» WNBA Picks » Seattle Storm vs Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Picks and Tips 9/5/2019

Seattle Storm vs Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Picks and Tips 9/5/2019

by Josh Schonwald - 9/4/2019

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Staples Center

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

Natasha Howard and the Seattle Storm (17-15, 3rd in the Western Conference) travel to Staples Center on Thursday where they'll take on the Los Angeles Sparks (20-12, 1st in the Western Conference).

The Storm have been a pretty good option for basketball wagerers, having gone 17-14 ATS. Los Angeles is covering 48.4% of the time, going 15-16 against the spread.

Valuable Seattle Storm Betting Trends

The Storm have been a hot and cold Over choice for O/U basketball bettors, having gone 12-20.

Seattle is covering 53.3% of the time on the road, having gone 8-7 ATS.

Important Los Angeles Sparks Betting Trends

Los Angeles is covering 31.3% of the time at Staples Center, going 5-11 against the spread.

The Sparks have been a hot and cold Under choice for O/U basketball bettors, having gone 17-15.

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

09/03/19 F Nneka Ogwumike Illness left last game, is downgraded to out Tuesday vs Atlanta Dream
07/21/19 G Karlie Samuelson Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Natasha Howard comes into this contest averaging 18.1 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Storm. She pulls down 8.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.0 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 44% while her free throw percentage is currently at 80%. Jordin Canada averages 10.0 points per game in 29.3 minutes per contest this season. She averages 5.3 assists per contest and 2.4 rebounds per game for Seattle. Her field goal percentage is 38% for the year while her free throw percentage is 77%.

Player Spotlight

Chelsea Gray averages 14.6 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per contest this year for the Sparks. She grabs 3.8 rebounds per game and has 5.8 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 41% and her free throw percentage currently is at 92%. Chiney Ogwumike averages 9.5 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 22.2 minutes per contest. She also averages 5.8 rebounds per contest and 0.8 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 48% and her free throw percentage is 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Seattle averages 74.9 points per contest this season, which ranks them 10th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.3 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 32.1 rebounds per game and 17.5 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 2nd with 14.6 per game. The Storm allow 74.6 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 11th and 11th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.9 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd and they give up 18.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 5th in the league with 79.5 points per game this year. They are 4th in the league in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is 1.7. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the WNBA. They are 8th in the league in rebounding with 34.0 boards per game, and 7th in assists per contest with 18.3. The Sparks are 6th in turnovers per game with 13.6. The Sparks surrender 77.8 points per contest, which ranks them 7th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 41% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 16.8 assists allowed per contest and 10th with 36.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Sparks are 10th 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 98.6, and their offensive rating of 99 is ranked 8th. They are 10th in the WNBA in pace with 75.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 5th. As a unit they are 7th in the league in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd 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 17.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 49%, which is 2nd in the WNBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 6th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 10th in the league. The Sparks are 5th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 100.7, and their defensive rating of 98.6 is ranked 9th. In terms of pace they are 4th in the league with 78.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 4th. As a team they are 5th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Los Angeles

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