Last year, this would have been a marquee matchup. Both teams finished second in their respective conferences during the regular season and lost to the eventual Finals teams in the semifinals. Now, the Las Vegas Aces and Connecticut Sun are headed in two very different directions.
The Aces are in an interesting transitional period. After eight years, star guard and two-time champ Kelsey Plum departed for the Sparks. So, how did Vegas respond? By adding another two-time champ and former scoring title winner, Jewell Loyd. The core of the team other than Plum remained intact, and A’ja Wilson remains the best player in the world by a country mile, so they should remain contenders.
For the Sun, it was an all-timer of an offseason in the worst way. Their entire starting five from last season is gone. Alyssa Thomas, one of the best all-around players in the league, left for Phoenix. That kicked off a chain of moves, namely the free-agent departures of Brionna Jones and DeWanna Bonner and the trading away of DiJonai Carrington and Rebecca Allen. They did make some good signings, including living legend Tina Charles, but it’s a full-blown rebuild in Connecticut as the potential sale of the franchise looms large.
The Fever are 12.5-point favorites at -750 on the moneyline on the DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 167. Let’s take a look at the best bets for this contest.
Best Bets for Sun vs. Aces
Las Vegas Aces -12.5 (-108)
I’m not totally out on this Sun team. Marina Mabrey, acquired at the trade deadline last season, can show out on offense. Olivia Nelson-Ododa could be a breakout player while being thrust into a starting role. Tina Charles, even at age 36, can get double-doubles with the best of them. They might not be the worst team in the league on the strength of that trio alone, before you get to their solid rookie class.
The problem is this Aces team. They’re hungry after coming up short to the Finals-winning New York Liberty in the conference finals. That same Liberty team just beat them on opening night. They’re going to be angry and looking to take out their frustration on a Sun team still reeling from a brutal offseason. Even though the spread is hefty, the Aces will come out with a chip on their shoulder and make the Sun set early.
Jewell Loyd 18+ Points (+135)
Speaking of getting frustration out, Jewell Loyd is due after a tough opening night. The Liberty’s excellent perimeter defense held the former scoring champ to just five points on 2-of-10 shooting. Notably, they held her without a free throw attempt after taking the second most in the league last year. New teammate and reigning M’VP A’ja Wilson was the only one to outdo her when it comes to foul drawing.
While Loyd has never been the most efficient scorer, she will get her shots up and get to the line. I don’t think this Sun team is prepared to stop her. While it’s possible that she takes a backseat to some degree while adjusting to a new team, I think she can flirt with 20 before this game gets out of hand.
