An 11:00 a.m. ET tipoff isn’t something you see every day, and this matchup comes with another wrinkle. Connecticut could be without two key contributors as it looks to avoid another home loss against a Portland team that already won the first meeting this season. The Fire enter as 1.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the total sits at 166.5.
Let’s get into it!
Fire vs. Sun Preview
Connecticut has struggled offensively for much of the season, but there have been some encouraging signs lately. Leila Lacan has settled into a larger role, averaging 12.4 points, 4.6 assists, and 2.1 steals per game, while Brittney Griner is coming off one of her best performances of the season with 29 points and 10 rebounds against Minnesota. The concern is availability. Aneesah Morrow has already been ruled out for reconditioning, and Griner is questionable with a quad injury, leaving the Sun potentially without two starters against a team they’ve already struggled to solve once this season.
The Fire aren’t an elite defensive team, allowing 98.5 points per game over their last 10 contests, but they matched up well against Connecticut in May, holding the Sun to just 61 points in a 71-61 victory. Portland continues to generate offense from multiple spots, averaging 89.5 points over its last 10 games while knocking down 9.6 three-pointers per game. That’s a notable advantage against a Connecticut team that continues to search for consistent perimeter shooting.
Carla Leite has become one of Portland’s most reliable offensive engines, averaging 15.1 points and 5.8 assists per game. She also scored 20 points in the first meeting with the Sun, helping Portland control the pace throughout the afternoon. The Fire don’t need explosive scoring to win this matchup. They simply need enough balance offensively while forcing Connecticut to work for every basket.
That’s where this game starts to favor Portland. The Sun have remained competitive despite their record and have played several close games recently, but asking a team that already ranks last in scoring to potentially replace the production of Morrow and Griner is a difficult task. Portland has already shown it can slow Connecticut’s offense, and if the Fire continue to make perimeter shots at their usual rate, they’ll put plenty of pressure on a Sun team that has struggled to keep up offensively all season.
Fire vs. Sun Pick, Best Bet
Connecticut has shown more fight lately than its record suggests, but Portland enters as the healthier team and already has a blueprint for success in this matchup. The Fire should have enough offensive balance to cover a short number.
Best Bet: Portland Fire -1.5
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This article was created with the assistance of generative AI and edited by a DraftKings Network writer.