Hamby is back from the Olympics and the Sparks are ready for the second half after the team played a really tough schedule before the break, so they have been battle tested and are well rested. The Sparks were starting to play well right before the break so they should continue that success in this spot. Stevens, Hamby and Nurse should be key factors for the Sparks. This should be a competitive game versus the Liberty who are 1-11 against the spread as a double digit dog. These two played already this season and New York won by 10 and 13 points. However, the Liberty are 0-6 against the spread versus the Sparks in their last six games and 1-4 against the spread in their last five meetings in Los Angeles. This is a chance for the Sparks to play better at home and close the gap in this game as the team has had a month to practice and they can take advantage of some fatigue and jet lag with some of the players on New York. The Liberty are the better team and should win the game, but the Sparks can stay in it and cover by getting more points past the Liberty’s defense who are playing without Hamilton, one of the Liberty’s best defenders and a key player, and that should help the team as a whole. The Sparks are 8-2 against the spread as double digits dogs.

Best bet: take the points with the Sparks.