Sun vs Fever Odds: Alyssa Thomas Making History for Connecticut

Thomas' Historic Start Has Sun Rolling Near Top of WNBA Standings

August 4, 2023 99 3 minutes readNBA Picks & Parlays

Sun vs Fever Odds: Alyssa Thomas Keeps Making History for Connecticut — Photo taken from wabi.tv

AT Setting a High Bar
Cannon, Smith Fueling Indy
Handicapping the Game

The Connecticut Sun have been one of the WNBA’s best teams for a majority of the season. Friday, they hope to keep building on their success when they visit the Indiana Fever.

Connecticut is a -8-point (-110) favorite and -360 to win outright, with Indiana priced +300. The projected total is 160.5 (-110). Let’s break down the Sun vs Fever odds in our game preview.

Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever

Date, time: Friday, 7 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

AT Setting a High Bar

Forward Alyssa Thomas keeps making history. Thomas went off for 21 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists in Tuesday’s 79-69 victory over the Minnesota Lynx, becoming the first player in WNBA history to record a 20-20-10 triple-double. According to WNBA stats, it was Thomas’ fifth triple-double this season and the record ninth of her career.

And that’s not all the history Thomas made.Thomas, who had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in Sunday’s 87-83 loss to the Lynx, is the only player to record back-to-back triple doubles multiple times in the same season.

Thomas, a four-time All-Star, is having arguably the best season of her career, averaging 14.8 points to go with an WNBA-best 10.2 rebounds and 8.2 assists. She also ranks second in both steals (1.8) and minutes (36.6) per game. Despite that, the 31-year-old Thomas is still a +2000 longshot to win her first WNBA MVP Award, well behind New York’s Breanna Stewart (-130) and Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson (+120), the reigning winner.

The Connecticut Sun have largely followed Thomas’ lead, registering the second-best record in the Eastern Conference at 19-7. They’ve allowed, on average, the fewest points (78.5) in the WNBA and remain the biggest threat to the league’s clear-cut best teams, the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty. The Sun are priced +2500 to win the Finals, per WNBA odds.

Cannon, Smith Fueling Indy

Guard Emma Cannon scored a career-high 23 points in Tuesday’s 72-71 victory over the Phoenix Mercury, helping the Indiana Fever snap a four-game losing streak. Cannon, who was making just her ninth career start, also recorded a season-high nine rebounds. The Fever are still just 2-12 over their last 14 games and entered Thursday with the WNBA’s third-worst record at 7-19.

Rookie center Aliyah Boston has been an obvious bright spot, averaging 14.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. She also leads the WNBA in shooting percentage at 58.9%. The No. 1 overall pick has cemented herself as the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year at opening at -250.

Indiana ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 38.2 points per game in the paint. That’s in large part to the 6-foot-5 Boston, who is averaging 10.5, and the 6-4 NaLyssa Smith. Smith, however, remains out after suffering a stress fracture in her left foot last month. She averaged 12 rebounds in the first two meetings with Connecticut this season. That is important to remember when assessing the Sun vs Fever odds.

Handicapping the Game

What can’t Thomas do? She’s taken her game to another level this season. As such, the Sun have been one of the best WNBA teams, solidifying themselves as a legitimate threat to both Las Vegas and New York despite the absence of center Brionna Jones (torn Achilles). DeWanna Bonner, Thomas’ fiancee, has done her part too. The five-time All-Star is averaging a team-high 19.1 points while shooting 42.6%.

Boston is a budding superstar, but with Smith out, the Fever don’t really have anyone else who can match Connecticut’s duo in the paint. That could prove problematic, as the Sun have already beaten the Fever twice this season (70-61 on May 19, 81-78 on May 30). Given that, expect Connecticut to be comfortably favored in the Sun vs Fever odds, even on the road.

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