Fire Sparks Upset Bid Against Struggling Aces

The Las Vegas Aces are seeking to rebound as they host the Portland Fire following the WNBA All-Star break. The Aces have struggled, losing two of their last three games and posting a 2-4 record against the spread in their past six contests. This includes a prior game against the Fire where Las Vegas won by eight points, but Portland successfully covered a 9.5-point spread.

Portland has proven to be a difficult opponent for top WNBA teams, averaging 7.6 steals and forcing 14.6 turnovers per game. Their offense also poses a threat, shooting 34.7% from three-point range, which aligns with the Aces' vulnerability to outside shooting, as Las Vegas allows opponents to shoot 35.1% from deep.

Both teams have shown a tendency towards high-scoring games. The Aces have hit the Over in their last three contests, with their past four games featuring combined scores of 100 points or more for either team. Portland has also seen the Over hit in four of its last five games. This suggests a potentially high-scoring affair, with combined scores exceeding 190 points, as seen in their previous June meeting.

Individually, Fire center Megan DiLeo is expected to play a significant offensive role, with her scoring over 13.5 points being a prop bet. DiLeo has scored 15 or more points in her last three games and averages 14.0 points against the Aces this season. Meanwhile, Aces star A'ja Wilson is projected to dominate, averaging 26.1 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 3.0 assists. Her performance against Portland has been strong, averaging 43 combined points, rebounds, and assists in their prior matchups.