Tuesday's Best WNBA Bets
San Antonio Silver Stars at Seattle Storm (-9, 149)
The Seattle Storm tightened their grip on the Western Conference with a win over the Tulsa Shock Sunday but may have lost a big piece of their season’s success in the process.
Star point guard Sue Bird left just two minutes into the game with lower back pain. Bird was also nursing a knee injury suffered last week. She’s averaging 11.5 points and almost six assists per game this season, helping lead Seattle to a 13-2 record – tops in the WNBA.
"We missed Sue today," backup forward Svetlana Abrosimova, who scored 21 points in Sunday’s win, told reporters. "When things were chaotic was when we needed her to help us calm down and play our game."
Bird was evaluated following the game and her status for Tuesday’s is questionable. She has been playing with a bulging disc in her back all season after suffering the injury in Russia over the winter.
Without her, the Storm will have a tough time locking down Silver Stars guard Becky Hammon, who is scoring almost 15 points and dishing out six assists per game. Hammon has been limited in her last two head-to-head meetings with Bird.
Pick: San Antonio
Connecticut Sun at Tulsa Shock (+7.5, 164)
It’s been a rough run for the Shock in their first season in Tulsa. After moving the franchise from Detroit, the Shock have gone 3-11 on the season, including losing eight straight games heading into Tuesday’s home stand against the Sun.
Tulsa nearly shocked the WNBA’s No. 1 team Sunday night. It held a 62-57 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but scored just 10 points while giving up 26-fourth quarter points to the Storm.
"To be 10 points ahead at halftime against this team was remarkable," coach Nolan Richardson told the Tulsa World. "We're moving in the right direction. This is a game we can build on. We're extremely close; we just have to keep getting better. The goal got big for them in the fourth period. They shot with a lot of confidence."
Shock backers are hoping that turnaround comes sooner than later. The team has managed to salvage only one ATS victory during this skid but does welcome the Connecticut Sun, who have struggled to cover inside opposing gyms.
Connecticut is just 1-4-1 ATS on the road this season and is just 1-5 against the spread in its last six games. The Sun are coming off a 77-68 loss to the New York Liberty Sunday, failing to cover as 1-point road underdogs.
Pick: Tulsa
INDIANA vs. WASHINGTON
Indiana is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
Indiana is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Washington is 1-7-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing at home against Indiana
Washington is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games when playing at home against Indiana
PHOENIX vs. ATLANTA
Phoenix is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Phoenix's last 9 games
Atlanta is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Atlanta is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games at home
CONNECTICUT vs. TULSA
Connecticut is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Tulsa
Connecticut is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing on the road against Tulsa
Tulsa is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Tulsa is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games at home
SAN ANTONIO vs. SEATTLE
San Antonio is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing on the road against Seattle
San Antonio is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Seattle is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games
Seattle is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
NEW YORK vs. LOS ANGELES
New York is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
New York is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
Los Angeles is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games