Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The Minnesota Lynx host the Los Angeles Sparks at 8 pm ET on Saturday night with both teams’ star players battling through injuries.

Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum (20.9 ppg, 5.6 apg) missed her first game of the season on Tuesday, a 98-67 setback to the Seattle Storm, with a lower left leg injury. She is expected to play tonight.

Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier (24.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 1.8 spg), the 2024 WNBA MVP runner-up, left early in the third quarter of the Lynx’ 76-62 victory over the Las Vegas Aces with a bad back. She is a gametime decision.

Collier’s presence is critical for an 11-1 Minnesota team that is top of the WNBA standings and motivated for another postseason run after falling to the New York Liberty in five games in the WNBA Finals last season. The Lynx have won two in a row after suffering their only defeat of the season to date against Seattle.

Conversely, Los Angeles has lost two straight and 3-of-4, and sit at just 4-9. However, they are 3-3 on the road, which is where they will be tonight.

This is already the third meeting between the two teams this season, with the Lynx taking the first two by an average of 18.5 points. In fact, Minnesota has won nine of the past 10 contests against Los Angeles. The Sparks fell at home to the Lynx a week ago, 101-78. Plum had 20, Rickea Jackson added 18, and Dearica Hamby chipped in with 10 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.

Collier tallied a game-high 32 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists, while Courtney Williams had 17 points. Collier averaged 27.5 points in those two games, while Williams averaged 15 for Minnesota. Plum led the Sparks, averaging 19 points, while Hamby averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds, notching double-doubles in both matchups.

Read below for our experts’ picks and predictions for tonight’s meeting in Minnesota.

Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx betting picks and predictions

Los Angeles Sparks +10.0 (-110) 

This pick is in reference to Collier’s status. It’s a bad back. With an 11-1 record, including a perfect 6-0 mark at home, do the Lynx risk throwing Collier out there less than 100%, or do they have confidence in the rest of the team to pick up the slack like they did Tuesday night against the Aces?

After Collier’s departure, reserves like Diamond Miller and Natisha Hiedeman, who had 12 points apiece, each stepped up. Williams led the team with 20 points and Alanna Smith pitched in with 10 points and 13 rebounds as Minnesota coasted to a 14-point victory, despite trailing by nine at halftime with Collier still in the lineup.

But the Sparks like to run. And with Plum expected back in the lineup, and despite the absence of Odyssey Sims (10.5 ppg), one of five Los Angeles players averaging in double figures, the team is expected to hang with Minnesota for most of the contest. 

Under 163.5 total points (-110)

L.A likes to score, as their 82.2 points is sixth in the league, but they also tend to give it up, as their 86.9 points allowed is tied for second worst. If Collier is not playing, that should help that side of the game, as the Sparks have surrendered an average of 95 points to the Lynx this season.  

Lately, these teams have been polar opposites. The Sparks have played to the over in 9-of-their-last-10 contests, including 4-of-5 on the road. Minnesota, meanwhile, has played to the under in 4-of-6 overall and 4-of-6 at home.

With Collier out, or even if she plays, the Lynx will most likely lean into their league-leading scoring defense, which is allowing just 74.8 points a game. They’ve held the Sparks to under 78 points a game on average in the two previous meetings.

Kelsey Plum over 18.5 points (-115) 

Plum has scored 20 and 18 points in the two losses to the Lynx, so she is straddling the fence on this line. And, yes, she missed the team’s last game with a leg injury. But if she’s playing, she’s shooting. And she has gone for 19 points or more six times this season, including two of her last three games. 

Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx odds 

Los Angeles Sparks	+375 ML
Minnesota Lynx	-500 ML
Spread	MIN Lynx -10.0
Total Points	O/U 163.5

Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx player props

Player Points

Kelsey Plum (LA Sparks)	O/U 18.5
Rickea Jackson (LA Sparks)	O/U 16.5
Dearica Hamby (LA Sparks)	O/U 15.5
Napheesa Collier (MIN Lynx)	O/U 21.5
Courtney Williams (MIN Lynx)	O/U 14.5
Kayla McBride (MIN Lynx)	O/U 12.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.