Sparks vs Lynx Picks and Prediction – 9/20/2024

The Los Angeles Sparks (7-32) take on the Minnesota Lynx (30-9) at the Target Center, with Minnesota riding a six-game home winning streak. The Sparks are struggling, losing the last five games, including a recent 90-87 defeat to Seattle. Meanwhile, the Lynx are coming off an 88-79 win over New York and have dominated the last 10 games, going 9-1. Take the WNBA by storm with our WNBA picks.

The Sparks' offense has been inconsistent, averaging 78.7 points per game on 42.3% shooting. Dearica Hamby has been a key player, leading Los Angeles with 17.2 points per game while adding 9.3 rebounds. However, the Sparks' offensive struggles have been apparent in the last few games, where they have been unable to close out matchups against tougher opponents. The Sparks’ 19.7 assists per game rank lower in the league than Thursday’s opponent, and rebounding, at just 32.6 per game, has been a weak point that Minnesota will look to exploit.

Defensively, the Sparks are allowing 86.5 points per game, which doesn’t bode well against Minnesota’s high-scoring offense. Los Angeles has been outmatched in almost every defensive category, allowing opponents to shoot at a higher clip while failing to make stops late in games. The absence of key players like Layshia Clarendon and Lexie Brown has also been felt, particularly in backcourt defense. 

Minnesota, on the other hand, has been efficient offensively, scoring 82.8 points per game on 45.1% shooting. Led by Napheesa Collier, who is averaging 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, the Lynx have shown they can execute well both inside and on the perimeter. They lead the season series against the Sparks 3-0, and ball movement, with 23.3 assists per game, has been excellent in recent performances. The ability to rebound the ball, averaging 34.4 per game, gives them second chances on offense.

Defensively, the Lynx are holding opponents to just 75.8 points per game, and an ability to clamp down on opposing offenses will likely be a significant factor. They excel in forcing turnovers, averaging 8.6 steals per game, and a shot-blocking presence, with 4.3 blocks per game, adds to Minnesota’s defensive dominance. Minnesota has played disciplined basketball, limiting mistakes, which has been key to success in maintaining second place in the league.

The Minnesota Lynx are on a roll, and balanced play on both sides of the court should carry them to another win. The Sparks’ defensive issues and injury concerns will make it difficult to keep up with Minnesota, who should control the game from start to finish. Final Score Prediction: Minnesota Lynx win 84-68.