The Indiana Fever will meet the Connecticut Sun at TD Garden in Boston on Tuesday night. The game was moved from Connecticut to the larger arena to help meet demand to see Caitlin Clark. This is the third meeting of the season between the two teams, and Indiana has won both prior matchups. The Fever come in at 11-10 overall and sit third in the East. Connecticut is 3-18 and has dropped 12 of its last 13.
Indiana won the most recent meeting on June 17 by a score of 88-71. Clark scored 20 points that night, and the Fever shot 49.3 percent as a team. Tina Charles led Connecticut with 20 points. Over the last 10 matchups, Indiana is 8-2 straight up and 7-2-1 against the spread. The Sun have not been able to slow down the Fever’s offense in either matchup this season.
Fever Preview – Clark’s Passing Key to the Offense
Caitlin Clark is still shaking off rust after returning from a groin injury. In four games since returning, she is averaging 12 points while shooting 31.7 percent from the field. On Sunday against Dallas, she had 14 points, 13 assists, and five steals. Her scoring is not fully back, but her playmaking remains a major part of the Fever offense.
Aliyah Boston scored 17 points and grabbed three rebounds in the win over Dallas. Kelsey Mitchell added 20 points and three assists, continuing her strong shooting season. Natasha Howard was extremely efficient, scoring 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting in just 24 minutes. Indiana’s starting five has been consistent and healthy, with all five players active and producing.
The Fever average 84 points per game, which ranks fourth in the WNBA. They are first in field goal percentage at 45.9 percent. Indiana also ranks second in three-point shooting at 34.1 percent. Defensively, they are middle of the pack but have improved over the last few weeks. They are 12-10 against the spread and 5-4 on the road this season.
Sun Preview – Home Game Relocated, But Offense Improving
The Connecticut Sun are still struggling to find answers. They have lost two in a row and are 1-12 in their last 13 games. They’ve allowed over 90 points in three of their last four matchups. On Sunday, they fell to the Sparks 92-88 in a game where they led late in the third quarter.
Bria Hartley had a season-high 25 points and added six assists. Saniya Rivers, a rookie, scored a season-best 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Tina Charles was held to just nine points but pulled down seven rebounds. Jordan Horston and Moriah Jefferson did not score in the game, and the team shot 44.8 percent overall.
The Sun rank last in the WNBA in scoring defense, giving up 88.1 points per game. They also rank 13th in field goal defense, allowing teams to shoot 46.3 percent. Offensively, they have been better lately but still struggle in the half court. Connecticut is 10-11 against the spread, with most of those covers coming earlier in the season. They are 2-7 at home and 1-11 on the road.
Betting Prediction
Indiana is favored by 2.5 points. With the Fever winning both matchups this year by a combined 19 points, the line seems fair. Indiana has covered in both games and is 7-2-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings. The Fever are also coming off a 19-point win over Dallas, scoring over 100 points for the second time this season.
Connecticut’s defense remains a big concern. Even if Clark doesn’t shoot well, Indiana has multiple scorers who can step up. The Sun have given up 92 and 90 points in their last two games. The total is set at 158.5, and the Fever could get close to 90 points alone. Expect Indiana to win and cover the short spread.
Pick: Indiana -2.5
