Los Angeles Sparks vs. Toronto Tempo WNBA preview and prediction

The WNBA’s two worst scoring defences take the court Thursday evening in Toronto at 7 p.m. ET as the Tempo host the Los Angeles Sparks.

Los Angeles hasn’t played since a thrilling, 98-97 victory over the New York Liberty on Nneka Ogwumike’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Ogwumike finished with 24 points, 12 coming in the final 3:50. The Tempo may finally be succumbing to some injury setbacks. The team has dropped four to fall under .500. That includes a 94-87 setback at Atlanta on Monday. Marina Mabrey had 23 points, followed by Isabelle Harrison with 21 points and 10 rebounds. These teams split a back-to-back in Toronto last month.

Toronto Tempo vs. Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Odds and Betting Trends

The Tempo are 1.5-point home favourites on the WNBA odds, with a -115 moneyline. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is at -105. 

The Over/Under for this contest is 179.5. Toronto has played to the Over in five straight, while the Sparks have played to the Over in four of five. Both games between the teams last month went to the Over as well.

Los Angeles Sparks

Rae Burrell added 19 points off the bench for Los Angeles in the win over the Liberty. The team overcame a 17-point second-half deficit as six players finished in double figures. That includes Dearica Hamby, who had 12 points and eight rebounds, Kelsey Plum, who added 12 points and seven assists, and Ariel Atkins with 10 points. 

The Sparks were outrebounded, 38-26, but should not have as much of an issue this evening as Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones are not patrolling the paint for the Tempo. Los Angeles has won four of six, but is 3-6 against the spread in its last nine games.

Toronto Tempo

Brittney Sykes, who combined for 65 points in the two games against Los Angeles last month, and rookie guard Kiki Rice will miss extended time due to injuries. Sykes, who is fifth in the league at 20.1 points per game, suffered a plantar fascia injury in a loss to Indiana nine days ago. She is out indefinitely, and there is no replacing her lost offence.

Rice was quickly emerging with 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. She suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain and has been out for nearly a month. A third starter, Nyara Sabally (12.4 PPG, team-leading 5.4 REB) returned to the lineup against Atlanta after missing four straight with a hamstring injury. She had nine points, four rebounds, and two assists in 18 minutes.  

WNBA Prediction: Who will win Tempo vs. Sparks?

The impulse is to take a low-scoring result with Sykes still out of the lineup. Don’t. Both teams are allowing more than 91 points a contest, and they are both still scoring at an 88-to-89-point clip. 

Los Angeles should get the win here, but look for Toronto to hold court at home and cover the slight 1.5-point spread as a favourite with a 94-90 victory.