Sunday's best WNBA bets
By Covers.com
Detroit Shock at Indiana Fever (-6, 139)
The debut of coach Rick Mahorn and the return of All-Star forward Cheryl Ford were spoiled in the Detroit Shock's last game.
Based on the way the Indiana Fever have been playing, the Shock could have a hard time bouncing back as the clubs finish a home-and-home series in Indianapolis on Sunday night.
Mahorn took over the Shock (1-3) on Monday after the unexpected resignation of Bill Laimbeer, who guided the team to three championships in six seasons.
With Ford playing her first game since suffering a season-ending knee injury July 22 of last year, Mahorn probably expected a strong performance from the defending champs. Instead, Detroit shot a season-low 29.5 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers in the 66-54 home loss to Indiana.Ford, a four-time All-Star, had seven points and two rebounds while going 3 for 4 from the field in 19-plus minutes.
"I'm not happy, because we lost. I don't like losing," she said. "The first five minutes were a little rough, but then I got things going. I'm just disappointed that we had 21 turnovers. You can't win like that."
Though Detroit looked rusty in its first game since June 10, Mahorn remains confident he can help the Shock defend the title.
Indiana (3-2) has won three straight by an average of 10.3 points after dropping its first two. Friday's victory may have been particularly satisfying, because Detroit has knocked Indiana out of the playoffs each of the last three seasons.
"We didn't settle for long shots, we pounded the ball inside and we didn't turn it over," coach Lin Dunn said. "They feed off turnovers, so to only have 12 was key for us."
Tamika Catchings had 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals for the Fever on Friday. The five-time All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year expects a better game from the new-look Shock on Sunday.
Pick: Fever
Sacramento Monarchs at Los Angeles Sparks (-4.5, 146)
After a tough stretch on the road, the Los Angeles Sparks are happy to be home. They'd probably be more optimistic about their upcoming schedule, though, if Lisa Leslie was healthy enough to play.
The Sparks may be missing Leslie on Sunday when they try to snap their longest losing streak in nearly two years in a matchup with the Sacramento Monarchs.
The Sparks (1-4) have lost four in a row since opening the season with a 75-58 home win over Detroit on June 6. All four losses came on the road, including an 89-80 defeat at Phoenix on Friday.
Betty Lennox scored 16 points to lead Los Angeles, and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 15 points and eight rebounds. Already without 2008 leading scorer Candace Parker (maternity leave), Los Angeles lost its second-leading scorer from last year when Leslie left late in the first quarter with a right hip bruise.
Leslie would not return and is listed as day-to-day.
"Luckily it's nothing too serious," coach Michael Cooper said. "Hopefully we'll have her back in a week or so. Obviously we care and feel for her but we have got to go on without her and luckily our next game is at home."
The Sparks are near the bottom of the league in scoring at 69.4 points per game and field-goal shooting at 38.4 percent.
Their offense could get a boost by facing the Monarchs (1-4), who have allowed an average of 100.5 points in losing their last two games.
The Monarchs were without Ticha Penicheiro for a third straight game as she continues to be bothered by a sprained right thumb. The veteran point guard is the WNBA's career leader in assists and steals.
Pick: Over
SAN ANTONIO (1 - 2) at CONNECTICUT (2 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in road games against Eastern conference opponents over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) in road games in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in home games on Sunday games over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) in home games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) in home games after scoring 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 3-1 against the spread versus CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 4-0 straight up against CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK (1 - 3) at ATLANTA (3 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 60-38 ATS (+18.2 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
ATLANTA is 3-12 ATS (-10.2 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 0-9 ATS (-9.9 Units) in home games after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
ATLANTA is 2-1 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 3-0 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
2 of 3 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT (1 - 3) at INDIANA (3 - 2)
Top Trends for this game.
INDIANA is 5-19 ATS (-15.9 Units) after 3 or more consecutive wins since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 7-7 against the spread versus DETROIT over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 9-5 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 13 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE (4 - 2) at PHOENIX (5 - 1)
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 111-81 ATS (+21.9 Units) as a favorite since 1997.
PHOENIX is 119-83 ATS (+27.7 Units) in home games since 1997.
PHOENIX is 77-50 ATS (+22.0 Units) in home games vs. division opponents since 1997.
PHOENIX is 80-56 ATS (+18.4 Units) in home games after a division game since 1997.
SEATTLE is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 6-3 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE is 5-4 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SACRAMENTO (1 - 4) at LOS ANGELES (1 - 4)
Top Trends for this game.
SACRAMENTO is 27-50 ATS (-28.0 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 26-43 ATS (-21.3 Units) in road games after scoring 75 points or more since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 18-9 ATS (+8.1 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 10-2 ATS (+7.8 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) in home games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 25-12 ATS (+11.8 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-25 ATS (-15.5 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 7-20 ATS (-15.0 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 4-3 against the spread versus SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 4-3 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons