This matchup finds the Fever and the Wings at a pivotal moment. Indiana is surging toward the top of the playoff picture and has built strong momentum ahead of the World Cup break at the end of the month. Meanwhile, Dallas has tumbled to the eighth seed and is at risk of falling out of the playoff picture entirely. Can they flip the script and pull a big upset at home? Or will the Fever continue to roll?
The Fever enter as 2.5-point road favorites with -142 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Wings are +120 underdogs, with the game total set at 185.5 points.
Let’s dive into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Fever-Wings matchup.
Fever vs. Wings Prediction, Preview
This will be the third and final meeting between these two teams. They first squared off on opening night, resulting in an electrifying 107-104 win for the Wings. But in the rematch this past Friday, Indiana got their revenge with a 98-87 win. In both matchups, it was all about the guards; Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale both scored 20+ points in each matchup, while Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell did the same.
But things have changed considerably. Azzi Fudd, the No. 1 overall pick, has struggled with on-and-off injuries all season long. Now that season is coming to an end, as the rookie will go under the knife for knee surgery.
With Aziaha James also ruled out for Thursday’s game, Dallas is left awfully light on perimeter defenders. That places even more pressure on Bueckers and Ogunbowale to hold up their end defensively. That’s a necessity when you’re facing Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark.
Assuming those two play on Thursday (both currently listed as questionable), the game flows through them. Few, if any, can guard Kelsey Mitchell when she’s on her game. Dallas’ ever-thinning defense will struggle with Clark’s driving and playmaking. The rotations have to be sharp, and they cannot let this dynamic Fever offense get too many easy looks, or else it’ll be a long night.
Two key players are in Dallas’ frontcourt. Jessica Shepard has to be a big-time presence on the boards to counter Aliyah Boston’s rebounding. Her role will be crucial to pressuring Indiana’s defense. But she also has to lock in defensively, which has been an issue at times this year. Awak Kuier, one of the most impactful rotational defenders in basketball, will be interesting to watch here. Her usage under head coach Jose Fernandez has been puzzling, but this is a great spot for her to thrive. Indiana’s offense loves to create chaos; a defender who thrives in chaos would be extremely valuable.
Now that we know these teams a bit better, who will pull out the win, and how should we bet on this game?
Fever vs. Wings Pick, Best Bet
The injuries are absolutely brutal for Dallas here. Every defense in the league is having a hard time with this Fever offense, and Dallas is no different. They’ve already surrendered 202 points in two matchups, and it’s not going to get any easier without Fudd and James. Indiana’s attack will prove too overwhelming for a reeling Wings team.
