Today's WNBA best bets
Atlanta Dream at San Antonio Silver Stars (-4, 155)
The Dream have emerged as a legitimate contender for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. But to become elite, the team must learn to win on the road, where it has had the same, reoccurring nightmare this season.
Atlanta is just 3-7 away from home this year and has dropped five of its past seven on the road. The team’s most recent road win was a 98-95 victory over a floundering Shock squad. The seven losses in opponent’s gyms, however, have come by an average of fewer than six points per game.
Meanwhile, the Silver Stars have been playing great at home, winning six of nine overall, including their past two. San Antonio is led by MVP candidate Becky Hammon, who averages 20.9 points, 4.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game.
The Dream will keep it close, but the nightmare on the road continues.
Pick: Silver Stars
Seattle Storm at Los Angeles Sparks (+2.5, 136)
Despite losing five of seven games, Lisa Leslie believes the Sparks are close to returning to an elite status.
"I feel like we're really close to getting over that hump," Leslie, who recently returned from a seven-week absence due to injury, told the Associated Press. "I know we have the best rebounders in the world. We just have to commit to going to the boards every time."
And Los Angeles has dominated the boards against the Storm this season, out-rebounding them in two of their three meetings. But it has been Seattle that’s won the battle on the scoreboard two out of three times, winning once in overtime, once by a field goal and getting blown out by 27 in its only trip to the City of Angels.
The Storm has split their past two games overall with both going to overtime, but should have enough to make it three out of four against the Sparks.
Pick: Storm
ATLANTA (10 - 10) at SAN ANTONIO (9 - 10)
Top Trends for this game.
ATLANTA is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all games this season.
ATLANTA is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) as an underdog this season.
ATLANTA is 17-8 ATS (+8.2 Units) in road games over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in road games after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game after 15+ games over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SAN ANTONIO is 1-1 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO 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
SEATTLE (12 - 8) at LOS ANGELES (6 - 11)
Top Trends for this game.
SEATTLE is 4-13 ATS (-10.3 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive overs since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in home games vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in home games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 15+ games over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) on Thursday over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 7-6 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE is 8-5 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons