Today's WNBA best bets
New York Liberty at Los Angeles Sparks (-4.5, 136.5)
If the Sparks are going to make the playoffs, their push has to start now.
Los Angeles (7-11) is fifth in the Western Conference but even in the loss column with third-place Minnesota and fourth-place San Antonio. The top four teams make the playoffs.
Noelle Quinn understands the urgency. Quinn has had season highs in her last two games, scoring 13 points in a loss to San Antonio and 23 in an overtime win over Seattle, the first two games of a five-game homestand.
Averaging just 7.5 points per game, Quinn is picking up the slack with Lisa Leslie and Betty Lennox out with injuries and Candace Parker continuing to play her way into shape.
The game against the Liberty starts a stretch of three in a row against last-place teams for the Sparks, who are 4-2 straight up and against the spread at home.
The Liberty (7-14) changed coaches last week, replacing Pat Coyle with Anne Donovan prior to a five-game road trip. New York is 1-3 on the trip (2-2 ATS) and has lost the finale of its previous two trips this season.
Pick: Los Angeles
Sacramento Monarchs at San Antonio Silver Stars (-7, 152)
In Sacramento's last six games, the total has cleared the over five times by an average of better than 19 points. The only exception was a 59-56 loss to Los Angeles on Aug. 1.
In San Antonio's last eight games, the total has cleared the over seven times by an average of better than 17 points. The only exception was a 63-59 loss at Los Angeles on Aug. 4.
Those averages are certainly helped by Sacramento's 101-93 home overtime win over San Antonio on July 30, when the total line was 144.5 - and the teams surpassed it late in the third quarter.
In fact, these teams have exceeded the total in five of their last six meetings.
Pick: Over
DETROIT (8 - 11) at WASHINGTON (11 - 10)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 2-10 ATS (-9.0 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
WASHINGTON is 171-217 ATS (-67.7 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 9-18 ATS (-10.8 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
WASHINGTON is 49-71 ATS (-29.1 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
Head-to-Head Series History
DETROIT is 5-4 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
DETROIT is 7-3 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
7 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SACRAMENTO (5 - 17) at SAN ANTONIO (10 - 11)
Top Trends for this game.
SACRAMENTO is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) in all games this season.
SACRAMENTO is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in road games when playing with 3 or more days rest over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) vs. division opponents this season.
SACRAMENTO is 16-4 ATS (+11.6 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 2 seasons.
SACRAMENTO is 28-16 ATS (+10.4 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points over the last 3 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 0-9 ATS (-9.9 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
SACRAMENTO is 9-6 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SAN ANTONIO is 9-6 straight up against SACRAMENTO over the last 3 seasons
10 of 15 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK (7 - 14) at LOS ANGELES (8 - 11)
Top Trends for this game.
LOS ANGELES is 21-11 ATS (+8.9 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in August or September games over the last 2 seasons.
NEW YORK is 117-88 ATS (+20.2 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1997.
LOS ANGELES is 9-24 ATS (-17.4 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
LOS ANGELES is 10-23 ATS (-15.3 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
LOS ANGELES is 3-2 against the spread versus NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
NEW YORK is 3-2 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DUNKEL
Sacramento at San Antonio
The Silver Stars look to take advantage of a Sacramento team that is just 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games against the Western Conference. San Antonio is the pick (-7) according to Dunkel, which has the Silver Stars favored by 8 1/2. Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-7).
Detroit at Washington
Dunkel Ratings: Detroit 110.162; Washington 110.866
Dunkel Line & Total: Washington by 1; 141 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Washington by 3 1/2; 149
Dunkel Pick: Detroit (+3 1/2); Under
Sacramento at San Antonio
Dunkel Ratings: Sacramento 104.962; San Antonio 113.431
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 8 1/2; 150 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 7; 152
Dunkel Pick: San Antonio (-7); Under
New York at Los Angeles
Dunkel Ratings: New York 109.333; Los Angeles 111.856
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 2 1/2; 132
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles by 5; 136 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New York (+5); Under