The Indiana Fever will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The game tips off at 7:00 PM ET. Indiana comes in at 7-7, while Los Angeles holds a 4-11 record.
This is their fourth meeting of the year. Indiana won two of the first three games. The Fever won the last matchup 93-86 on September 4, 2024. Caitlin Clark and Cameron Brink were the top picks in the 2024 WNBA Draft, but Brink is still out with a knee injury.
Indiana is coming off a complete team win over Seattle. The Fever had four players score in double figures. Their ball movement and inside play helped them shoot 53% from the field in that game.
Los Angeles had a strong third quarter against Chicago in their last game but could not finish. They allowed 30 points in the fourth quarter and scored just 17. The Sparks continue to struggle in late-game defense.
Fever Preview – Looking for Back-to-Back Wins
Indiana just beat Seattle 94-86 behind a big performance from Aliyah Boston. She scored 31 points on 13-for-18 shooting and added 8 rebounds. Kelsey Mitchell had 26 points and was 4-for-6 from three-point range.
Caitlin Clark continues to run the offense despite her recent cold shooting. She leads the league with 8.9 assists per game and adds 18.2 points. Lexie Hull added 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win at Seattle, showing strong support from the wing.
The Fever are 4-3 at home and 7-7 against the spread this season. They rank top 6 in shooting percentage and points scored. They will be missing Damiris Dantas, who is playing in the AmeriCup for Brazil, but have added Aari McDonald back to the lineup.
Sparks Preview – Defense Still an Issue
Los Angeles has lost four straight and is just 1-6 on the road. They lost to Chicago 83-72 in their last game, falling apart in the final quarter. The Sparks allowed the Sky to shoot 54% and gave up too many open shots late.
Kelsey Plum had 20 points and 5 assists, while Azurá Stevens led the team with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Dearica Hamby added 15 points and 7 rebounds. The starting five combined for 74 of the team’s 78 points in the game before that against New York.
The Sparks rank 11th in rebounding and last in turnovers per game. They are giving up 87.3 points per contest and rank near the bottom in fourth-quarter scoring. Cameron Brink and Rae Burrell remain out with injuries, thinning the frontcourt rotation.
Betting Prediction
Indiana is a -10.5 favorite, and the total is 173.5. The Fever are playing better basketball and are coming off their best offensive game of the year. With Clark running the offense and Boston dominating the paint, Indiana should have the edge.
Los Angeles is not defending well late in games and continues to turn the ball over. Indiana has won two of the first three meetings and covered the spread in both wins. Final score prediction: Indiana 89, Los Angeles 74.
Pick: Fever -10.5
