Published Jun 6, 10:15pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 6, 10:15pm ET
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Updated Jun 6, 10:15pm ET
One of Sunday's WNBA matchups features the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Portland Fire. Who has the edge in our Sparks vs Fire pick?
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| Los Angeles Sparks | -8 (-110) |
| Portland Fire | +8 (-110) |
Following a three-game win streak, Los Angeles has regressed a bit, losing three straight. The latest setback was a 104-96 loss to the Dallas Wings on Friday night.
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The Sparks trailed by just two points in the final frame before Arike Ogunbowale scored off a putback to make it 99-95 in favor of Dallas. Then, Maddy Siegrist added a putback of her own, extending the deficit to five points. Paige Bueckers secured the win for the road team, knocking down a pair of free throws with 47 seconds remaining.
Kelsey Plum, who missed the last three games with an ankle injury, powered the offense with 27 points and six assists. Ariel Atkins added 16 points, including four made 3-pointers. While LA's offense was balanced, it wasn't enough to overcome being outscored 27-18 in the fourth quarter.
The Fire improved to 6-4 after upending the Indiana Fever 100-84. However, they have dropped each of their last two games, including a 78-72 loss to the Phoenix Mercury two nights ago.
Portland led by a point early in the fourth before DeWanna Bonner drilled a crucial three, putting the Mercury ahead 64–62. Jovana Nogic knocked down Phoenix’s final field goal with under three minutes remaining, and thanks to multiple Portland turnovers, five Mercury players combined to hit 10 of 12 free throws to close it out.
Sarah Ashlee Barker led three double-digit scorers with 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, shooting 6-for-10 from the field. Karlie Samuelson paced the bench unit with 13 points, converting four of her five attempts from deep.
Despite coming off a loss, Los Angeles enters this battle as an eight-point favorite. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
This is the first meeting between these two clubs, and both enter looking to bounce back from losses in their previous outings. With L.A.’s offensive rhythm and Portland’s turnover issues, the Sparks have the clearer edge in this Western Conference matchup — though the final margin could easily end up tighter than the projected spread.
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Pick
Los Angeles Sparks (-8)
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