between these two teams this season, defeating Minnesota on May 20, 77-76, and beating the Lynx on June 3, 77-69.
Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles enters this contest 12-6 and in third place overall in the WNBA, one game behind the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury. The Sparks are 4-4 on the road and are averaging 79.3 points per game, while giving up 76.1 per game on average. This is an excellent shooting team, averaging 79.9 percent from the field and 35.8 percent from three-point range. The Sparks our first in field-goal percentage and third in three-point shooting.
The combination of Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike have been a deadly duo this season. Parker is averaging 16.5 points per game, leading Los Angeles. She is averaging 6.7 rebounds per game and 4.1 assists while shooting 51.4 percent from the floor. Ogwumike is averaging 16.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 1.9 APG. She is shooting an impressive 58.8 from the field.
Chelsea Gray has been the leading playmaker for the team, averaging 5.3 assists per contest and she is averaging 14.9 points per game, third on the Sparks.
Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota is 10-7 overall this season, including going 5-3 at home. They have the six the best record in the WNBA but are the hottest team in the league, going 8-2 over their last 10 games. The Lynx are averaging 79.8 points per contest while giving up 77.6 per game. They are shooting 78.7 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point land. They are sixth in field-goal percentage and fifth in three-point percentage.
The leader in scoring for Minnesota is perennial MVP candidate Maya Moore. Moore is averaging 19.8 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per game, and 2.5 assists per contest. She is shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 37.4 percent from beyond the arc. Sylvia Fowles is second on the team in scoring at 17.2 PPG, but is averaging 12.0 rebounds per contest tops in the WNBA.
Odds:
Minnesota (-5.0)
Over/Under – 155
Trends:
Los Angeles Sparks
• Sparks are 1-4 in their last five games against the spread.
• Sparks are 1-5 in their last six games against the spread against Western Conference opponents.
• Sparks are 5-15-1 against the spread in their last 21 Thursday games.
Minnesota Lynx
• Lynx are 4-0 in their last four games against the spread against Western Conference opponents.
• Lynx are 3-9 against the spread in their last 12 games at home.
• Lynx are 4-1 in their last five games on Thursday.
Los Angeles is 4-1 in the last five games against the spread in Minnesota and they are 7-2 in the last nine meetings between these two teams against the spread. The total has gone under in seven of the last nine meetings between the two in Minnesota and has gone under in 25 of the last 35 meetings overall.
The Sparks have dominated this season against Minnesota, but the Lynx are on a roll right now. Look for the tide to turn but the total to stay under as Minnesota wins, 71-70.
