4 hours ago
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It has been a while without betting on the WNBA, but it is always there, floating around in the background. I know most people don't follow it, but I do watch quite a bit of it. I also follow the games that I don't watch, not only for betting purposes, but I also do actually like the games. Sure, some games are hard to watch, but when you get solid teams, the games are usually fun. Tonight is a fairly evenly matched game as the Sparks take on the Dream.
The Los Angeles Sparks are floundering around that midway mark. We are about halfway through the season as well, so this may be indicative of what the team really is. For the year, the Sparks are 10-11, and they are 5-4 on the road this year. Part of the issue may be that their leader, star scorer, and point guard, Kelsey Plum, has only played in 12 of 21 games. She is out for this game as well. Cameron Brink, who has only played 14 games, is also out for this one.
That does give other players a chance to step up, and I feel like they've done a decent job of that. Nneka Ogwumike is filling in as much as possible on offense, putting up 16.9 points per game. Dearica Hamby is also scoring almost 15 points per game. The Sparks went from a guard-oriented team to a forward-focused team.
The Atlanta Dream have undergone a remake over the past two seasons. Two years ago, they ended the season at 15-25. Last year, they went 30-14 with Britney Griner, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray leading the way. They combined to score roughly 46 points per game, and Brionna Jones even added another 13 points. This season has shown a bit of regression, but part of that is because they have lost Griner (to free agency) and Jones (to injury).
ANGEL REESE BECOMES FASTEST PLAYER IN WNBA HISTORY TO REACH 50 CAREER DOUBLE-DOUBLES IN DREAM DEBUT
Replacing them is Angel Reese, who is doing a good job of still averaging a double-double, but she is still just one player trying to fill the stats of two. She takes a lot of abuse for her play, but I will always defend that she has a high motor and is always trying. Fundamentally, she isn't overly skilled, and she needs to work on it, but she does have value. Reese is also not certain to be in this game.
The Sparks, led mostly by a frontcourt, will have a tough time trying to deal with the combination of Gray and Howard in the backcourt. Both of those players are averaging 18 points per game. Without Kelsey Plum to make them work on defense, I think this should be a game where they are fresh and have plenty of good looks at the basket. I think both score 20 points or more in this one. That parlay (which isn't a good idea) pays at +188.
The Sparks have won their past two games, but I think this will be a tough one for them to steal from the Dream. 8.5 points is a lot to ask the Dream to cover, considering they've lost four of their past five games. I'll take the under. It has been bet up since it opened at 177.5, but I think we are getting too high. The Sparks should be scoring more twos on the inside, especially if Reese is out. The Dream should win this game something like 89-82.
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