Liberty vs Sparks odds
Thursday, August 15
9pm ET
ESPN
Liberty Odds Spread Over/Under Money Lines
-11
-110
164.5
-110/-110
-700
Sparks Odds Spread Over/Under Money Line
+11
-110
164.5
-110/-110
+490
The best women's team is on the road to take on one of the worst: the New York Liberty visit the Los Angeles Sparks. The Liberty are coming off a four-game winning streak going into the break, while the Sparks have lost three of their four games prior to the break. The teams have already met twice this season, with the Liberty winning both games in New York by double digits.
Will things be different in Los Angeles? Here are our predictions for Liberty vs. Sparks
New York Liberty: Ionescu, Stewart lead the way
The Liberty is enjoying the best record in the league, 21-4 and 2.5 games behind the Connecticut Sun. They've done so thanks to an efficient offense that's averaging 10.3 three-pointers per game and dishing out roughly 23 assists per contest.
Led by gold medal winners Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart last weekend, the Liberty has a star-studded roster that can overwhelm opponents. Ionescu leads the team with averages of 19.8 points and 6.1 assists per game, while Stewart is averaging 19.3 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals and over a block per game.
In fact, the Liberty has five different players dishing out three or more assists per game, highlighting just how versatile and difficult their offense is to stop.
New York pairs its offensive prowess with a defense that is the fourth-best in the league, allowing just 76.8 points per game.
Los Angeles Sparks: Can Stevens thrive?
The Sparks entered the season with very high expectations, but injuries marred what could have been a promising season. Veteran Dearica Hamby has assumed a larger role in her second year with the team, averaging career highs in minutes (35.2), points (19.2), rebounds (10.0) and assists (3.5) per game.
She is clearly the focal point of this offense, with only two other players averaging double figures in scoring: Azura Stevens (14.8 ppg) and Rikea Jackson (11.4).
Stevens appeared to shake off some rust in the final game before the break, recording 24 points and 15 rebounds in a loss to the Storm, and having her in the post could bring some stability to a team that has been lacking in that area.
It's no surprise that the Sparks are playing at a slow pace given their struggles: They're 10th in both offensive and defensive rating.
Liberty vs Sparks: Bet on Azura Stevens Point Prop
Betting Selection and Predictions
Naturally, New York is expected to win this one — the Liberty has plenty of scoring options that will be too much for Los Angeles to keep up with — but don't be surprised to see Stevens, a 3-point shooting pro who didn't play in the first two matchups with New York, have a strong game for the Sparks.
Pick: Azura Stevens scores 15+ points (+182)
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