New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks Odds
| Liberty Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
-11 -110 | 164.5 -110/-110 | -700 |
| Sparks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Over/Under | Moneyline |
+11 -110 | 164.5 -110/-110 | +490 |
The W's best team is hitting the road to take on one of its worst, as the New York Liberty visit the Los Angeles Sparks. The Liberty entered the extended break on a four-game winning streak, while the Sparks lost three of four before the hiatus. These teams have already faced off twice this season, with the Liberty winning both games in New York by double digits.
Will things be different in Los Angeles? My Liberty vs. Sparks prediction is below
New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks Picks, Prediction
New York Liberty: Ionescu, Stewart Lead the Way
The Liberty have the league's best record, with their 21-4 mark putting them 2.5 games ahead of the Connecticut Sun. They've gotten to this point with an efficient offense that makes an average of 10.3 3s per game and tallies nearly 23 assists per contest.
Led by Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart, both of whom won gold medals last weekend, the Liberty have a star-studded roster that can overwhelm opponents. Ionescu leads the way with an average of 19.8 points and 6.1 assists per game. Meanwhile, Stewart is chipping in 19.3 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and more than a block per game.
In fact, the Liberty get more than three assists per game from five different players, highlighting just how versatile and difficult to stop their offense is.
New York pairs that offense with a defense that is rated fourth-best in the league and surrendering just 76.8 points per games.
Los Angeles Sparks: Will Stevens Step Up?
The Sparks went into the season with moderately high hopes, but injuries have done plenty to derail what could have been a promising campaign. Veteran Dearica Hamby has taken on a greater role in her second season with the team, averaging career highs in minutes (35.2), points (19.2), rebounds (10.0) and assists (3.5) per game.
She's the clear focal point of this offense and is joined by just two other players averaging double-digits in points — Azura Stevens (14.8 ppg) and Rickea Jackson (11.4).
Stevens seemed to be shaking off some rust in her final game before the break, during which she notched 24 points and 15 rebounds in a loss to the Storm. Her presence in the post may provide some stability for a team that has lacked in that area.
Given their struggles, it should be of little surprise that the Sparks have played with a slower pace. They're 10th in both offensive and defensive rating.
Liberty vs. Sparks: Bet this Azura Stevens Points Prop
Betting Pick & Prediction
The expectation is, as it should be, that New York will win this game. The Liberty have a plethora of scoring options and will likely be too much for Los Angeles to keep up with. However, don't be surprised when Stevens, who did not play in either of the first two matchups with New York and is a prolific 3-point shooter, puts together a strong game for the Sparks.
Pick: Azura Stevens to Score 15+ Points (+182)
