Mystics - Silver Stars Preview
By Associated Press
The San Antonio Silver Stars are locked in as the Western Conference's fourth seed, but they'll look to remain sharp before the playoffs while facing the WNBA's two worst teams.
The first such tuneup comes Saturday night in San Antonio against a Washington Mystics team wrapping up a dreadful season.
The Silver Stars (16-16) have won three of four and clinched the final playoff spot in the West with an 82-65 victory over Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Becky Hammon scored 17 of her season-high 37 points in the fourth quarter, including four points during a 12-0 run midway through the period that put San Antonio in control.
"To get into the playoffs, it's quite an accomplishment," Hammon said. "The West is brutal."
San Antonio is making its fifth straight playoff appearance, although things grew tense when the team lost six in a row in August.
Now, Hammon and the Silver Stars will try to build some momentum before the playoffs begin. They'll face the last-place teams in each conference, closing the regular season at league-worst Tulsa on Sunday, before opening the playoffs against Minnesota next Friday.
Hammon has averaged 20.8 points the last four games after scoring fewer than 10 in four of five. After some recent shooting struggles on the road, she was sharp in Los Angeles on Tuesday, shooting 14 of 19 overall and 4 of 7 from beyond the arc.
Hammon had another effective game at Washington with 22 points, including the basket that gave the Silver Stars the lead for good in a 73-67 win July 26.
Though they stayed close in that game, the Mystics (6-27) have long been out of playoff contention and their recent performances have been particularly woeful.
Washington has lost three in a row to teams headed to the postseason, all by at least 18 points, including an 87-69 defeat at Indiana on Wednesday.
The Mystics shot 38.2 percent, missing 14 of 20 3-pointers. They led at the break but were put away during the Fever's 11-2 run early in the fourth quarter.
"We have to put two halves together," center DeMya Walker said. "This time, we fought hard at the end, but at the end of the day we have to finish."
Crystal Langhorne had 18 points and a season-high 15 rebounds while Monique Curry scored 12 points in her third game back from a torn ACL suffered during the offseason.
Saturday is Washington's final game of the season. Regardless of the outcome, this will be the club's worst season since its inaugural 3-27 campaign in 1998. The Mystics were a franchise-best 22-12 in 2010.
They've lost eight straight on the road.
Sky - Sparks Preview
By Associated Press
The Chicago Sky once again won't be heading to the postseason, but they still have a chance to tie a franchise record. Sylvia Fowles is also looking to make history for the Sky.
Fowles will seek to make her case to become the franchise's first league MVP while helping her team move a step closer to tying its all-time wins mark Saturday night against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Chicago (14-18) hasn't reached the playoffs in any of its six seasons, and was eliminated from contention last weekend. The Sky, though, would match the club record for victories if they can beat the Sparks (14-19) and win Sunday's finale in Seattle.
Fowles also will be trying to bolster her case for MVP. The fourth-year center is the league's third-leading scorer (19.8 points per game) and second-best rebounder (10.1 per contest).
She had 15 of her 17 points in the first half Thursday in Minnesota and made 7 of 13 shots, but her teammates were a combined 18 of 56 (32.1 percent) during a 78-69 loss. Erin Thorn was the only other Sky player in double figures with 17 points during her team's third straight defeat.
The Sky hope for a better performance against Los Angeles, which will miss the postseason for the first time since drafting Candace Parker with the top pick - just ahead of Fowles - in 2008.
The Sparks enter this game after winning for the second time in six contests, 84-73 over league-worst Tulsa on Friday. Rookie Jantel Lavender had 19 points and a season-high 12 rebounds while starting in place of Parker, who sat out after her right knee flared up.
Parker will be a game-time decision for the season finale, coach Joe Bryant said. The All-Star forward, who missed 15 games earlier this year after tearing her meniscus, is averaging a team-best 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds.
"We're not in the playoffs, so it's really caring more about the player," Bryant said. "It's important for her to get a full recovery."
Lavender had 13 points and six rebounds during an 88-84 victory in Chicago on July 30 while Parker was recovering from knee surgery. She was one of five players in double figures in that game, led by DeLisha Milton-Jones' 19 points, but the Sparks nearly blew a 20-point lead.
Chicago is seeking its first win at Staples Center since July 1, 2007 after three consecutive defeats there. Milton-Jones had 22 points to lead the Sparks during last year's 82-77 home victory Aug. 4, when Fowles missed 12 of 17 shots.
WASHINGTON vs. SAN ANTONIO
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Washington's last 9 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
Washington is 1-12 SU in its last 13 games
San Antonio is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Washington
San Antonio is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Washington
CHICAGO vs. LOS ANGELES
Chicago is 3-10 SU in its last 13 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Los Angeles's last 5 games when playing at home against Chicago
WASHINGTON (6 - 27) at SAN ANTONIO (16 - 16)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 210-261 ATS (-77.1 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 126-167 ATS (-57.7 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 27-48 ATS (-25.8 Units) in road games in August or September games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 38-61 ATS (-29.1 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 130-167 ATS (-53.7 Units) after a division game since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 7-15 ATS (-9.5 Units) after allowing 75 points or more this season.
WASHINGTON is 57-82 ATS (-33.2 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
SAN ANTONIO is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 1-9 ATS (-8.9 Units) in home games off an upset win as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 23-40 ATS (-21.0 Units) in home games after scoring 75 points or more since 1997.
SAN ANTONIO is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15+ games after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 3-2 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 3-2 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO (14 - 18) at LOS ANGELES (14 - 19)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 12-20 ATS (-10.0 Units) in all games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 11-30 ATS (-22.0 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
LOS ANGELES is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record this season.
LOS ANGELES is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15+ games after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 3-2 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 3-2 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons