Sparks vs. Sun Odds & Betting Predictions - August 20, 2024

Marina Mabrey was just traded to the Connecticut Sun and is giving them much needed spacing with her 3 point shooting while still being able to create for herself and others off the bounce. The Sun play the LA Sparks on Tuesday night. LA allows their opponents to shoot a league-best 37.9% from 3 point range and they have the third-worst Defensive Rating in the league (106.0). The Sun play slow while the Sparks play at about a league average Pace as well, so it’s not a Pace down game for Connecticut by any means. Moreover, since Mabrey arrived, the Sun have averaged a 98.40 Pace, a significant uptick from their full season mark of 92.82. It’s a bit too early to tell if they’re going to play faster for sure with Mabrey, but there are some indications they will get a few extra possessions. Prior to the trade, when Mabrey played the Sparks this season she scored 20 points including 6/11 shooting from 3 point range. Considering she’s taken 41.6% of her team’s 3 point attempts in her two games as a member of the Sun, it’s reasonable to expect her to cook in a plus matchup against LA. I’ll back her to exceed 2.5 3s and don’t mind sprinkling (.15 units) 4+ (+300 Bet365/+290 FD).