Indiana Fever vs. Los Angeles Sparks Preview, Prediction and Odds - 8/15/21
The final interconference game of the first day of the second half of the WNBA season comes to you from the City of Angels. It’s the surging Indiana Fever heading on the road as they travel to face the Los Angeles Sparks Sunday night. Indiana dropped Atlanta 79-68 on the road on July 11 in their final game before the Olympic break. Los Angeles was pasted 86-61 at home by Minnesota in their final game before the break July 11. The Sparks have taken nine of the last 10 meetings, including six straight. That includes a 98-63 home romp in the first matchup this season back on June 3.
Indiana Fever Looking to Maintain Momentum
Indiana dropped 16 of their first 17 games to start the season but went into the break winners of three straight after downing Atlanta on the road. The Fever are still last in the WNBA standings, five games behind the Mystics for the final playoff spot. Against Atlanta, Indiana trailed by 10 early in the first quarter before regrouping. The Fever cut the deficit to four after the first quarter, led by two at the half and never let Atlanta back to even the rest of the way. Indiana shot 41.5% from the field, including five of 17 from three-point range, and controlled the boards by a 49-34 margin. Teaira McCowan led the Fever with 21 points and 14 rebounds in the win.
The Fever comes into this game 11th in the league in scoring offense with 74.8 points per game. Indiana is eighth in the league in rebounding (34.8 boards per contest) and is 11th in the league in assists with an average of 16.8 dimes per game. The Fever are 10th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 84.9 points a night. Kelsey Mitchell is one of three players for the Fever averaging in double figures with 16.1 points a night. Teaira McCowan (11.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) and Danielle Robinson (9.8 points, 3.6 assists) are good secondary options. Tiffany Mitchell (11.6 points), Jantel Lavender, Bernadett Hatar, Victoria Vivians, Jessica Breland, Lindsey Allen, Kysre Gondrezick and Chelsey Perry are looked at to contribute for coach Pokey Chatman. Indiana is 10th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 41.5% as a team on the year. The Fever are 12th in threes per game (4.3) while standing 12th by hitting 26.4% of their long-range attempts. Indiana is 9th in free throw shooting as they sink 79.4% of their chances at the stripe this season. Hatar is out indefinitely with an ankle injury while Gondrezick is taking a personal leave and has no timetable for return.
Los Angeles Sparks Hoping Improved Health Leads to Success
Los Angeles dropped six straight and eight of their last nine heading into the Olympic break as they were trounced by Minnesota at home in their final contest before the pause. The Sparks enter this one tied for 10th in the WNBA standings, 2.5 games behind the Mystics for the final playoff spot. Against Minnesota, Los Angeles was run out of the building in the opening quarter as they trailed 29-13 after the first stanza, and never recovered. The Sparks couldn’t get closer than six the rest of the way as they went down in defeat. Los Angeles shot 36.7% from the field, including four of 15 from three-point range, and allowed Minnesota to shoot 55.9% in the game. Erica Wheeler and Brittany Sykes each had 14 points to lead the Sparks in the loss.
On the season, Los Angeles is 12th in the league in scoring offense as they average 73.2 points per game. The Sparks are last in rebounding (29.5 boards per game) and 12th in assists (14.4) this season. Los Angeles is 4th in scoring defense as they give up an average of 79.9 points a night. Nneka Ogwumike leads the team with 16.4 points plus seven rebounds a game this season. Chiney Ogwumike (nine points, 5.7 boards) and Kristi Tolliver (9.8 points) are solid secondary scoring options. Derek Fisher hopes to get more from role players like Brittney Sykes, Nia Coffey (7.3 points), Erica Wheeler (14 points, 4.4 assists), Te’a Cooper (9.2 points), Amanda Zahui B. (11.4 points, 5.9 boards) and Arella Guirantes. Los Angeles is 12th in field goal percentage on the season as they shoot 39.5% from the field as a team on the year. The Sparks are seventh in three-pointers per game (7.1) and 10th in three-point shooting as they convert 33.3% from beyond the arc this season. Los Angeles is 11th in success at the charity stripe as they cash in 76.2% of their attempts on the year. Jasmine Walker was lost for the season with a torn ACL that she suffered against Las Vegas May 21. Chiney Ogwumike missed the last 16 games with a knee injury and is out indefinitely.
Pick: Indiana Fever
While the Sparks are expected to have Toliver and Nneka Ogwumike back in the mix, the fact remains that this team has been a train wreck most of the season. Los Angeles did paste Indiana by 35 points here back in June but the Fever comes in with three straight victories on the books here. Indiana was playing good basketball before the break and they seem to have found a system that works for them. Until we see how Ogwumike adapts after being out for two and a half months, you have to be a little cautious of the Sparks’ chances. Even playing at home against a subpar opponent, you can’t back Los Angeles. Take Indiana in this contest as they run the win streak to four games.
Total: Under
This is a matchup of the two worst scoring offenses in the league and neither team does much to inspire confidence when you get right down to it. Indiana is 11th in scoring offense, 10th in field goal percentage and 12th in three-point shooting while Los Angeles stands last, last and 10th in those categories, respectively. The Fever have seen the under hit in 12 of their 20 games this season while the Sparks have had the under hit in 13 of their 19 games. While the first meeting this season ended up over the total by three points, you can’t expect that kind of offensive production here. This one ends up falling short of the total.