The Minnesota Lynx are nearly impossible to stop. They’re rolling on both ends of the floor and have seamlessly integrated Napheesa Collier back into the lineup. Though the Portland Fire aren’t exactly rolling, they have talent and an identity. Will that be enough for the home upset?
The Lynx enter as 12.5-point road favorites with -900 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Fire are +600 underdogs, with the game total set at 184.5 points.
Let’s dive into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Lynx-Fire matchup.
Lynx vs. Fire Prediction, Preview
So far this season, these two teams have played twice, and it hasn’t gone well for the Fire. The first game was a 107-74 decimation by the Lynx during Commissioner’s Cup play, a game in which seven different Minnesota players scored in double figures. The second matchup was considerably closer; behind 20+ performances from Bridget Carleton, Sarah Ashlee Barker, and Carla Leite, the Fire only lost by eight. Once again, it was the considerable depth of the Lynx that drove home the victory.
But much has changed for these two teams since they last played. Minnesota welcomed Napheesa Collier back to the lineup, adding an All-Star and former DPOY to the best team in the league. Meanwhile, the Fire lost Sarah Ashlee Barker for the season due to a torn ACL, which all but destroyed their slim playoff hopes. It’s no wonder that the Lynx are such overwhelming road favorites.
If the Fire want to pull the upset, it starts with Carla Leite. Their breakout star of the year has proven to be a great floor general in her second season, and the combination of scoring and playmaking makes her awfully dangerous. If Bridget Carleton and Megan DiLeo can be solid scoring outlets, it’s possible they can cobble together enough offense to pull off the upset. That’s assuming that Leite suits up after a knee sprain on August 8th. As she has done all season, Emily Engstler will have to do yeoman’s work on the defensive end of the floor in order to keep Minnesota’s elite offense in check.
For Minnesota to prevail, it’s about business as usual. The chemistry between Rookie of the Year shoo-in Olivia Miles and Napheesa Collier has been excellent. Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride, and Natasha Howard are no strangers to taking secondary and tertiary roles while the superstars cook. If they can follow the formula that has made them the best team in the league, dispatching of this Fire squad shouldn’t be a problem.
Now that we know these teams a bit better, who is going to pull out the win, and how should we bet on this game?
Lynx vs. Fire Pick, Best Bet
Even if the Fire were completely healthy, I’d be strongly on the side of the Lynx. They’re leaps and bounds better on both ends of the floor and only getting better with Collier back in the fold. Now that injuries are taking their toll on the Fire, this one could get into blowout territory awfully fast. If Leite is ruled out, this spread will only get more lopsided, so I’m getting in on it now.
