Tuesday's best WNBA bets
By Covers.com
Phoenix Mercury at San Antonio Silver Stars (-3, 167.5)
Becky Hammon couldn't lead San Antonio to a win over the Phoenix Mercury earlier this month. The Silver Stars, though, like their chances to win Tuesday night's rematch better with their star guard expected back in the lineup.
Hammon should on the court for the Silver Stars after missing two games as San Antonio faces the Mercury at the AT&T Center.
Hammon was absent for her WNBA team's last two contests while playing for Russia in the European women's championships. Without her, the Silver Stars (1-3) lost 77-61 at New York on Friday and fell 71-58 at Connecticut on Sunday.
Hammon averaged 18.0 points and 6.0 assists in her first two games and should provide an offensive boost for San Antonio, the lowest-scoring team in the WNBA at 65.3 points a game.
While Hammon is expected back, guard-forward Vickie Johnson and reserve guard Shanna Crossley are uncertain for Tuesday. Johnson missed Sunday's game following a death in the family while Crossley sat out with a sprained left knee.
Without those three players, the Silver Stars were outrebounded 38-31 by the Sun and held to 10 points in the fourth quarter, going scoreless for the first 3:21 of the period.
Hughes' team looks to avoid a third straight loss when it faces the Mercury, who dropped into a tie with Seattle for the Western Conference lead with a 93-84 loss to the Storm on Sunday. That snapped Phoenix's three-game winning streak.
Playing their third game in five days, the Mercury were outscored 34-20 in the first quarter. They closed to within three late in the game before suffering their first home loss in nine contests.
While Phoenix took the first meeting with San Antonio this year, the Silver Stars swept the three-game season series in 2008. The Mercury, though, have take three of the last four matchups at the AT&T Center.
Pick: Under
New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx (+2.5, 155)
It took a few games before the New York Liberty got into a groove. The Minnesota Lynx appear headed for their own adjustment period with Seimone Augustus out for the season.
After a poor effort in their first contest without Augustus, the Lynx look to slow down the hot-shooting Liberty on Tuesday night.New York (2-3) has won two straight - both by double digits - after losing its first three games and has an excellent chance to continue its momentum against a Minnesota team that looks lost without Augustus.
The Lynx (4-3) learned Friday they would be without the All-Star forward for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL in her left knee, and they went on to shoot just 29.3 percent (17 of 58) in a 90-62 loss to Seattle that evening.
Minnesota averaged 87.0 points in six games with Augustus, who was named the Western Conference's player of the week Monday.
Augustus, who was averaging 21.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals, was injured Wednesday during a loss at Phoenix.
Veteran forward Shameka Christon continues to lead the Liberty offensively, averaging 16.5 points and shooting 45.0 percent from beyond the arc. Christon had 17 points versus the Dream, going 3 for 5 from 3-point range.
Janel McCarville has stepped up over the last two games to give the Liberty a strong presence in the post, averaging 16.5 points in that stretch. She was held to four points in New York's 91-69 loss to Minnesota last June 24, the most recent meeting between the teams.
The Liberty won 77-76 in their only other matchup with the Lynx last season.
Pick: Liberty
CHICAGO (3 - 3) at ATLANTA (3 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
CHICAGO is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points over the last 3 seasons.
ATLANTA is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home games after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
ATLANTA is 0-10 ATS (-11.0 Units) in home games after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 4-1 against the spread versus ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 4-1 straight up against ATLANTA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX (5 - 2) at SAN ANTONIO (1 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
PHOENIX is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) as a road underdog of 3 points or less over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) in road games after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 1-10 ATS (-10.0 Units) in home games versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 5-4 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 6-4 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK (2 - 3) at MINNESOTA (4 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) against Eastern conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
MINNESOTA is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 26-13 ATS (+11.7 Units) in road games off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.
NEW YORK is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
NEW YORK is 114-85 ATS (+20.5 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
NEW YORK is 22-11 ATS (+9.9 Units) versus good offensive teams - scoring 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 2-2 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 3-1 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 4 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons