Los Angeles Sparks vs. Las Vegas Aces Prediction and Odds - 5/21/21
A pair of teams from the Western Conference are on the floor as they clash in the Silver State. The Los Angeles Sparks are on the road as they travel to face the Las Vegas Aces Friday night. Los Angeles has played just once this season, getting flattened 94-71 at home by Dallas last Friday in their season opener. Las Vegas split a season-opening two-game road set with the Storm, prevailing 96-80 Tuesday night in their most recent game. The Aces won both meetings last season, including an 86-74 road win in the most recent contest September 12, 2020. As it stands, Las Vegas has won the last three meetings.
Los Angeles Sparks Trying to Get in Win Column
Los Angeles is a new-look team in 2021 as there was plenty of turnover in their rotation from last season’s shortened bubble campaign. Things didn’t go well for the Sparks in their opener as they were nearly run out of the building by the Wings. Now, Los Angeles has to shake off a week’s worth of rust since that game to prepare for this one. Against Dallas, the Sparks were good early, leading by as many as nine in the first quarter and by seven after the first stanza. Los Angeles trailed by three at the half before getting outscored 50-30 in the second half to wind up getting blown out. The Sparks were within six with 8:27 to play before Dallas outscored them 24-7 the rest of the way to turn things into a one-sided affair.
In the game, Los Angeles shot 35.9% from the field, including seven of 27 from three-point range, and went eight of 14 at the free throw line. The Sparks allowed the Wings to shoot 53.1% from the floor while getting dominated 45-25 on the glass. One has to wonder how bad the final score could have been if Los Angeles hadn’t forced 26 Dallas turnovers. Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks with 18 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Chiney Ogwumike (12 points, six boards), Kristi Toliver (11 points) and Nia Coffey (10 points) were also in double figures. Derek Fisher hopes to get more from role players like Brittney Sykes, Erica Wheeler, Te’a Cooper, Arella Guirantes, Bria Holmes and Jasmine Walker. Amanda Zahui B is questionable with a back injury after missing the opener.
Las Vegas Aces Look to Build Off First Win
Las Vegas took care of Seattle in the second game of their two-game road set to earn a split with the defending champions. The Aces now return home for their home opener and try to ride that momentum to a second straight win here. Las Vegas started strong against Seattle Tuesday night, jumping to a 17-point lead after the opening quarter. The Aces led by as many as 21 in the game and by 20 at the half. Las Vegas saw their lead trimmed to four after three quarters before regrouping with an 8-0 run to take a 74-62 lead with 8:16 to play. The Aces didn’t let the Storm closer than 10 after that. Las Vegas shot 52.9% from the field, including six of 15 from three-point range, and held a 40-34 edge on the glass. Jackie Young paced the Aces with 21 points as one of six players in double figures in the victory.
The Aces come into this contest near the top of the pack in scoring offense, ranking second with 89.5 points per game. Las Vegas is ninth in the league in rebounding (36 boards a game) and stand first in the league in assists by handing out 23 dimes per contest. The Aces have to improve on the defensive end of the floor as they are 10th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 88.5 points a game. A’ja Wilson leads the Aces with 21 points, eight rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Liz Cambage (17 points, 6.5 rebounds), Jackie Young (16.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) and Kelsey Plum (10.5 points) are all solid secondary options on the offensive end. Coach Bill Laimbeer also can call on Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby, Riquna Williams, Jisu Park, Emma Cannon and Destiny Slocum to contribute on both ends of the floor. Las Vegas is second in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 48% from the field as a team this season. The Aces are tied for seventh in the league in threes per game (4.5) and fifth in three-point shooting at 33.3% on the year. Las Vegas is currently second in free throw shooting at 86.7% on the season.
Trends:
Los Angeles
- Sparks are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as an underdog.
- Sparks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a road underdog.
- Sparks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall
Las Vegas
· No Key Trends
Pick: Las Vegas Aces -7
Los Angeles was crushed at home by Dallas in their season opener. While they’ve had a week to retool and prepare for this one, the fact remains that it’s tough to get into form early in the season with such a long layoff. The Sparks have a lot of new personnel in their rotation and it’s going to take time for them to get things together. Las Vegas showed their grit by running Seattle early Tuesday and then regrouping when the defending champion Storm made a run to cut the lead to four. The Aces have a dangerous combination in the low block with Wilson and Cambage. They shoot the ball well and they have the ability to dissect a Sparks’ team that is still finding their way. Take the Aces at home here as they make it back-to-back wins.
