Wednesday's Best WNBA Bets
New York Liberty at Connecticut Sun (-5, 143.5)
Looking for their seventh straight playoff berth, the Sun will be without All-Star forward Asjha Jones for at least two weeks.
Jones, Connecticut's leading scorer at 16.7 points and second-leading rebounder at 5.9 boards, scored 23 points in Friday's double-overtime loss at Washington but on Monday was diagnosed with recurring soreness in her left Achilles tendon.
Stepping in for Jones probably will be Tamika Whitmore, who has managed just 10 points and four rebounds in 30 minutes over three games since returning from a 10-game absence due to a knee injury. She is averaging 6.2 points and 2.6 rebonds.
The Liberty have covered four straight as road underdogs, including three straight-up wins. The teams play again in New York on Friday.
Pick: New York
Minnesota Lynx at Los Angeles Sparks (-5, 152)
It is impossible to figure out the Sparks.
In their last five games, the Sparks have notched home wins over Seattle and Indiana, two of the best teams in the WNBA, for their first winning streak of the season; followed that with home losses to New York and Sacramento, the two worst teams in the WNBA; and followed that by going to Sacramento and rolling to a 78-61 victory Saturday.
During that five-game stretch, Los Angeles averaged 74.4 points. In its three prior games, it averaged 60.3.
Next up are the Lynx, whom the Sparks beat in Minnesota on July 28. The Lynx have lost three in a row straight up and against the spread.
Pick: Minnesota
NEW YORK (9 - 15) at CONNECTICUT (12 - 11)
Top Trends for this game.
NEW YORK is 119-88 ATS (+22.2 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent since 1997.
NEW YORK is 63-40 ATS (+19.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1997.
NEW YORK is 40-22 ATS (+15.8 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record after 15+ games since 1997.
CONNECTICUT is 21-35 ATS (-17.5 Units) as a favorite over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NEW YORK is 8-3 against the spread versus CONNECTICUT over the last 3 seasons
CONNECTICUT is 6-5 straight up against NEW YORK over the last 3 seasons
8 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA (11 - 13) at LOS ANGELES (9 - 13)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 5-4 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
LOS ANGELES is 5-4 straight up against MINNESOTA over the last 3 seasons
6 of 9 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
DUNKEL
Minnesota at Los Angeles
The Lynx look to take advantage of a Los Angeles team playing back-to-back nights and is just 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games following a SU win.. Minnesota is the pick (+5) according to Dunkel, which has the Sparks favored by 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+5).
New York at Connecticut
Dunkel Ratings: New York 110.214; Connecticut 113.991
Dunkel Line & Total: Connecticut by 4; 133 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Connecticut by 5 1/2; 144
Dunkel Pick: New York (+5 1/2); Under
Minnesota at Los Angeles
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 108.737; Los Angeles 113.040
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 4 1/2; 163 1/2
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles by 5; 151
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (+5); Over