(Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Connecticut Sun and the Minnesota Lynx eye for better playoff positions as they cross paths this Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
As it stands, Minnesota is currently two games behind league leaders New York Liberty and a game and a half above Connecticut. Both teams have met twice this season with the Sun winning all two.
- Connecticut heads into this game following an 84-71 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. Minnesota, on the other hand, is fresh off an 88-79 victory over the Liberty for its sixth consecutive victory.
- Minnesota opened as 3.5-point underdogs on Sunday afternoon across multiple bookmakers. However, tables have turned and the Lynx are now the 1.5-point favorites as of press time.
- While the Sun leads the season series, both teams are 1-1 against one another as far as Against-The-Spread (ATS) records are concerned.
- Connecticut is currently riding a three-game ATS win streak while Minnesota has covered the spread in their past two.
With Connecticut and Minnesota having plenty of firepower, expect both teams to go right at it from the jump in a game that could go down to the wire and potentially determine their spots heading into the playoffs.
Early Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx odds suggest a home victory but let’s see whether those odds are justified.
Connecticut Sun
vs
Minnesota Lynx
DraftKings WNBA
Odds for
September 17, 2024
Moneyline
- Connecticut Sun: +102
- Minnesota Lynx: -122
Spread
- Connecticut Sun: +1.5 (-110)
- Minnesota Lynx: -1.5 (-110)
Over/Under (Total)
- OVER 155 (-110)
- UNDER 155 (-110)
Connecticut Sun
vs
Minnesota Lynx
Injury Report
Connecticut Sun Injury Report
- Tiffany Mitchell – Illness – Out
Minnesota Lynx Injury Report
- Dorka Juhasz – Right Foot – Day-to-Day
Best odds for
Connecticut Sun
vs
Minnesota Lynx
- The Connecticut Sun covered the spread in their previous meeting with the Minnesota Lynx. The best Connecticut Sun odds to cover the +1.5 spread are available on FEZBET at -109.
- The Minnesota Lynx are the best team in the league as far as ATS records are concerned, sporting a 24-14 card. DraftKings offers the best odds for the Lynx to cover the -1.5 spread at -110.
- The Connecticut Sun and the Minnesota Lynx are among the best offensive teams in the league. The best Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx odds for the over are available on FEZBET at -100.
Why will the
Connecticut Sun
cover the spread?
The Connecticut Sun suffered its biggest loss of the season against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday no thanks to a dismal third quarter where they only scored 11 points. The road does not get easier next as they take on the red-hot Minnesota Lynx.
Something positive the Sun can take though is that they’ve beaten the Lynx in all of their meetings this season. Across two matchups this year, Connecticut has beat Minnesota by an average margin of three points.
- What’s even more remarkable is Connecticut won their last matchup against Minnesota 78-73 in front of a hostile Target Center crowd. Impressive in that game was versatile forward DeWanna Bonner who exploded for 24 points and nine rebounds.
- Now returning home after a four-game road trip, there could be potential value in backing Connecticut to cover the +1.5 spread, considering how they've beaten Minnesota in the past and that was without Marina Mabrey.
With Mabrey now in Connecticut’s camp, the Sun will have another offensive firepower to take the load off from other players.
- The 28-year old Mabrey, who was acquired from the Chicago Sky a few months ago, has been averaging 21 points in the past three games.
- One thing that needs to happen here though is Bonner finding her spots and making her shots. The 37-year old Bonner has been gun-shy lately, only attempting eight shots per game in the past three. She was only held to six points against the Aces on Sunday.
Other than Bonner, forwards Brionna Jones and Alyssa Thomas must also step up to try and contain Minnesota’s incoming freight train in the name of Napheesa Collier.
- In their two previous matchups with the Lynx, the frontcourt duo of Jones and Thomas averaged a combined 28.5 points.
Should Mabrey continue her stellar play and Bonner, Jones, and Thomas get their buckets, backing on the home team to cover the +1.5 spread is something worth mulling over.
It can be recalled that the Sun were 3.5-point favorites in their last outing and more than covered the spread with a five-point win.
Why will the
Minnesota Lynx
cover the spread?
The Connecticut Sun has been the kryptonite of the Minnesota Lynx all season long. But the Lynx are in a better position than ever to redeem its mistakes, considering that the Sun are heading into this game fresh off its biggest loss of the season.
- Although Connecticut has beaten Minnesota twice this season, it is worth noting that their losses could’ve gone either way. In their first meeting, the Lynx would’ve won that game had it not for a late foul called.
- The second matchup was also going Minnesota’s way until Napheesa Collier left the game late in the third quarter due to a foot injury. The Lynx went on to lose that match 78-73.
Another thing of note is the ATS records of both teams. While the Sun is currently riding a three-game ATS win streak, they actually have only covered six of their home games this season.
- Minnesota, on the other hand, is not only on a two-game ATS streak but have also shown great fighting resolve on the road, covering the spread in 13 of their 19 games.
With Minnesota healthy and riding a six-game winning streak, backing them to cover the -1.5 spread at these current odds could be attractive for punters looking for value on the underdog.
It is worth noting that the Lynx have won their past six games by an average margin of 10.2 points.
Final
Connecticut Sun
vs
Minnesota Lynx
Prediction: Minnesota Lynx -1.5 (-110)
The Connecticut Sun has had the Minnesota Lynx’s number this season. However, the Lynx are a team that you just don’t bet against right now.
With forward Napheesa Collier healthy and the Lynx in high spirits following a victory against the New York Liberty on the road, I like Minnesota to pick up a dominant win and cover the spread here.