Published Jun 20, 10:38pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 20, 10:38pm ET
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Updated Jun 20, 10:38pm ET
One of Sunday's WNBA matchups features the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the New York Liberty. Who has the edge in our Sparks vs Liberty pick?
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| Los Angeles Sparks | +5 (-110) |
| New York Liberty | -5 (-110) |
Los Angeles has dropped its last two games following a three-game win streak. Its latest defeat was a 99-83 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night.
ALSO SEE: Lynx vs Mystics | Odds and NBA Pick (Jun 21)
The Sparks were competitive early on, trailing 23-19 after the opening quarter. However, Minnesota seized control of the contest for good with a 29-18 surge in the second quarter, propelling the road team to a 15-point advantage it did not relinquish.
Rae Burrell led for double-digit scorers with 19 points, going 6-for-10 from the field. Jihyun Park led the bench unit with 13 points, connecting on five of her seven shot attempts. Despite these solid individual efforts, Los Angeles could not find a consistent rhythm offensively, shooting 42 percent overall and 27 percent from beyond the arc.
On the other side, the Liberty had won eight straight following a season-high three-game skid. That stretch ended, though, with an 86-83 setback against the Washington Mystics.
New York held a 77-71 lead before the Mystics went on a 10-2 run to pull ahead 81-79. Kiki Iriafen's layup broke an 83-83 tie. On the next possession, Breanna Stewart missed a contested jumper, and Iriafen hit one of two free throws, securing a surprising win for Washington.
Four players reached double figures. Leonie Fiebich led the charge with 19 points and hit three 3-pointers. Stewart was solid at both ends of the floor, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and two blocked shots.
Following a loss to an inferior opponent, the Liberty will travel to Los Angeles looking to avoid its second straight road loss.
Los Angeles enters this battle as a five-point underdog. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
Although the teams have split the last four encounters, the Liberty have taken eight of the previous 10 meetings in the series. On top of that, Los Angeles is just 3-7 in its last 10 home games, while New York has won eight of its previous 10 road outings. Given these trends, backing the Liberty is the safe pick here.
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Pick
New York Liberty (-5)
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