Thursday's best WNBA bets
By Covers.com
Phoenix Mercury at Atlanta Dream (+1.5, 188)
Cappie Pondexter is making everyone forget about teammate Diana Taurasi.
The guard dropped a career-high 29 points in a 95-80 win over Connecticut on Tuesday, draining 12-of-18 shots. The win improved the Mercury to 6-0 against the Eastern Conference this season. The performance by Pondexter was especially big for Taurasi (17 points), who still is finding her rhythm after returning from a two-game suspension.
"I didn't have the best offensive outing the last game, so I just wanted to come out focused and give my team some energy today," Pondexter said. "We're very focused on this road trip. We want to start the second half off right, and these games are very important."
Atlanta is 5-3 straight up at home this season, but has won just four of its past 10 overall and is allowing nearly 82 points per game.
Pick: Mercury
Connecticut Sun at Indiana Fever (-4.5, 143.5)
Do the Sun have the Fever’s number?
Indiana easily handled Connecticut to the tune of a 14-point win earlier this year, but the Sun stunned the entire league by posting a 67-61 win over the Fever to snap their franchise-record 11-game win streak.
In the win, the Sun were paced by Lindsay Whalen, who had 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists. But the Sun needed every ounce of Whalen’s effort, thanks to her team's season-high 26 turnovers.
"The fact that they got 50 percent of their points off our turnovers is incredible," Sun coach Mike Thibault said after the game. "We lead the league in fewest turnovers, but on nights we have them, we throw them around. We should start autographing them for the people in the stands. It's terrible."
Look for the Fever to make the most of the Sun’s errors this time, and the final result to look much more like the team’s first meeting
Pick: Fever
SAN ANTONIO (8 - 8) at SACRAMENTO (4 - 15)
Top Trends for this game.
SACRAMENTO is 135-89 ATS (+37.1 Units) as a favorite since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 47-29 ATS (+15.1 Units) on Thursday since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 27-15 ATS (+10.5 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 30-16 ATS (+12.4 Units) after playing 3 consecutive road games since 1997.
SACRAMENTO is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in all games this season.
SACRAMENTO is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in May, June, or July games this season.
SACRAMENTO is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
Head-to-Head Series History
SACRAMENTO is 8-6 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 9-5 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
9 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT (9 - 7) at INDIANA (13 - 4)
Top Trends for this game.
CONNECTICUT is 21-10 ATS (+10.0 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
CONNECTICUT is 74-47 ATS (+22.3 Units) in road games since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 55-36 ATS (+15.4 Units) after a non-conference game since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 39-21 ATS (+15.9 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 24-9 ATS (+14.1 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15+ games since 1997.
INDIANA is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 7-18 ATS (-12.8 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 36-56 ATS (-25.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15+ games since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
CONNECTICUT is 7-5 against the spread versus INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 7-5 straight up against INDIANA over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON (9 - 8) at NEW YORK (6 - 10)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 169-215 ATS (-67.5 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 102-136 ATS (-47.6 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
NEW YORK is 12-3 ATS (+8.7 Units) when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 7-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 6-2 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX (14 - 5) at ATLANTA (8 - 10)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
ATLANTA is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) in July games this season.
ATLANTA is 7-0 ATS (+7.0 Units) off an upset win as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all games this season.
PHOENIX is 20-10 ATS (+9.0 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in July games this season.
PHOENIX is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in May, June, or July games this season.
PHOENIX is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) after a win by 10 points or more this season.
PHOENIX is 56-36 ATS (+16.4 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record after 15+ games after 15+ games since 1997.
ATLANTA is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) in home games after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 2-0 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 2-0 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons