Published Jun 3, 5:21pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 3, 5:21pm ET
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Updated Jun 3, 6:22pm ET
One of Thursday's WNBA matchups features the Minnesota Lynx hosting the Golden State Valkyries. Who has the edge in our Lynx vs Valkyries pick?
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| Minnesota Lynx | -2.5 (-117) |
| Golden State Valkyries | +2.5 (-103) |
Minnesota was a .500 ball club through its first four games. Since then, the group has reeled off five straight wins. This impressive stretch includes a blowout 111-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Monday night.
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The Lynx raced out to a 13-point lead after the first quarter. And the avalanche continued, with the road team increasing its advantage to 88-56 after three, effectively putting the game out of reach.
Minnesota's offense placed five players in double figures. Courtney Williams led the charge with 30 points and five boards on 13-of-20 shooting from the field. Olivia Miles registered 19 points, nine assists and four rebounds for a Lynx team that shot 64 percent overall and 59 percent from beyond the arc.
After a 3-2 start, the Valkyries have won three of their last four games. In their last outing, they defeated the Portland Fire 95-77 on Tuesday night.
Portland kept it close early, trailing by just one point through the first 10 minutes of action. However, Golden State pulled away for good in the second, thanks to a 35-16 burst, which extended its lead to 20 points at halftime.
Kayla Thornton led three double-digit scorers with a team-high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds. Janelle Salaun led the second unit with 18 points on 3-for-6 shooting from 3-point range.
Despite a five-game tear, Minnesota enters this showdown as a slight 2.5-point favorite. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
The Lynx have won five straight in this series, and they enter this matchup with the league’s top offensive rating while also leading in points allowed and defensive rating. With that level of balance, backing Minnesota is the smart play.
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Pick
Minnesota Lynx
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