LOS ANGELES SPARKS VS. NEW YORK LIBERTY EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTIONS — August 15, 2024

LOS ANGELES SPARKS VS. NEW YORK LIBERTY EXPERT PICK AND PREDICTIONS — August 15, 2024 — Greetings, basketball fans. Welcome back to our WNBA coverage here at Godzilla Wins. One of the games on tap from Thursday’s slate features the Los Angeles Sparks (6-18 SU, 11-12-1 ATS) hosting the New York Liberty (21-5 SU, 12-14 ATS).

Here is a look at which squad has the edge going into this matchup and why.

Tipoff

When: Thursday, August 15, 2024 @ 9:00 PM ET

Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

TV: ESPN

Los Angeles Sparks vs. New York Liberty Odds

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

Los Angeles Sparks vs. New York Liberty – In-Season Stats & Betting Trends

The Sparks posted a 4-7 record in their first 11 games. Since then, the team has gone just 2-8 across its last 10 outings.  This includes an eight-game losing streak that lasted from mid-June until the first week in July. Additionally, Los Angeles dropped three of its last four games heading into the Olympic break. This includes an 89-83 loss to the Seattle Storm on July 16.

In that contest, Azura Stevens led the way, scoring 24 points and hauling in 15 rebounds.  She shot 7-of-12 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Rae Burrell — who is averaging five points per contest off the bench — finished with 18 points and three rebounds. Rickea Jackson added 16 points, while Dearica Hamby contributed 15 points and nine rebounds. The Sparks led 73-71 at the 6:29 mark in the fourth quarter.  However, Seattle scored the next 11 points en route to its eighth win in 10 games.

On the other side of the spectrum, the Liberty have been the toast of the league during the first half of the season. Following a 12-3 start, New York has produced eight wins in its last nine contests,  including four straight victories heading into the mid-season hiatus. In the Liberty’s 82-74 win over the Connecticut Sun on July 16,  Sabrina Ionescu was one of two starters that reached double figures. She scored a game-high 30 points, along with six boards and five dimes. She shot 50 percent from the field and converted six of her 11 attempts from deep.

Courtney Vandersloot added 10 points and three assists, connecting on four of her five shot attempts. The teams were tied at 66 heading into the final frame. However, New York began the period with a 10-3 run and outscored Connecticut 19-11 in the game’s final 10 minutes.

Now that we have set the stage for this matchup let’s examine the betting trends for both teams.

The Spread

The Liberty opened as an 11.5-point favorite, but the line has moved to 11 points at the time of this writing (per OddShark.com). Here is a look at how both teams have fared against the spread this season.

• The Sparks are 4-7-1 ATS in their last 12 outings.
• In its last seven matchups against teams with a winning record,  Los Angeles is 6-1 against the spread.
• Meanwhile, the Liberty are 0-5 ATS  in their last five games against Los Angeles.
• New York is 1-4 ATS in its last five “road” games against the Sparks.
• In their last 15 games against Western Conference opponents, the Liberty are just 3-12 against the spread.

Prediction: Los Angeles Sparks (+11)

Over/Under

The projected over/under total for this matchup opened at 166.5 points (per Bet365.com). Here is why going with the “under” is the smart choice.

• The total has gone UNDER four times in the Sparks’ last six contests.
• The UNDER total is 16-5 in Los Angeles’s last 21 home games.
• The last nine times the Sparks have played on three or more days of rest, the UNDER total prevailed seven times (7-1-1)
• The total has gone UNDER five times in the Liberty’s last seven outings.
• The UNDER total has cashed in eight times in New York’s last 11 road games.

Prediction: UNDER 166.5 points

Player Prop Bet

Dearica Hamby leads Los Angeles in scoring, rebounding, and steals. Given that fact, she is the key player to watch for the home team. She currently has -115 odds of scoring more than 18.5 points and -115 odds of finishing with less than 18.5 points (via Bet365.com).

Here is a look at how her numbers stack up against the projected points total for this matchup.

• On the season, Hamby is putting up 19.2 points per game.
• In the previous two matchups against New York this season, Hamby has averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per outing.
• Hamby has played against Eastern Conference teams 10 times this season, averaging 15.9 points per outing in those contests.
• In 12 home contests, the Los Angeles Sparks forward is averaging 19.4 points per game.
• Over her last five outings, Hamby has averaged 22.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per contest, exceeding the points total for this matchup three times during that stretch.

Prediction: Dearica Hamby OVER 18.5 points