Now this is a heavyweight matchup. The Minnesota Lynx need one more win in order to secure the top overall seed in the WNBA playoff race. In their way is an Indiana Fever team trying to secure home-court advantage for the first round of the postseason. The stakes are high, and the stars are ready to go; all we have to do is kick back and enjoy the show.
The Fever enter as 1.5-point home favorites with -110 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Lynx are also -110 to win, with the game total set at 187.5 points.
Let’s dive into a preview, prediction and pick for this Lynx-Fever matchup.
Lynx vs. Fever Preview
This is the second of three regular-season matchups between the two teams, as they’re playing a home-and-home series to close out the regular season. Their first matchup in early August was an absolute barn-burner, and the Lynx won at home, 108-100. Their backcourt led Minnesota’s offense, but it was a complete team effort, with all five starters scoring in double digits. Olivia Miles and Courtney Williams combined for 55 of their 108 points, punishing Indiana’s weak defense all night long. Kelsey Mitchell poured in 37 points for the Fever, but an inefficient night from Caitlin Clark made the difference.
No surprise, all eyes are on the backcourt once again. Clark and Mitchell have a strong claim to the title of best offensive backcourt, but Miles and Williams make a strong case for the best overall backcourt in the WNBA. Minnesota drawing even in the backcourt scoring matchup is likely to lead to another win; if Indiana can tilt that in their favor, they have to like their chances. Courtney Williams’ defense will play a huge role here after she bothered Clark tremendously in their last matchup.
Another big question is Napheesa Collier vs. Aliyah Boston. Two of the league’s best two-way frontcourt presences, they’ll battle all over the floor. Collier won the first matchup, putting up 18 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Her offensive aggression kept Boston in foul trouble and negated her defensive impact. If Collier has that kind of impact in this matchup, the Lynx will put immense pressure on the home team.
The biggest swing factor here is the bench battle. As Sophie Cunningham’s impact diminishes, much of the pressure falls on Makayla Timpson to provide the Fever with depth. Her rebounding and play-finishing skills are immensely valuable, but they can only take their bench group so far. To contend with a bench group that includes Nia Coffey, Dorka Juhász, and Maya Caldwell, they’ll need to find production from an unexpected place.
Now that we know these two teams a bit better, who will take home the win?
Lynx vs. Fever Pick, Best Bet
With the top seed on the line, the Lynx will throw everything they’ve got at the Fever to earn some rest on the last day of the season. They match up so well against this team, especially given their significant depth advantage. Minnesota will win a second straight shootout over their potential playoff foes.
