The Sparks are struggling, providing a chance for the road team to steal a victory 

Dream at Sparks 

crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles, CA 

3:30 PM ET 

SuperBook Line: Los Angeles -110 | Atlanta -110 

This game opened with the Sparks being a 4.5-point favorite. Now, it’s essentially a coin flip, with Los Angeles favored by just 1.0 point. 

Why? Because Atlanta is the better team. 

A look at the standings doesn’t suggest that, however. The Dream are just 12-14 on the season, while the Sparks are 11-14. Los Angeles is 6.5 games back in the Western Conference, while Atlanta is floundering 8.0 games behind in the East. 

That doesn’t tell the whole story, however. The Dream are 6-4 in their last 10 games overall and have gone 3-1 in their last four on the road. 

Away from Atlanta, the Dream have found their groove. On Sunday, they won 85-75 in Phoenix. That was followed by a 92-76 win in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Throw in a 92-81 victory at New York on June 30 and Atlanta has posted three wins by double digits on the road in the last three weeks. 

Contrast that with the way the Sparks are playing at home. Tonight will be the final piece of a seven-game homestand, one that hasn’t gone well of late. L.A. is just 1-3 in its last four games at crypto.com Arena, including a 106-69 beatdown by Seattle, a 94-81 loss to Washington and an 80-68 defeat at the hands of Chicago.  

Los Angeles is just 6-7 overall at home. Atlanta has the same record on the road. So, the venue is a moot point. 

The first matchup between these two teams was a close one. The Dream squeaked out a 77-75 victory. In that May 11 showdown, three-point shooting was the difference. Atlanta was 13-of-30 from beyond the arc, while L.A. was just 6-of-19. The Dream’s Rhyne Howard led the way, burying 5-of-10 from three-point range. 

Expect a repeat tonight. It might be close, but Atlanta will get the win.  

Jason Schlefsky’s pick: Atlanta M/L (-110) 

*** 

Thursday’s WNBA Quick Picks 

Washington -8.0 (-110) 

Las Vegas -16.0 (-110)