The Lynx and Fever are going head-to-head in Minnesota on Tuesday in WNBA Commissioner’s Cup Final. On DraftKings Sportsbook, the Lynx are 5.5-point favorites and this games carries a total of 166.5 points.
Below, I break down this matchup between the Lynx and Fever, and give a pick for the game.
Lynx vs. Fever preview, prediction
Tuesday will be the fifth annual Commissioner’s Cup for the WNBA. At stake is a $500,000 cash prize for the winning team, which will be split among the players. Additionally, each player from the winning squad will receive $5,000 in crypto currency. No player from either the Lynx or Fever has an annual salary over $300,000, so the financial incentive here is massive for these players. Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Cup should deliver a true playoff-like atmosphere with so much at stake. This will be the first time this season that the Lynx and Fever have faced each other.
The big question mark heading into this anticipated matchup is Caitlin Clark’s health. Indiana’s superstar has missed the team’s past two games with a groin injury, but Clark was able to practice Sunday and told media she was “day-to-day” heading into Tuesday’s matchup.
Clark is averaging 18.9 points and 8.9 assists per game this season, so the Fever need her to be at her best if Indiana wants a chance of upsetting the Lynx.
Unfortunately for Indiana, this game will be in Minnesota, which is another big concern for the Fever and Clark. She has been worse on the road this season, averaging just 11.8 PPG in away games compared to 23.4 PPG at home. In fact, she’s shot a mind boggling 1-for-28 on three pointers in road games this year.
Between Clark’s health and her ineffectiveness on the road, the Fever face a difficult test on Tuesday. Indiana is 8-8 and fourth in net rating, while Minnesota has the league’s best record (14-2) and net rating. Napheesa Collier has been brilliant for the Lynx on both ends of the floor and is the current favorite to win MVP at -260 on DraftKings Sportsbook. This season, the forward is averaging a career-high 24.4 PPG, to go along with 8.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game.
Lynx vs. Fever pick, best bet
The Lynx have been dominating the WNBA this season and the team’s impressive campaign should continue with a Commissioner’s Cup win over the Fever on Tuesday. Especially with Clark banged up, the Fever are no match for the Lynx. The Lynx also play at home, where they are 8-0 this season.
Indiana is just 4-4 on the road this season and each of Minnesota’s last five wins at home have been double-digits, including a 39-point blowout win over the Sun this past Sunday. The Lynx are 9-7 ATS this season.
