Saturday's Best WNBA Bets
Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx (-1, 184.5)
The Mercury are finally heating up and starting to look like the defending WNBA champions. Thursday night's 123-91 victory over Tulsa might have been there best outing of the season.
Setting WNBA records with a 67-point first half and a 36-point second quarter, the Mercury won for the fourth time in its past five games after snapping a long losing skid.
''Records are nice, but as long as you win the game,'' said the Mercury's Diana Taurasi, who scored a game-high 26 points. ''I think we are more happy that we got to play really good basketball for long stretches."
The same cannot be said for the Lynx, which has lost two in a row and four of its last six. Minnesota has averaged just 74 points per game in its last five outings, more than 30 points less than the Mercury.
Pick: Mercury
Chicago Sky at San Antonio Silver Stars (-2, 148)
The Sky has been playing lights-out defense lately, holding its last five opponents to just 60.6 points per game.
The first win in that span was an 88-61 rout of the Silver Stars, who have rebounded to win two of their last four but not because of their offense.
Both teams like to ground it out on the defensive end and the Sky, shooting just 38.4 percent on the road this season, are coming off a Friday night game and plane ride to San Antonio.
All signs point to a defensive struggle.
Pick: Under
INDIANA (14 - 7) at WASHINGTON (13 - 7)
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Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 69-103 ATS (-44.3 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
INDIANA is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) as a road underdog of 3 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) in road games on Saturday games since 1997.
INDIANA is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive wins since 1997.
INDIANA is 43-64 ATS (-27.4 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15+ games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in all games this season.
WASHINGTON is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in May, June, or July games this season.
WASHINGTON is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) when playing with 2 days rest over the last 3 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 117-152 ATS (-50.2 Units) vs. division opponents since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 14-32 ATS (-21.2 Units) after 3 or more consecutive unders since 1997.
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Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 6-5 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 8-3 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES (6 - 16) at CONNECTICUT (12 - 9)
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Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) in all games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 6-14 ATS (-9.4 Units) in May, June, or July games this season.
LOS ANGELES is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) after allowing 75 points or more this season.
LOS ANGELES is 34-16 ATS (+16.4 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 16-31 ATS (-18.1 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
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Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 3-2 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 3-2 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO (11 - 12) at SAN ANTONIO (8 - 13)
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Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) off a upset loss as a favorite since 1997.
CHICAGO is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in road games this season.
CHICAGO is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) in road games in May, June, or July games this season.
CHICAGO is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game this season.
SAN ANTONIO is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) against Eastern conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
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Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 3-2 against the spread versus CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 3-2 straight up against CHICAGO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX (9 - 12) at MINNESOTA (7 - 13)
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Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in home games revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 19-10 ATS (+8.0 Units) in road games after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 53-78 ATS (-32.8 Units) in July games since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 6-22 ATS (-18.2 Units) after playing 3 consecutive home games since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 64-93 ATS (-38.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 10-22 ATS (-14.2 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games since 1997.
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Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 5-4 against the spread versus MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 5-4 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA vs. WASHINGTON
Indiana is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Washington is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Indiana
Washington is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Indiana
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LOS ANGELES vs. CONNECTICUT
Los Angeles is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games
Los Angeles is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games on the road
Connecticut is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Connecticut is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
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CHICAGO vs. SAN ANTONIO
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Chicago's last 6 games when playing San Antonio
Chicago is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
San Antonio is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games at home
San Antonio is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games at home
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PHOENIX vs. MINNESOTA
Phoenix is 5-10 SU in its last 15 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Phoenix's last 7 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Minnesota is 6-13 SU in its last 19 games
Minnesota is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing Phoenix