Today's WNBA Best Bets
Detroit Shock at Phoenix Mercury (-4, 172.5)
Phoenix will have to find a way to keep the temperature rising without suspended All-Star Diana Taurasi.
Taurasi, the league’s leading scorer at nearly 21 points per game, will serve the first of a two-game ban handed down by the team following her being charged with extreme DUI. That means the short-handed Mercury must find a way to beat the defending champs without their star.
But Detroit has looked nothing like a champion this season. The Shock are a woeful 4-7 and just 2-4 on the road despite winning their past two in an opponents’ gym.
"Coming into this year, if you look at us, we lost Elaine Powell, we lost Cheryl Ford, and we lost Plenette Pierson,” Shock coach Rick Mahorn told the Detroit Free Press. “You had three veterans you could rely on, day in and day out. Losing them, you're trying to get back into a groove."
Pick: Under 172.5
New York Liberty at Washington Mystics (-5, 142.5)
The Mystics fully understand what it will take to separate themselves from the rest of the pack that is tied for second in the Eastern Conference: defense.
"Something we said at the beginning of the season was that we wanted to be known as the best defensive team in the league," Mystics guard Lindsey Harding told the Washington Post. "It's just a matter of having that focus, that emphasis on one more stop. That's been all we've needed in some of these games, just one more stop, so we've really been focusing on just making the next stop."
Washington, however, has struggled to routinely make those stops, a big reason the team is fighting to stay around .500. The Mystics enter the game with just the eighth-ranked defense in the WNBA, allowing more than 77 points per game.
But if they Mystics want to improve on that number, they will eagerly welcome the Liberty. New York is horrendous on offense, as it ranks 13th in the league by averaging a wretched, 70.4 points per game.
Pick: Mystics -5
NEW YORK (4 - 7) at WASHINGTON (6 - 6)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 44-26 ATS (+15.4 Units) on Saturday games since 1997.
NEW YORK is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 166-213 ATS (-68.3 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 104-135 ATS (-44.5 Units) vs. division opponents since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) in home games off a upset loss as a favorite since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 6-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 6-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT (4 - 7) at PHOENIX (11 - 4)
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in home games this season.
PHOENIX is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 this season.
PHOENIX is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) in home games in May, June, or July games this season.
PHOENIX is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) after a division game this season.
PHOENIX is 50-29 ATS (+18.1 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 6-3 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 6-3 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons