WNBA playoff odds, tips, best bets

Dominance. That is the best way to describe the Connecticut Sun’s performance in their first game against the Indiana Fever.

Connecticut won the home game against one of the strongest teams of the last month by 24 points.

The Sun benefited from incredible performances by stars at the two-way position Alyssa Thomas and Marina Mabrey, who sank five 3-point shots with a hit rate of 42% as a substitute.

In addition, the Sun were able to shut down rookie point guard Caitlin Clark, limiting her to just 4 of 17 shots.

Will the Sun put on another impressive performance with excellent defensive pressure on Clark, or will the superhuman rookie find a way to extend the streak for the Fever?

Fever vs. Sun Odds

Fever vs. Sun Forecast

(7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Connecticut ranks 1st in defensive rating, 1st in opponent points in the box, 1st in opponent fast break points, 1st in opponent turnover percentage, 4th in opponent effective field goal percentage and 4th in defensive rebound percentage.

The Sun’s exceptional defense was on display throughout the entire 40 minutes of the first game.

They held an Indiana team that had shot 47% from the field and 40% from behind the three-point line since returning from the extended break to a meager 40/21/75 shooting percentage.

DeWanna Bonner defended sensationally against Clark, Thomas managed a triple-double and Mabrey finished the playoffs with 27 points as a substitute, the best result of his career.

Indiana has very little playoff experience, which was evident towards the end of the first half and throughout the fourth quarter.

Still, don’t expect the Fever to shoot so poorly in Game 2. They had the WNBA’s best post-break offense for a reason.

Connecticut’s defense was great as always, but Indiana had numerous chances and opportunities that it was unable to capitalize on.

Additionally, the Suns made nearly 50% of their shots from the field and 50% of their shots from behind the three-point line, thanks in part to Indiana’s Matador-like defense.

However, it is borderline unreasonable to expect a team that ranks eighth (out of twelve teams) in effective field goal percentage to also have an outstanding shooting percentage in Game 2.

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Fever vs. Sun

The Sun were favourites at the start with a seven-point lead, but the lead has now been reduced to six points.

While I’d prefer a three-possession lead, six points in this make-or-break situation is still too much for a Fever team that has been one of the best in the W over the past month.

Choose: Fever +6 (-110, Caesars)