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WNBA Expert Picks Today: Sun vs. Sparks

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On Thursday, the Connecticut Sun are playing against the Los Angeles Sparks inside the Staples Center tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET; WNBA expert picks are available. This contest can be watched live on NBATV. The Sun are projected to beat the Sparks by at least 10 points.

They are 9.5-point favorites. In the previous ten games played head-to-head, Connecticut are 7-3 versus Los Angeles. On August 28, 2021, the last time these teams faced off, the Sun won 76-61 over the Sparks. The table odds down below were retrieved from Bovada.

Sun vs. Sparks – preview, prediction and free pick

On Tuesday, the Sun defeated the Dallas Wings 83-56. In this matchup, forward Brionna Jones led Connecticut in scoring, ending her performance with 18 points and 10 rebounds in 28 minutes played. Both Briann January and Natisha Hiedeman finished their showings with 13 points. Dallas were held to only 25 points in the first half. Based on defense alone, the Sun did their job efficiently. The team is entering this matchup with a record of 22-6 for the season.

Furthermore, last Thursday, in the Sparks’ 66-57 loss against the Minnesota Lynx, forward Nneka Ogwumike had 16 points, 10 rebounds and one assist in 38 minutes. Guard Erica Wheeler also had 16 points, along with two rebounds and seven assists in 36 minutes on the court. One puzzling, notable factor that led to their nine-point loss was the team being held to only four points in the fourth quarter. They failed to generate enough momentum in the second half, causing them to drop to 10-18.

Injuries:

Sun: Alyssa Thomas is out indefinitely due to a torn Achilles tendon.

Sparks: Kristi Toliver is out indefinitely because of a hand injury. Additionally, Chiney Ogwumike, the younger sister of Nneka, is listed as questionable due to her knee. Jasmine Walker is also out for the season.

Moreover, the Sun are 8-6-1 at the spread while playing on the road this season. They are also 9-6 straight up in away games as well. For other notable betting trends, Connecticut are on an eight-game winning streak. The total has gone under in nine of their past 12 games played. Not to mention, the total has gone under in five of the team’s last four road games.

As for the Sparks, they are 8-6 ATS while playing at home and 7-7 at home overall this season. Plus, they are 1-4 ATS in their previous five games. Not only has the total gone under in four of their last five contests, the total has gone under in five of the Sparks’ past six home games. Pick Connecticut to win and expect the total to go over 144 this time. WNBA expert picks are accessible daily.



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Hornets Shut Down LaMelo Ball (Ankle) for Season

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The Charlotte Hornets are shutting down fourth-year guard LaMelo Ball for the remainder of the 2023-24 season, as he continues to rehab a right ankle injury, the team announced Thursday.

Ball has been out since Jan. 27, when he was sidelined in the second game of a back-to-back. The 2022 All-Star also missed nearly seven weeks after he sprained his right ankle in November.

Since playing 51 games (31 starts) in his rookie 2020-21 season and 75 games (all starts) in 2021-22, Ball has been limited to just 58 appearances over the past two seasons combined due to a number of injuries to the same ankle.

Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball recorded a season-high 37 points against Milwaukee Bucks

“Yeah, I mean, he’s so unique in my time, just because of what you said, size, speed, quickness, and then shot creation and shot making,” Clifford said of Ball in October. “He’s a terrific worker. He only got to play 36 games last year. He was coming off a significant injury, and he crushed it this summer.”

In Charlotte’s 130-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 17, the guard recorded a season-high 37 points, five rebounds, five assists, and a steal in 34 minutes of action.

“I think, obviously, our vision for him [Ball] is to be the elite point guard in the league or one of the two or three best point guards in the league, which he obviously has the talent to do,” Clifford added. “He has the work ethic to do it.”

Additionally, Ball is earning $10.9 million this season. This is part of the four-year, $35.60 million rookie-scale contract he signed with the Hornets in November 2020. His upcoming five-year, $260 million deal begins next season.

Charlotte’s 2020 first-round draft pick is under contract through the 2028-29 season after inking his designated rookie max extension in July. Depending on the salary cap, he could make as much as $46.53 million in 2028-29.





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76ers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. apologises after tirade following last-second controversy

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The Sixers and Clippers fought until the last second of their Wednesday night matchup, ending the tie in full-blown drama that included insults and replay reviews. This is why the controversy surrounding the last play of the contest, stained the Los Angeles club’s 108-107 triumph.

With the 76ers trailing by a point in the final play of the game, Kelly Oubre Jr. took the ball and drove it towards the basket but collided with Paul George as he got off the floor. The officials didn’t see an issue with the play and restrained from blowing the whistle, which meant that time eventually expired and the Clippers earned the win.

The Philadelphia forward walked over to the officials alongside his coach Nick Nurse to yell at the refs, but both were consequently separated by their own teammates. Oubre Jr.’s choice of words have gone viral on social media, as he appears to insult them after his 17-point performance.

