The Minnesota Lynx travel to Indiana on Friday night to face Caitlin Clark and the red-hot Indiana Fever.

No team in the WNBA is stronger than the Fever, who have won five straight games and seven of their last eight games since returning from the extended All-Star break.

The only defeat in this section was suffered by the Lynx, leaders of the Western Conference, who won 90-80 in Minneapolis on August 24.

Can the Fever extend their winning streak to six games? If so, Clark, who just recorded her second triple-double of the season, will have to put in another herculean effort.

Here’s my analysis of the Lynx vs. Fever matchup along with a game tip and a player bet on Caitlin Clark that might surprise you given her whirlwind six-week basketball career.

Lynx vs. Fever odds

Lynx vs. Fever prediction and pick

(7:30 p.m. ET, Fubo, ION)

Over their last nine games, the Fever are averaging over 91 points while shooting about 47% from the field and 40% from behind the three-point line, ranking them third in field goal percentage and first in three-point percentage.

They also have by far the highest offensive rating in the league, average the most points per game, and are second in effective field goal percentage since the W-League’s month-long break.

Unfortunately for Indiana, the Lynx are just as good. Minnesota has won eight of its last nine games, with a surprise road loss to the Dallas Wings last Friday being the only slip-up in that span.

The Lynx have boasted one of the best defenses in the league this season, ranking third in defensive rating (0.1 behind first), first in opponent fast break points per game, second in opponent points from turnovers, and first in opponent field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.

Minnesota also performed outstandingly on offense after the All-Star game, finishing second in offensive rating and first in effective field goal percentage.

So which team should we support on Friday night? The short answer: take the Fever with the points.

Indiana is the only team undefeated at home since mid-July, boasting a 5-0 record and sitting comfortably first in net rating (+10.6) and effective field goal percentage.

In addition, they undoubtedly have the best home crowd in the West, largely due to the “Clark effect.”

Minnesota has been fantastic this season, but I’m excited to see this red-hot Indiana team get points at home.

Choose: Fever +2.5 (-110, DraftKings)

Caitlin Clark Player Prop

Clark’s last six weeks of basketball have been an incredible performance for a rookie, averaging 24.4 points, 10.2 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game on an incredible 48/37/91 shooting percentage.

Additionally, the average distance of her three-point attempts this season is farther from the basket than any other player in professional basketball history, including Stephen Curry and the rest of the NBA, meaning she has elite shooting percentages in an unprecedented range.

At this point, we’re running out of adjectives to describe her skills on the court.

However, Minnesota’s pesky backcourt is always a big challenge for any player, including Clark. As mentioned above, the Lynx have one of the best perimeter defenses in the league and rank first in opponent 3-point percentage.

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Not surprisingly, Clark struggled to get clear vision and convert from deep against a Lynx team that was constantly sending different defenders at him and breaking every ball barrier.

That’s a super strong line at -170, but in two games against the Lynx, they’ve shot just 26.3% (5 of 19) from beyond the arc and haven’t managed to top their Friday night shooting numbers in any game. The reason for that is Minnesota’s defense.

Choose: Caitlin Clark under 3.5 scored 3s (-170, bet365)