It's been a disappointing start for both the Indiana Fever and L.A. Sparks alike, as the two teams have combined for an unimpressive 5-13 record with eight defeats by double digits. Friday night's matchup is the second of the season between the clubs, with the first being an 87-77 Sparks victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 8.
The Sparks will look to capitalize on a big win against Phoenix and pounce on a weaker opponent at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum this evening. While the season is young, the Sparks and Fever need to begin building some momentum now.
We break it all down for you with our Sparks vs. Fever WNBA picks and predictions.
Sparks vs. Fever odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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Sparks vs Fever predictions
Predictions made on 5/27/2022 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Sparks vs. Fever info
• Location: Gainbridge Field House, Indianapolis, IN
• Date: Friday, May 27, 2022
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Spectrum SportsNet, IND Stream
Sparks vs. Fever betting preview
Key injuries
Sparks: Bria Hartley (Out).
Fever: NaLyssa Smith (Questionable).
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Over is 4-0 in the Sparks' last four games overall. Find more WNBA betting trends for Fever vs. Sparks. Find more WNBA betting trends for Sparks vs. Fever.
Sparks vs. Fever picks and predictions
Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.
Spread analysis
While both teams have struggled considerably in the early going, the Sparks are the superior team with a deeper roster than the lowly Fever. The Sparks and Fever are relatively close in ATS record, with the Sparks posting a 4-4 record compared to the Fevers' 4-5 record.
The first matchup between the two teams showed the Sparks are the better team, with better talent and continuity on both sides of the ball. That matchup saw the Sparks cover the -6.5 spread. Liz Cambage took command of that game, posting an impressive 22 points and 11 rebounds on 8-for-11 shooting.
There isn't any reason to believe the Fever will have an answer for Cambage in this upcoming matchup, as the 30-year-old veteran has scored over 20 points in two out of the last three outings.
The Fever have a star in their corner in 26-year-old guard Kelsey Mitchell, a player who is fully capable of stealing a game at any moment. Mitchell is coming off one of her strongest games of the season, scoring 25 points on 9-for-16 shooting against the Chicago Sky.
Mitchell is legit, but not without some inconsistency in her daily output. While she's scoring 18.7 points per game, it hasn't translated to many wins, and she's only scored five points in two out of her last five games. That should raise some concerns for anyone considering an upset.
The Sparks are a better team across the board and should ultimately put a healthy margin between themselves and the Fever in the second half of the game. Count on Los Angeles covering the -6.5 spread.
Prediction: Spark -5.5 (-115 at bet365)
Over/Under analysis
The Fever and Sparks have struggled to find their footing on the defensive side of the ball in 2022. With their lack of defensive coherency on display, the temptation of taking the Over is strong, as each team has failed to prove they can consistently keep opponents from scoring in bunches.
Opponents' points off turnovers are another glaring issue that each team has been having in the early portion of the season. The Fever allow 19.9 points off turnovers, while the Sparks currently surrender 17 points per game. The offensive side of the ball hasn't been anything to brag about for the Fever or Sparks either. It should be noted that they are both among the top teams in the WNBA in pace.
While that's certainly not an indicator of whether you will win or lose games, pace favors the number of possessions a team uses per game. We can expect each team to have ample opportunities to get their shots. I believe this will come down to the scoring output of four key players, two on opposite teams.
On Wednesday night, Nneka Ogwumike and Cambage combined for 45 points of the Sparks' 99 total points against the Phoenix Mercury. Combine that with Mitchell and Victoria Vivians' 42 points altogether in the Fevers' latest matchup against the Chicago Sky, and I believe taking the Over is the best option.
While these aren't the cream of the crop teams in the WNBA, both have several viable scoring options equipped with an array of offensive skill sets to capitalize and ultimately surpass the set total.
Prediction: Over 165 (-110 at bet365)
Best bet
The best bet for this matchup is Over 165 as neither team has been playing lockdown defense this season.
In the Sparks' Monday night matchup against the Las Vegas Aces, L.A. surrendered a league record 18 3-pointers in a blowout loss. It's become abundantly clear that when the Fever play, the opposition will score plenty of points. The Fever have allowed more than 90 points per game over their last four outings.
Add in the Sparks' incredibly streaky defense of their own and each team possessing several good scorers, and I believe the Over will hit tonight.
Pick: Over 165 (-110 at bet365)
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