“First and foremost, heat of the moment, this is an intense basketball game, of course. We’re not perfect, the refs aren’t perfect,” he said full of regret. “I want to apologize for just losing my cool, because that’s something I try to work on each and every day, and try to represent God in the best way I possibly can, and that wasn’t it. I just ask for forgiveness.”

Oubre Jr. revealed that he witnessed his coach’s frustration, which only fueled his own anger. “But I saw Coach Nurse getting riled up and if our coach is going to fight for us and he’s going there, then I’m right behind him. At the end of the day it wasn’t cool, so I’ll take whatever penalties come with that and have to move on. But I’ve got to be better, in a sense,” he added.

To make matters worse, the referees later admitted they had made a mistake during that play, in which Kelly hoped to get at least a free-throw attempt. “On the last play on the floor, in real time the crew interpreted that play as the defender jumping vertically,” said crew chief Kevin Scott. “However, in post-game video review we did observe some slight drift to his left by the defender George, and a foul should have been ruled.”

It is normal to have officials miss calls during a basketball match, but the ones that occur in the final minutes of a game usually are subject to the most scrutiny. The Sixers, who at some point were second in the Eastern Conference’s standings, are now fighting to stay out of Play-In positions.

Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse revealed how his team was contributing to their own defeat against the Clippers

Despite letting off steam at the end of the contest, the 76ers tactician knew they only had themselves to blame for their last-second loss to the Clippers. Philly wasn’t able to contain their opponent’s full-court press and made many mistakes along the way.

“Well, at 104-101, we had the ball sideline, [and] Tyrese [Maxey] breaks into the backcourt wide open, slips and falls, and they get an and-1 out of that,” Nurse explained. “We come down and score, they’re full-court press and they knock one off of Kelly out of bounds.”

However, the Sixers coach didn’t agree with some late calls made by the refs, and even excused his starting forward for all the drama that ensued once the final buzzer went off.

“I think [Oubre] took it in there pretty hard,” Nick expressed postgame. “I looked at it on our computers a couple times. I thought it was certainly contact, certainly as much of the last two or three that got called and-1s at the other end. I thought it was enough contact to call. [But] that’s the way it goes sometimes.”





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LeBron James hopes to be strategic with health and later push in playoffs

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Just like at the end of last year’s regular season, LeBron James needs to consider his playtime to rest and save up energy if he is to lead the Lakers‘ push during the NBA Playoffs. The only difference is, this time he’s not injured, but should emphasise being strategic with his health in case it happens.

The biggest challenge is the fact that the purple and gold have no guarantees that they’ll make it to the postseason just yet, and will also need their superstar’s guidance in order to keep chasing a better seed down the stretch. After beating the Grizzlies 136-124 this Wednesday evening, he revealed his thoughts on the matter.

“I got to be smart with it,” the veteran said after returning from a one-game absence due to a sore left ankle. “If I’m not healthy, or [anywhere] close to being healthy, then it’s not good for our ballclub anyway. It’s not good for me.”

Despite being the oldest player in the league, James is still putting up impressive exhibitions along the way. The 21-year veteran logged his fourth triple-double of the campaign against Memphis, with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists to his name. With this past win, the Los Angeles club extend their streak to a season-best five games and are sitting in the Western Conference’s ninth spot with nine contest yet to go.

This is why LeBron considers it necessary to avoid risking short-term objectives that could affect his playoff involvement. “I mean, I would’ve probably tried to play yesterday [in Milwaukee] if that was the case,” the 39-year-old said, as he’s only missed 10 games so far this season. During his absence, the squad has gone 6-4.

“Just be very strategic,” the star explained. “Obviously, understanding and seeing how my ankle and my foot is feeling. But just being very smart about it, obviously. We are where we are, but our health has always been the most important for our ballclub. Not just one individual. But for me looking out for myself when it comes to injury and knowing my foot and knowing my ankle and how it reacts, and how it’s been over the last couple of years, it’s just always keeping a hefty eye on it.”

Unfortunately for the L.A. club, they must also decide how to manage Anthony Davis‘ situation, as the team decided to follow the same approach as he sat out on Wednesday due to a hyperextended left knee.

Despite AD’s knee injury, the Lakers prove to have depth as Rui Hachimura excelled in his teammate’s absence

Despite playing without their All-Star big man, who rested his left knee on Wednesday, the purple and gold still clinched a win against the Grizzlies inspired by many surprising leaders. One of them was Davis’ replacement, Rui Hachimura, who hit 32 points and earned 10 rebounds last night.

“When I came here today, this morning, I got all the flashbacks from last year,” shared the Japanese star. “Playoff time. … We have good memories here, had a pretty good games in here. I think I was happy to be able to come back here — it’s been almost a year.”

Just like last campaign, the Los Angeles team hope to play their best when it really counts. One year ago, the Lakers produced one of the strongest pushes down the last regular-season stretch. One Lakers forward believes it’s about being consistent.

“I don’t think any team in the league really wants to see us besides a couple,” said Taurean Prince. “We know our capabilities. I think everybody else does, too. It’s just about us coming being consistent.”





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