WNBA Best Bet (Friday, 6/21/24)
Author: Dylan Lieck | June 21, 2024 | 4:56 P.M. CST
Best Bet: Indiana Fever -2.5 (-110) vs. Atlanta Dream
Indiana is playing much better basketball than their season long record indicates. With all the hype surrounding Caitlin Clark, the Fever were put in an impossible situation having to play 9 games the first 16 days of the regular season. This comes on the heals of having less than one month of an off-season for a young, inexperienced Fever team. In the past couple weeks, the Fever have taken some significant steps forward. Part of this is due to their schedule easing up, and part of it has to do with the team improving and learning to play with each other. Aliyah Boston, who was quite possibly the worst player on the team over the first few weeks of the season, has finally played her way out of her slump. Additionally, Clark continues to improve her feel for the game as it slows down for her. She’s been significantly more efficient the past two weeks, compared to the first four weeks of the season. Add in Kelsey Mitchell playing at an All-Star level, and the Fever actually have quite a decent core. I believe they will continue to tick up going forward, and they will have a legitimate shot at a playoff birth.
On the other side, the Atlanta Dream have been hobbled by injuries over the course of the season, and they are still dealing with a few going into this game. That will definitely play a factor in this game. The Fever beat the Dream when the two played eight days ago in Indiana, 91-84. Despite the fact that Caitlin Clark had just 7 points on 3 of 11 shooting (and 7 TO’s), the Fever were still able to emerge victorious, largely due to Aliyah Boston (27 points, 13 boards). Assuming Clark doesn’t have a repeat of her worst game of the season, there’s a significant possibility Indiana actually runs away with this game tonight. When looking at the box score, not only did the Fever lead the entire game, but they won the first half by 15, while putting up a season high 59 points (in a single half). The game got closer than it really was down the stretch, largely because Indiana didn’t have good guard play that night.
I believe we see a repeat of the game between these two last week. Yes that game was at home, and the Fever are now traveling to Atlanta. However, Indiana is playing significantly better overall, regardless of location. And the Dream are too banged up to hang with this fast paced offense. I see the Fever having their way on the offensive end, and they will find ways to get enough stops to win this one comfortably. I like the Fever to win this game by double digits, so let’s lay the 2.5 with Indiana.
Official Pick: Indiana Fever -2.5 vs. Atlanta Dream
Units: 1
