The Valkyries are hosting the Lynx for Game 2 of this best-of-three first-round playoff series. Minnesota leads this series 1-0 and can advance with a win. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Lynx are favored by 10.5 points and this game carries a total of 151.5 points.
Below, I break down this Valkyries vs. Lynx matchup and give a pick for the game.
Valkyries vs. Lynx preview, prediction
Sunday’s Game 1 was a classic playoff blowout in which the top-seeded team dominated the lowest-seeded team. The No. 1 seeded Lynx defeated the No. 8 seeded Valkyries 101-72 and Minnesota is now 5-0 vs. Golden State this season with a 14.8 PPG margin of victory. The Lynx led by as many as 36 points and the club nearly bested the Valkyries in every major statistic.
Specifically, Minnesota destroyed Golden State for 44 points in the paint, while the Valkyries only finished with 18 points in that category. Furthermore, the Lynx’s bench produced 42 points, compared to just 17 for the Valkyries. MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 20 points in the Game 1 blowout win, and Natisha Hiedeman and Kayla McBride were both excellent with 18 and 17 points, respectively.
Recently announced Most Improved Player of the Year Veronica Burton led the Valkyries with 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds in the Game 1 loss. However, the guard struggled mightily with protecting the ball, finishing with a game-high seven turnovers. Per usual, Golden State had a well-balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures, but the Valkyries shot an ugly 33.9% from the field vs. Minnesota’s league-best defense.
Golden State must vastly improve on the offensive end if the club wants to have any chance in Game 2 and the Valkyries must make it a mission to slow down Collier, as the forward has scored at least 20 points in four of her five matchups with Golden State this season. Golden State’s calling card is the team’s defense, with the Valkyries ranking fourth in defensive rating and first in opponent field-goal percentage this season, but great offense beats great defense most of the time and the Lynx are the top-rated offense in the league this season by a solid margin.
Valkyries vs. Lynx pick, best bet
The Valkyries becoming the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season is a great achievement for the new franchise, but Golden State’s road unfortunately ends tonight at the hands of the Lynx. The Valkyries are simply no match for the Lynx and Minnesota should continue to dominate Golden State in Game 2 with another easy win.
Four of the Lynx’s five wins over the Valkyries this season have been by at least 11 points and Minnesota is a great bet to cover this 10.5-point spread. This season, the Lynx are 25-18-1 ATS.
