Friday's Best WNBA Bets
Minnesota Lynx at Tulsa Shock (-3.5, 169)
Behaving badly isn’t just reserved for the NBA’s bad boys.
The WNBA has its fair share of wild girls, including Tulsa Shock starting guard Alexis Hornbuckle, who will miss Friday’s matchup with Minnesota after being suspended two games by the league.
Hornbuckle was suspended after being charged for a DUI which happened back in Detroit last year. She will miss Friday and Saturday’s game in Chicago. She is averaging more than five points, three assists and three rebounds per game this season.
“Alexis was back for the end of practice (on Wednesday),” Shock coach Nolan Richardson told Tulsa World. “She thanked me for being understanding for what had happened before the team moved to Tulsa. She was happy to be back working out with the team.”
The absence of Hornbuckle leaves the Shock with just four guards for this weekend’s double-header. Scholanda Robinson, Shanna Crossley, Natasha Lacy and Marion Jones round out the Tulsa backcourt that faces a Lynx squad coming off a huge win over the defending champion Phoenix Mercury earlier this week.
Pick: Minnesota
Chicago Sky at Atlanta Dream (-6.5, 160.5)
A tough road schedule finally caught up with the Atlanta Dream Tuesday.
The Dream dropped their first game of the season, 90-72, to the Seattle Storm, closing a four-game road stretch at 3-1 straight up and against the spread. Atlanta, which ranks second in the WNBA in scoring (84.7 points per game), shot just under 36 percent from the field and managed only 27 points in the first half.
"It was just one of those days when things didn't go our way," Dream forward Angel McCoughtry told reporters following the loss. "But at the same time, we've got to learn how to play through it. We were just getting by, 6-and-0, winning -- we were feeling good. This is a humbling experience for us."
While the trip home is a welcome thought for Atlanta, their opponent Friday has had their number in recent meetings. The Sky have knocked off the Dream in four straight meetings and own a 6-1 record against the franchise, covering in six of those seven contests.
Pick: Chicago
CHICAGO (2 - 4) at ATLANTA (6 - 1)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 27-13 ATS (+12.7 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 18-6 ATS (+11.4 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
CHICAGO is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in road games on Friday since 1997.
CHICAGO is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) in road games off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 6-1 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 6-1 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK (2 - 2) at CONNECTICUT (3 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 53-34 ATS (+15.6 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest since 1997.
NEW YORK is 64-41 ATS (+18.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 6-3 against the spread versus CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 6-4 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA (2 - 5) at TULSA (2 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 48-71 ATS (-30.1 Units) in road games vs. division opponents since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 59-89 ATS (-38.9 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 4-2 against the spread versus TULSA over the last 3 seasons
TULSA is 3-3 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES (1 - 4) at PHOENIX (2 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 129-95 ATS (+24.5 Units) in home games since 1997.
PHOENIX is 82-57 ATS (+19.3 Units) in home games vs. division opponents since 1997.
PHOENIX is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 53-31 ATS (+18.9 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 31-12 ATS (+17.8 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 7-5 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 8-4 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons