Sunday's Best WNBA Bets
Minnesota Lynx at San Antonio Silver Stars (2.5, 152.5)
The Lynx have allowed an average of 69.3 points over their last four games, including an 85-75 home win over San Antonio on Friday. That game sailed over the total of 149.5, but Minnesota's three previous games stayed under.
And Friday's game was unusually high scoring for these two teams. In the first two meetings this season, Minnesota won 62-60 and 70-69.
The under is 15-5-1 in the Silver Stars' last 21 games.
And in Minnesota's last nine games playing on one day's rest, the under is 8-1.
Pick: Under
Los Angeles Sparks at Seattle Storm (-7, 145)
The Sparks were embarrassed Friday, losing at home 77-75 to woeful Tulsa. That upset ended the Shock's 20-game losing streak.
Now L.A. must head north to play the Storm, who dispatched those same Shock 74-57 a night earlier.
Seattle is a terrific home team (12-2 SU, 8-6 ATS) that has won three straight since center Lauren Jackson returned from hip surgery.
In the past nine meetings between these squads, the Storm are 6-2-1 ATS. And the Sparks are a pitiful 4-12 ATS in their last 16 road games.
Pick: Storm
Lynx - Silver Stars Preview
By Associated Press
The WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx are on the verge of locking up the top spot in the Western Conference.
Looking to secure home-court advantage through the two-round conference playoffs, the Lynx seek a four-game sweep of the San Antonio Silver Stars and a sixth straight win in the series in the conclusion of a home-and-home set Sunday.
Minnesota (22-6) defeated slumping San Antonio 85-75 on Friday, putting it in position to end the conference title race with a win or a Mercury loss to Washington.
"This team's on a mission," said coach Cheryl Reeve, whose club has won four straight and 15 of 17.
Seimone Augustus scored 19 points while rookie star Maya Moore had 18 and seven rebounds as Minnesota stayed perfect in three meetings with the Silver Stars (13-14) this season.
"They have a lot of great players that can even come off the bench, so they're really deep," said San Antonio guard Danielle Robinson, who had 11 points. "They all played aggressive tonight. We just have to go home and re-evaluate and we see them again so we're just looking forward to being back at home."
Minnesota outrebounded the Silver Stars 37-23 and 14-6 on the offensive glass. The Lynx were up by four after three quarters but led by as many as 20 in the fourth in dealing San Antonio a season-high fifth straight loss.
"There's a lot of things that triggered it," Moore said. "Offensive rebounds. Getting out in transition. Team defense. Trying to make it hard for their main scorers to get going. All of that really just fueled that buildup until the dam just burst and we were able to really just pile on some points."
Becky Hammon, who leads the Silver Stars with 15.5 points per game, failed to score and went 0 of 8 from the floor. She has scored six or fewer points in three of four contests.
With Hammon struggling, San Antonio has averaged 69.4 points during its skid - 8.0 less than its season mark.
The Silver Stars did welcome back second-leading scorer Danielle Adams on Friday and could get an offensive boost from her down the stretch. Adams, averaging 14.0 points, scored 10 in her first action since missing 11 games with a sprained right foot.
"I just felt that my foot was getting better and just wanted to get out there and help my team out," Adams said.
While this matchup sets up as a possible playoff preview, San Antonio still has work to do as it looks to hold off Los Angeles for the final postseason spot. The Silver Stars are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Sparks.
Sun - Shock Preview
By Associated Press
Following a brutal two-plus months, Sheryl Swoopes gave the Tulsa Shock reason to celebrate.
After snapping its WNBA-record 20-game losing streak, Tulsa tries for another rare victory when it hosts the Connecticut Sun, who look to clinch their first playoff appearance in three seasons Sunday.
Tulsa (2-25) trailed by 10 in the first quarter Friday but battled back to record their first road victory of the season, defeating Los Angeles 77-75 on Swoopes' 16-foot jumper with 2.9 seconds remaining. The Shock had been outscored by an average of 15.3 points during their skid.
"I'm sure no one gave us a shot to win this game. When you have one win, to win a game like this feels really good," said Swoopes, who finished with a season high-tying 17 points and a season-best nine rebounds. "We believed. It was just a matter of time."
The Shock, whose only other victory was June 18, gave interim coach Teresa Edwards her first win in 16 games since taking over for Nolan Richardson on July 10.
"It's unreal. It's unbelievable," Edwards said. "I was waiting to see if we were ever going to get one."
