Sparks vs Fever – Can Cameron Brink Get Even with Caitlin Clark? Injury Report, Prediction and Starting 5

The Indiana Fever will lock horns with the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Broadcast at Bally Sports Indiana, NBA TV, and TSN, the game will start at 7 PM ET. Both teams have won only one game until now. While the Fever has lost 6, the Sparks have been defeated in 4.

Both teams have exceptional stars in their rookies, Cameron Brink, Rickea Jackson, and Caitlin Clark. Hence, the game can swing to either side. However, fans will be flocking to the stadiums to get a glimpse of several athletes.

Players to Watch

For the Fever, the main player to watch out for in this game is Caitlin Clark. Clark has played 7 games till now but hasn’t had the top-notch scores she was scoring in the NCAA. This is another reason why Clark might unleash her demons in this game and go on a rampage. She has averaged 15.4 points until now, with 5.4 rebounds per game. Therefore, it will be interesting to watch what steps Clark takes next.

Another player from the Fever camp to keep an eye on is Aliyah Boston. Boston was the number one pick in the 2023 WNBA draft. Till now, she has potted 10.1 points per game with 6.1 rebounds per match. Her stats don’t highlight her potential, but if Boston gets going, then there is stopping her, and she will help the Fever win the game singlehandedly.

Dearica Hamby has been the main player for the Sparks. Hamby averages a whopping 20.6 points per game with 13.2 rebounds per contest. Therefore, she averages a double-double. Her best performance this season came against last year’s Champions, the Las Vegas Aces, when she throttled 29 points. Hence, Hamby holds the key to the Sparks’ win in this game.

One of the mainstay players for the Sparks is Cameron Brink. Brink was drafted as the number two pick in this year’s WNBA draft, only behind Clark. Brink recently went ahead of Clark when she scored her first 20-pointer game against the Dallas Wings. The stakes are high that Brink this time can also outwit the Fever.

Head to Head

The Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks have been rivals for quite some time. Most recently, the Sparks lost the game against the Fever on May 25 by a 73-78 margin. Going by the current form, the Fever can once again trump the Sparks. As per AiScore, overall, the two franchises have played 47 games out of which the Fever have won 14, whereas the Sparks have come out as winners in 33.

Prediction

The Indiana Fever has mostly scored in the 80s, whereas the Sparks have been near 80s and 70s in many of the games. Therefore, both teams are capable of performing offensively, and hence, it is the defense that can decide this match. The Fever has good depth and extremely good defensive players in Boston, Clark, and NaLyssa Smith, all of whom average more than 5 rebounds per match. The Sparks have extremely good defenders in Hamby and Brink but they lack a collective team effort in the department. Hence, the Fever can once again trump the Sparks.

Injury Report

The Fever has a singular injury in Damiris Dantas, who has been out due to her knee. She will be soon reevaluated for a comeback. Meanwhile, the Sparks have two of their player injured: Layshia Clarendon and Azura Stevens. Clarendon sustained a head injury during a recent game against the Dallas Wings. Meanwhile, Stevens has injured her left arm while playing in China and will re-evaluated before she enters the court once again.

Starting Five

Indiana Fever: Aliyah Boston, Kristy Wallace, NaLyssa Smith, Kelsey Mitchell, and Caitlin Clark

Los Angeles Sparks: Dearica Hamby, Kia Nurse, Cameron Brink, Lexie Brown, and Aari McDonald