Seattle Storm vs Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Picks & Predictions 9/15/2019

Sunday, September 15, 2019

Staples Center

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

Staples Center is the venue where Chelsea Gray and the Los Angeles Sparks (22-12, 1st in the Western Conference) will take on the Seattle Storm (18-16, 3rd in the Western Conference) on Sunday in the 2nd round of the WNBA Playoffs. The Sparks are coming off a first round bye while Seattle beat Minnesota in Round 1 by a score of 84-74. Jordin Canada led the Storm with 26 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. 

The Storm have been excellent for WNBA bettors, having gone 19-15 ATS. Los Angeles is covering the spread 51.5% of the time, going 17-16 against the spread.

Valuable Seattle Storm Betting Trends

The Storm have been a good Under bet for over/under basketball bettors, having gone 14-21.

Seattle is covering the spread 52.9% of the time away from home, having gone 9-8 ATS.

Important Los Angeles Sparks Betting Trends

The Sparks are covering the spread 31.3% of the time at Staples Center, going 5-11 against the spread.

The Sparks have been a pretty good Over bet for over/under basketball bettors, having gone 18-16.

Related: Gambling 101 Docs Sports - Basketball Handicapping Tips

Key Seattle Storm Injuries

09/03/19 G Sue Bird Knee is out for season
05/19/19 F Breanna Stewart ACL is out for season

Key Los Angeles Sparks Injuries

09/11/19 G Alana Beard Facial is questionable Sunday vs Seattle Storm
07/21/19 G Karlie Samuelson Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Natasha Howard comes into this game averaging 18.1 points per contest while being on the court 31.4 minutes per night so far this year for the Storm. She grabs 8.2 rebounds per contest and hands out 2.1 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 44% while her free throw percentage is currently at 81%. Jordin Canada averages 9.8 points per game in 28.8 minutes per contest this season. She averages 5.2 assists per contest and 2.4 rebounds per game for Seattle. Her field goal percentage is 39% for the year while her free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Chelsea Gray averages 14.5 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year for the Sparks. She grabs 3.8 rebounds per game and has 5.9 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 42% and her free throw percentage currently is at 92%. Nneka Ogwumike averages 16.1 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 27.9 minutes per contest. She also averages 8.8 rebounds per contest and 1.8 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 51% and her free throw percentage is 83%.

Related: Get WNBA predictions on all of today's games

Useful Team Statistics

Seattle averages 74.8 points per game this season, which ranks them 10th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.3 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a team, which has them ranked 9th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 7th in the WNBA. They average 32.0 rebounds per contest and 17.5 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 14.6 per game. The Storm allow 75.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 10th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 33.1 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd and they give up 18.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 5th place in the league. They force 14.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 5th in the league with 80.1 points per game this year. They are 4th in the league in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 2.8. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the WNBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 34.2 boards per game, and 7th in assists per contest with 18.6. The Sparks are 7th in turnovers per game with 13.5. The Sparks surrender 77.2 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 16.9 assists allowed per contest and 10th with 36.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Sparks are 11th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Storm are 9th in the league in defensive rating with 99.1, and their offensive rating of 98.7 is ranked 8th. They are 11th in the WNBA in pace with 75.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 7th. As a unit they are 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shot attempts, ranking 2nd in the WNBA. Seattle is 2nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 16.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 2nd in the WNBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 7th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 11th in the WNBA. The Sparks are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 98, and their offensive rating of 101.6 is ranked 10th. They are 5th in the WNBA in pace with 78.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 48% is 4th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 6th in the WNBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Los Angeles

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