Swoopes, a three-time league MVP and four-time champion, has come on strong of late, averaging 14.0 points over her last four games - 6.5 above her season mark.
"She may not be the same as she once was, but she hit a big shot when they needed it most," Sparks forward DeLisha Milton-Jones said. "It was a patented Sheryl Swoopes jumper."
Swoopes was held to nine points during a 90-79 loss to Connecticut on June 12 - Tulsa's third straight defeat in the series.
The Shock haven't recorded back-to-back wins since May 29-June 4, 2010, and are likely to have their hands full with the red-hot Sun (18-10).
Connecticut rallied from 11 down in the third quarter and beat Phoenix 95-92 on Friday - its fourth win in six games. Guard Kara Lawson broke an 86-all tie with a 3-pointer and made four free throws in the final 13 seconds, while All-Star center Tina Charles finished with 17 points and nine boards.
The Sun, in second place in the East, can secure a postseason berth for the first time since 2008 with a win or a Chicago loss to New York. Connecticut has recorded a conference-best 16 wins when scoring at least 70 points, and will be facing a Tulsa team that is allowing opponents to shoot 48.0 percent from the floor - worst in the league.
The Shock are giving up 81.3 points per game.
The Sun have dropped three of four on the road by a combined 11 points. Each of their last three road contests have gone to overtime.
Mercury - Mystics Preview
By Associated Press
Back-to-back losses have dropped the Phoenix Mercury into third place in the Western Conference, but consecutive games against the two worst teams in the WNBA could help them get back on track.
The Mercury look to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season when they visit the Washington Mystics on Sunday.
WNBA officials are monitoring Hurricane Irene's path as it moves up the East Coast. As of Saturday, the Mystics' official Twitter stated the game is still scheduled to be played.
One player who might need the extra rest is Diana Taurasi, whose return after a two-game absence due to back spasms wasn't enough to keep Phoenix (15-12) from suffering a 95-92 loss at Connecticut on Friday. Her potential game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim.
While she couldn't force overtime, Taurasi showed no ill effects from the layoff, going 4 from 9 from beyond the arc and finishing with 26 points. Taurasi is averaging a league-high 21.2 points.
The Mercury have collapsed late in their last two games. They blew a five-point lead in the final 3:26 on Friday and squandered a six-point advantage in the final six minutes of a 74-70 defeat at New York on Tuesday.
"We didn't have the best possessions down the stretch and in games like this, half court offense wins these games," Taurasi said. "I think that is pretty evident in most close games that you watch, half court offense execution either wins or loses the game and today we didn't have it."
The losses have dropped Phoenix one-half game behind second-place Seattle in the West. The top two teams in each conference earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
A soft stretch in the schedule could help the Mercury avoid a third three-game losing streak this season. After visiting Washington (5-22), Phoenix will play at Tulsa (2-25) on Tuesday.
The Mercury defeated the Mystics 78-64 July 15 despite only 13 points from Taurasi, though Candice Dupree scored a team-high 20.
Washington has lost seven in a row after an 80-67 defeat against Chicago on Friday. The game was tied at 49 midway through the third quarter before the Sky pulled away.
Crystal Langhorne scored 19 points, but shot 7 of 21. The Mystics shot 33.8 percent.
Washington has given up 80 or more points in three straight games, which doesn't bode well against a Mercury team averaging an WNBA-best 90.0 points.
The losing streak is the Mystics' longest since closing out the 2008 season with nine consecutive defeats - the third-longest slide in team history.
Liberty - Sky Preview
By Associated Press
The last time the New York Liberty faced the Chicago Sky, a record-setting defensive performance was the difference.
These Eastern Conference rivals play a home-and-home set in the next three days, beginning Sunday night at Allstate Arena.
New York (16-12) holds a 2-1 lead in the season series, with the home team winning each matchup. The Liberty's 59-49 win Aug. 4 was notable because Chicago (13-15) managed one point in the fourth quarter to set a WNBA record for futility.
The Sky may use a different backcourt than what the Liberty have seen previously. Chicago coach Pokey Chatman debuted the new look there Friday, with former Liberty player Erin Thorn and veteran Dominique Canty starting in place of Epiphanny Prince and rookie Courtney Vandersloot for an 80-67 victory over Washington.
"It's several things," Chatman said. "I thought, conservatively, Dominique's playing well, I thought Erin's done some good things. I think the opponent plays into it. I think it alleviates some pressure with Sloot or with Piph."
Prince is the team's second-leading scorer at 14.4 points per game. She came off the bench for the first time and had 18 points after averaging 9.0 over her previous seven contests.
"I am always ready," Prince said. "I need to stay prepared when my number is called and I always want to try and stay focused."
Prince is averaging 11.3 points and woeful 27.9 percent shooting against New York this season.
She has been outshined in those games by former Rutgers teammate Cappie Pondexter. Pondexter, a Chicago native, is averaging 17.7 points in the season series.
She scored 17 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday to lead the Liberty to a 74-70 road win over Phoenix, her former team.
"You have to give credit where credit is due," Mercury coach Corey Gaines said. "That's what Cappie does; she is a finisher. That's what she always did for us."
Pondexter's teams are 14-1 all-time against Chicago.
The Liberty have won three of four and can clinch the tiebreaker over the Sky by taking one of the next two games.
The Sky are trying to reach the playoffs for the first time as they seek to catch the third-place Liberty or fourth-place Atlanta.
"We just need to lock down and be focused," said center Sylvia Fowles, who has a WNBA-high 19 double-doubles. "When we focus we play good as a team and everybody does there part so if we can do that the next couple of games I think we'll be alright."
Sparks - Storm Preview
By Associated Press
The Los Angeles Sparks' playoff hopes took a huge hit after suffering arguably their most embarrassing loss of the season.
A home-and-home set against the surging Seattle Storm isn't likely to help their postseason chances.
The visiting Sparks look to bounce back from their most recent defeat while the Storm seek a season-best fourth consecutive win Sunday night.
Candace Parker saw her 32-game streak of scoring in double figures come to an end Friday, finishing with seven points as Los Angeles (12-16) fell 77-75 to Tulsa. Sheryl Swoopes made a 16-foot jumper with 2.9 seconds remaining as the Shock snapped their WNBA-record 20-game losing streak.
"We knew this team was desperate for a win," said forward DeLisha Milton-Jones, who had a game-high 24 points and eight rebounds. "Granted, they aren't going to make the playoffs, but they are still hungry."
The fifth-place Sparks, who have made three consecutive playoff appearances, are also in danger of missing out on the postseason. Los Angeles is 1 1/2 games behind San Antonio for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with six games remaining, but could find itself in a much deeper hole following two meetings with Seattle (16-12).
The Storm's 74-57 win over Tulsa on Thursday was their third win in a row since three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson returned from a hip injury. Jackson scored 14 points in just 15 minutes - including nine in the third quarter.
"Obviously, she didn't play a whole lot tonight which is probably good," coach Brian Agler said. "But she has recovered well after each game."
Despite her limited playing time, having Jackson back on the court seems to be making a world of difference. Seattle, which has climbed into second place in the West, had dropped four of five prior to Jackson's return.
"When you have the best player in the world on your team, it makes a big difference," guard Tanisha Wright said. "She 100 percent opens up a lot of different opportunities for each and every player on the floor. As she gets even more and more comfortable with playing again, a lot more things are going to open up even more."
The Storm, who fell 74-50 at the Sparks on June 19 when Jackson was held to nine points on 3-of-14 shooting, avenged that defeat without Jackson in a 99-80 victory July 9. Seattle has taken eight of nine meetings in this series - including a two-game sweep during last season's conference semifinals.
Coach Agler's team, which is allowing a league-low 70.4 points per game, is a conference best-tying 12-2 at home. Seattle has won 11 of 12 at KeyArena.
The Sparks and Storm conclude their home-and-home set Tuesday to complete their season series.
MINNESOTA vs. SAN ANTONIO
Minnesota is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Antonio
Minnesota is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
San Antonio is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Minnesota
San Antonio is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games at home
PHOENIX vs. WASHINGTON
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Phoenix's last 5 games when playing on the road against Washington
Phoenix is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Washington
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Washington's last 13 games
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games at home
CONNECTICUT vs. TULSA
Connecticut is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Tulsa
Connecticut is 2-4-1 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tulsa's last 6 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Tulsa's last 8 games when playing Connecticut
NEW YORK vs. CHICAGO
The total has gone OVER in 8 of New York's last 11 games when playing Chicago
New York is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games when playing Chicago
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Chicago's last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 5 games at home
LOS ANGELES vs. SEATTLE
Los Angeles is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Seattle's last 5 games at home
Seattle is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games when playing Los Angeles