Despite a loss at Indiana on Tuesday, New York Liberty have rebounded from a tough stretch by winning seven of their past nine games.
They look to stay hot at home and clinch the season series against the Los Angeles Sparks Thursday at 8p.m. ET.
The Liberty dropped eight of 10 and fell to 13-12 before their recent run of strong performances. That came to a brief halt on Tuesday, as the Fever's 106-92 victory ended New York's four-game winning streak.
Breanna Stewart had 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while Sabrina Ionescu added 19 points and five assists in the losing effort.
Now, the Liberty return home, where they have won four straight and are 11-5 overall.
New York face a Sparks team that has fallen off considerably since dealing Kelsey Plum to Phoenix last month.
They have dropped two straight and eight of 10 to fall well out of the playoff race and appear destined to miss the postseason for the sixth straight year.
Rae Burrell had 19 points and six assists and Nneka Ogwumike contributed 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, but Los Angeles shot just 22% (7-for-32) from beyond the arc in a 94-87 setback at home to Phoenix on Tuesday.
This is the third and final meeting between the teams this WNBA season after splitting a pair of games in Los Angeles in June and July.
To learn more about who our experts believe will win this game and the season series, as well as other prop picks, read our predictions below.
New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks betting picks and predictions
Los Angeles Sparks +8.5 (-110)
New York is currently listed as firm 8.5-point home favorites, with a moneyline of -380, while Los Angeles sits at +300.
New York is 7-3 straight up in the last 10 meetings between two of the WNBA's inaugural and marquee franchises, but the Sparks are 7-2-1 against the spread in those same matchups. The Liberty are winning, but Los Angeles is covering.
That has happened twice already this season. The Sparks were 5.5-point underdogs in each of the two previous meetings at home this season.
They covered in a 98-97 win in June on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Ogwumike, who had a game-high 24 points, and they did it again in a 113-109 loss to New York last month.
Ogwumike is averaging 22.5 points against the Liberty and Burrell is averaging 21.5.
Stewart had 29 points and seven assists in New York's last win. Ionescu, who only had two points in the June defeat, rebounded for 27 points, seven rebounds and six assists, and the Liberty's bench outscored the Sparks' 41-19.
It feels like an easy win for New York, but despite the poor run of recent performances, the Sparks are battling. Although they have lost nine of 11, their last six defeats have all come by eight points or less.
Look for the Liberty to win, but Los Angeles to do just enough to cover the spread.
Over 187.5 points (-110)
These two teams don't play to the Under often. In fact, they have only done so once in the past 10 meetings and both meetings this season have easily gone to the Over.
Expect the same again here.
Read more betting picks and predictions for the WNBA on site.
New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks odds
Los Angeles Sparks | +300 |
New York Liberty | -380 |
Spread | NY Liberty -8.5 |
Total Points | O/U 187.5 |
New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks player props
Player points
Nneka Ogwumike (LA Sparks) | O/U 16.5 |
Rae Burrell (LA Sparks) | O/U 15.5 |
Dearica Hamby (LA Sparks) | O/U 13.5 |
Breanna Stewart (NY Liberty) | O/U 22.5 |
Sabrina Ionescu (NY Liberty) | O/U 18.5 |
Jonquel Jones (NY Liberty) | O/U 14.5 |
Read the latest WNBA news on site.
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.
