Friday's Best WNBA Bets
Los Angeles Sparks at San Antonio Silver Stars (-2.5, 142)
Just when you thought it was time to write off the Sparks’ playoff chances, the team’s superstars showed up. The entire 2009 campaign has been a wait-and-see game for L.A. backers.
Veteran All-Star Lisa Leslie was injured and Candace Parker was trying to get back into game shape following the birth of her first child.
Parker’s offensive game is still out of touch, but Leslie is picking up the slack. She scored a season-high 28 points against the Lynx Wednesday, pushing her point total to 85 over her last four games.
Los Angeles has little other firepower outside of Leslie. The squad has played under the total in eight of its last 10 contests. The Sparks are among the league’s most reliable under bets this season.
Pick: Under
Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty (-2, 143)
The Sun and Liberty are completing the second half of a home-and-home series Friday. Connecticut won Wednesday’s tilt even though the club was playing without its leading scorer Asjha Jones.
Jones is expected to miss two weeks because of a sore Achilles’ tendon.
Look for New York to bounce back Friday. The team led by 17 at one point during Wednesday’s match and played pretty good defense until the late stages.
The Liberty have just one ATS loss over their last six games.
Pick: New York
CONNECTICUT (13 - 11) at NEW YORK (9 - 16)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 119-88 ATS (+22.2 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 76-50 ATS (+21.0 Units) in road games since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) in road games in August or September games since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) in road games on Friday since 1997.
NEW YORK is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
NEW YORK is 2-8 ATS (-6.8 Units) in home games this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 8-3 against the spread versus CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 7-5 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
8 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES (11 - 13) at SAN ANTONIO (11 - 14)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) after a win by 10 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 17-29 ATS (-14.9 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-25 ATS (-15.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-23 ATS (-13.3 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 8-0 ATS (+8.0 Units) as a home favorite of 3 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 24-13 ATS (+9.7 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 5-5 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 8-3 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON (12 - 13) at PHOENIX (18 - 8)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 172-220 ATS (-70.0 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 104-137 ATS (-46.7 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 20-35 ATS (-18.5 Units) in road games in August or September games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in all games this season.
PHOENIX is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) as a favorite this season.
PHOENIX is 124-86 ATS (+29.4 Units) in home games since 1997.
PHOENIX is 72-50 ATS (+17.0 Units) in August or September games since 1997.
PHOENIX is 15-8 ATS (+6.2 Units) after scoring 75 points or more this season.
PHOENIX is 52-29 ATS (+20.1 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
PHOENIX is 34-15 ATS (+17.5 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record after 15+ games after 15+ games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
WASHINGTON is 3-2 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 3-2 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DUNKEL INDEX
Washington at Phoenix
The Mercury look to build on their 7-2 ATS record in their last 9 games against the Eastern Conference. Phoenix is the pick (-7 1/2) according to Dunkel, which has the Mercury favored by 11 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-7 1/2)
Connecticut at New York
Dunkel Ratings: Connecticut 114.055; New York 112.208
Dunkel Line & Total: Connecticut by 2; 138
Vegas Line & Total: New York by 2 1/2; 143
Dunkel Pick: Connecticut (+2 1/2); Under
Los Angeles at San Antonio
Dunkel Ratings: Los Angeles 109.040; San Antonio 113.233
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 4; 134 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 2 1/2; 141 1/2
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-2 1/2); Under
Washington at Phoenix
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 106.687; Phoenix 118.053
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 11 1/2; 183
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 7 1/2; 180
Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-7 1/2); Over