Minnesota Lynx at Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Picks & Predictions 8/2/2018

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Lynx travel to Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday, August 2, 2018. The opening line for this game has Los Angeles as 1 point favorites.

The Lynx have a record of 15-10. They are 3rd in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 2.5 as they average 79.4 points per game while giving up 76.9 per contest. The Sparks head into this matchup with a mark of 15-11. They are 4th in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 1.9 as they average 79.5 points per contest while giving up 77.5 per game.

Valuable Minnesota Lynx Betting Trends

The Minnesota Lynx are 9-15-1 against the spread

The Minnesota Lynx are 9-16 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Sparks Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Sparks are 12-12-2 against the spread

The Los Angeles Sparks are 11-15 against the over/under

Key Minnesota Lynx Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Los Angeles Sparks Injuries

08/01/18 G Alana Beard Groin is "?" Thursday vs Min Lynx
08/01/18 F Nneka Ogwumike Illness is "?" Thursday vs Min Lynx

Player Spotlight

Sylvia Fowles comes into this game averaging 17.1 points per contest while being on the court 32.1 minutes per night so far this year for the Lynx. She grabs 11.7 rebounds per contest and hands out 2.1 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 61% while her free throw percentage is currently at 76%. Maya Moore averages 18.2 points per game in 32.4 minutes per contest this season. She averages 2.5 assists per contest and 5.1 rebounds per game for Minnesota. Her field goal percentage is 40% for the year while her free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Candace Parker averages 18.0 points per game while playing 30.1 minutes per contest this year for the Sparks. She grabs 7.5 rebounds per game and has 4.8 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 49% and her free throw percentage currently is at 85%. Chelsea Gray averages 14.5 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 32.4 minutes per contest. She also averages 3.3 rebounds per contest and 5.3 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 48% and her free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota averages 79.4 points per game this season, which ranks them 9th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.5 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 8th in the WNBA. They average 36.0 rebounds per contest and 19.5 assists per game, which ranks them 4th and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 4th with 13.5 per game. The Lynx allow 76.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 6th and 2nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 31.3 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 17.7 assists per contest, which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 12.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 1st in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 8th in the league with 79.5 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.9. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 7th in the WNBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 30.7 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 18.8. The Sparks are 12th in turnovers per game with 11.5. The Sparks surrender 77.5 points per contest, which ranks them 2nd in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 18.5 assists allowed per contest and 7th with 34.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Sparks are 12th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Lynx are 8th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 103.2, and their defensive rating of 100 is ranked 11th. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 76.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 8th. As a team they are 8th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 23% of their shots, ranking 11th in the league. Minnesota is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.0 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 8th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 11th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 6th in the league. The Sparks are 6th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 104.5, and their defensive rating of 102 is ranked 9th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 75.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 3rd. As a team they are 5th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 25% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

Who will win tonight's WNBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota -1

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