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Sparks vs. Mercury Prediction and Odds for Thursday, July 28 (Will L.A. Respond After Divorce from Liz Cambage?)

By Ben Heisler

Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka Ogwumike and Brittney Sykes watch from the sidelines in L.A's 86-79 home win vs. the Indiana Fever on July 19.
Chiney Ogwumike, Nneka Ogwumike and Brittney Sykes watch from the sidelines in L.A's 86-79 home win vs. the Indiana Fever on July 19. / WNBA Media
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It's not every day that a team loses their second-best player, and possibly gets better, but that may be the case for the L.A. Sparks heading into their road matchup vs. the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday evening.

On Tuesday, the Sparks and center Liz Cambage agreed to a "contract divorce," mutually terminating her 1-year contract with the team. The 30-year old center averaged 13 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 25 games this year.

So how does that help Los Angeles? Despite strong numbers, not many teams had much interest in bringing in Cambage as a free agent. According to The Next's Howard Megdal, the Sparks under former head coach and GM Derek Fisher were the only team willing to sign her; only for her to then turn on Fisher as part of the group to get him fired.

Now that she reportedly "quit" on the team, perhaps it's a bit of addition by subtraction for L.A as they fight for the playoffs.

For lack of a better word, could this be the "Spark" Los Angeles needs to get going? Or will Phoenix's improved second-half play be too much to handle for a team in transition?

Here are the latest odds from DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight's Western Conference showdown in Phoenix.

Sparks vs. Mercury Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Sparks +5
  • Mercury -5

Moneyline:

  • Sparks +185
  • Mercury -215

Total:

  • 167 (OVER -110 | UNDER -110)

Sparks vs. Mercury Prediction and Pick

There's two ways to approach this matchup tonight.

Either the Sparks come out and play with immediate urgency following the "divorce" from Cambage, or they roll over and the Mercury smoke them from the start.

I'm willing to back the former. Following the All-Star break, Phoenix has the second-worst defensive rating in the league. For a team like Los Angeles, who plays at the second- highest pace in the first half of games, this should be a nice confidence booster to get their offense going.

I also expect the Sparks to get a little more chemistry going. With Cambage gone, Chiney Ogwumike earns more playing time alongside her older sister Nneka, who continues to play at an exceptional level.

Perhaps the Mercury take control in the second half at home, as Skylar Diggins-Smith has put together a quiet MVP-type campaign for Phoenix. For now, I like L.A. early and will take them at plus-value.

PICK: Sparks 1H +2 (-110)

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