The Los Angeles Sparks host the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off is set for 10:00 PM ET. This is the third meeting between the teams this season, and the Sparks have won both prior matchups by 6 and 15 points.
Los Angeles is 13-15 overall and sits just one game out of a playoff spot. The Sparks are 8-2 in their last 10 games and are scoring more than 100 points per game over their last two outings. Connecticut is last in the East at 5-23 and has lost three in a row. The Sun are 1-12 on the road this season.
Sparks Preview – Offense Heating Up at the Right Time
The Sparks are playing their best basketball of the season. They scored 100 points in a win over Indiana on Tuesday and 108 in a double-overtime win at Seattle last Friday. Los Angeles now ranks third in the league in scoring at 86 points per game.
Kelsey Plum is leading the offense with 20.4 points per game and 2.5 made threes per game, which is tied for third in the league. She also had 25 points and 11 assists in the last game. Rickea Jackson has stepped up recently with at least 24 points in three of her last four games, including another 25-point effort Tuesday.
The Sparks are 9-6 on the road but just 4-9 at home this season. They are 13-14-1 against the spread and 19-8-1 to the over. Los Angeles has topped 90 points in four of their last five games and shot 53% from the field in their most recent win.
Sun Preview – Struggling to Stay Competitive on the Road
Connecticut enters this game on a three-game losing streak and just one win in their last 10. They lost to Phoenix 82-66 on Tuesday and now begin the second leg of a four-game road trip. The Sun are just 1-12 away from home and have allowed at least 82 points in each of their last five games.
The Sun have the worst scoring offense in the WNBA at 74.5 points per game. They also rank last in field goal percentage (40.2%), three-point shooting (29.7%), and assists (16.9 per game). In their last game, Marina Mabrey led the team with 18 points, while Tina Charles added 16 points and 7 rebounds.
Connecticut also struggles on defense, giving up 86.9 points per game, second-worst in the league. The team has been outscored in the first quarter in several recent games. In their last two meetings with Los Angeles, the Sun gave up 92 and 101 points. They’ve failed to slow down the Sparks’ fast-paced attack.
Betting Prediction
Los Angeles is a 10-point favorite with the total set at 170. The Sparks have covered in both matchups against Connecticut this season. Their offense is clicking with multiple scorers in rhythm, and they are making shots at a high rate. The Sun have not shown signs of turning things around, especially on the road.
Connecticut has not covered in either game against the Sparks this year and ranks near the bottom in most offensive and defensive stats. Los Angeles has scored at least 92 points in both meetings and has all of their key players healthy. Expect another high-scoring game from the Sparks and a double-digit win at home.
Pick: Los Angeles -10
