Los Angeles @ Indiana picks

These two teams are heading in opposite directions. The Indiana Fever are 4-1 across their past five outings, climbing back above .500 in the process, and they ran the Las Vegas Aces out of the gym earlier this week despite Caitlin Clark's absence. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Sparks are 3-6-1 ATS in their last 10 contests, and their upgraded core just hasn’t clicked with Kelsey Plum next to Dearica Hamby and Rickea Jackson. Though L.A. edged the last matchup between these teams, I’ll gladly lay a 5.5-point spread with Indiana tonight.

Kelsey Mitchell is averaging a career-best 19.3 points per game this season. She’s scored 21 or more six times and exactly 20 points twice. Of Mitchell’s six 21-point performances, four have come in front of the Indiana Fever home crowd. She’s tied for second-most points per game in the W across her last five with 24.6 per tilt. Mitchell has scored 20 points in five straight games, and she’s posted at least 25 points in two of her previous three with Caitlin Clark on the sideline. With Clark out again tonight, Mitchell is in a great position to rack up the points against a lackluster Sparks defense.

Aliyah Boston has averaged a healthy 27.8 PRA per game this season, going for 28.8 at home and 26.7 on the road. She’s hit the Over in nine of 17 games overall, including five of nine at home, with precisely 27 PRA in one more home affair. She’s been cooking over her last six, averaging 32.2 PRA. In that span, she’s recorded four 20-point games and three double-doubles, while posting 28 or more PRA five times. Expect another strong performance at home tonight.