SEATTLE vs. SAN ANTONIO
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Seattle's last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games when playing San Antonio
San Antonio is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games when playing Seattle
San Antonio is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
LOS ANGELES vs. PHOENIX
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Los Angeles's last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Los Angeles's last 7 games when playing on the road against Phoenix
Phoenix is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games when playing Los Angeles
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Phoenix's last 7 games when playing Los Angeles
Storm - Silver Stars Preview
By Associated Press
While the Seattle Storm have already secured a playoff spot, the San Antonio Silver Stars are simply trying to remain in position to reach the postseason.
Trying to further strengthen their hold on the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Silver Stars look to avoid a fourth consecutive loss to the visiting Storm on Saturday night.
Sue Bird scored 21 points Friday as Seattle (18-13) overcame an early nine-point deficit to clinch a playoff berth by winning for the fifth time in six games, 78-72 at Tulsa.
The Storm are in second place in the West, one-half game ahead of third-place Phoenix and 2 1/2 in front of San Antonio (15-15). The Silver Stars have a two-game lead on Los Angeles for the fourth and final playoff spot with four games remaining, and San Antonio visits the Sparks on Tuesday.
"We know that our backs are against the walls, so we're going to come out throwing blows and not go down easy," said Jia Perkins, who scored 23 points in Thursday's 86-68 home win over the Mercury.
Though the Silver Stars have won two in a row since a season-worst six-game skid, they have lost three straight and nine of 10 versus Seattle. Their lone victory during that stretch, however, was a 69-66 win in the teams' only previous meeting in San Antonio this season July 14.
Danielle Adams scored 15 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter, and fellow rookie Danielle Robinson hit two free throws with 1.6 seconds left to secure that victory. Robinson had 15 points and seven assists in Thursday's victory as the Silver Stars shot 44.9 percent and forced 21 turnovers.
"When we can force turnovers, force the action, we get really good shots down at the other end," said guard Becky Hammon, who had 16 points. "It's really important for us to be on-point defensively."
That's not been the case in San Antonio's three losses to Seattle this year. The Storm have shot a combined 48.8 percent while winning each contest by at least eight points.
Veteran Seattle guard Tanisha Wright has totaled just nine points in her last two games, but has averaged 15.8 against the Silver Stars this season.
Seattle star Lauren Jackson had 20 points Friday, but could get the night off in this contest after playing six straight games since returning from June hip surgery.
"I don't know that we will play Lauren (on Saturday in San Antonio)," Storm coach Brian Agler said.
Hammon is averaging 15.3 points this season, but just 7.8 versus Seattle.