2016 wnba thread news notes picks !

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Tuesday, October 11

Los Angeles @ Minnesota

Game 607-608
October 11, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Los Angeles
114.911
Minnesota
122.811
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 8
164
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Minnesota
by 5 1/2
160
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(-15 1/2); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 11

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LOS ANGELES (30 - 9) at MINNESOTA (31 - 7) - 10/11/2016, 8:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 8-7 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 10-5 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
10 of 15 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




WNBA

Tuesday, October 11

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Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8:00 PM
LOS ANGELES vs. MINNESOTA
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Los Angeles's last 10 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
Los Angeles is 3-13 SU in its last 16 games when playing on the road against Minnesota
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Minnesota's last 10 games when playing at home against Los Angeles
Minnesota is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games when playing at home against Los Angeles

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Sparks (26-8) at Lynx (28-6)
Date: October 11, 2016 8:00 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Lynx have been in this position before. It's not ideal, but the defending WNBA champions have overcome the same predicament in the past.

Down 1-0 in the WNBA Finals, the Lynx find themselves with work to do against the Los Angeles Sparks following L.A.'s 78-76 victory in Sunday's Game 1.

En route to the 2015 WNBA title, Minnesota fell in the first game against the Indiana Fever before eventually rallying to win the championship in five games.

"We were in this position last year," said Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen, who had 18 points in Sunday's loss. "You regroup, you see what you can do to recover and get back for Tuesday night. We have been a group that's been together for a long time and been a part of a lot of these, so that will be our focus."

Los Angeles' defense was a big reason the Sparks emerged victorious in Game 1. Brian Agler's team forced 16 Minnesota turnovers and converted those into 18 points at the other end.

It's unlikely that the Sparks will hold Lynx leading scorer Maya Moore scoreless in the first half Tuesday like they did Sunday, but another stout defensive effort against Moore and Co. certainly will be key for taking a 2-0 series lead.

"We respect her, and we respect that whole team, but we really respect what she can do," Agler said of Moore, who finished Sunday's game with 18 points. "It's not like we don't think that's going to happen. We know it's going to happen."

Los Angeles is in search of its first WNBA title since 2002. The current core of players is not as battle tested in the Finals like Minnesota. The Lynx are winners of three of the last five WNBA championships and are trying to become just the second franchise to win four titles.

In recent years, it's been the Lynx knocking the Sparks out of the Western Conference playoffs on their way to the Finals. With the new change to the WNBA's playoffs that seeds teams regardless of conference, Minnesota and Los Angeles have the opportunity to square off in the Finals.

For Sparks star Candace Parker, that means her first Finals comes against the defending champs.

"We're used to kind of meeting them before the finals, so it had a feel like before," Parker said. "I think in general at first obviously there's some nerves, but you kind of get lost in the game and just trying to execute."

That quest for a fourth ring has already gotten off to a bumpy start for Minnesota after losing at the buzzer on Sunday. Los Angeles hopes to keep that momentum going.

"Moving forward to Tuesday, we have to make sure we keep our same focus and same energy out there on the floor because we know they're a hungry team," Agler said. "They're trying to make history, and they're going to come after it."


WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Oct 9, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS « 78 Cover: 8.5
MIN 76 Under: 154
Tools: Recaps

Sep 6, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN « 77 Cover: 4
LOS 74 Under: 151
Tools: Recaps

Jun 24, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS « 94 Cover: 23.5
MIN 76 Over: 170
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Recap: Sparks 78, Lynx 76
Date: October 09, 2016 3:00 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) In a championship series filled with stars, Alana Beard sometimes can get lost with so much attention on Minnesota's four Olympians and the two MVPs in Los Angeles.

That's exactly what happened in the closing moments of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, and Beard hit a jumper from the baseline just before time expired to lift the Sparks to a 78-76 victory over the defending champion Lynx.

With the defense collapsing on Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike in the paint, Beard found herself all alone in the corner. She took the pass from Chelsea Gray and knocked down jumper with Maya Moore's in her face.

As the ball splashed through, Moore put her head in her hands, and the Sparks celebrated a thrilling victory, their second on Minnesota's court this season.

'You may not recognize the importance of her statistically for us a lot of times,' Sparks coach Brian Agler said. 'But her presence, her leadership, obviously how disruptive she can be defensively, and then for her to hit a shot like that, it was incredible.'

Kristi Toliver scored 19 points to lead Los Angeles and Parker had 14 points and nine rebounds in her finals debut. League MVP Ogwumike added 19 points for the Sparks in the opener of the best-of-five series.

Sylvia Fowles had 18 points and 13 rebounds and Lindsay Whalen scored 18 points for top-seeded Minnesota. Moore scored all 18 of her points in the second half to move into first place on the WNBA's career finals scoring list, but the Lynx committed 16 turnovers and got caught scrambling on the final possession of the game.

'I think we were more worried about not letting anyone get to the hole,' Fowles said. 'I'm not sure exactly what happened on that last play to make her get wide open. But we learned from this.'

There was a time not too long ago when Beard's name belonged on the marquee with players Parker and Ogwumike or Lynx stars Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen. She was the national player of the year at Duke, the No. 2 overall pick by the Washington Mystics in 2004 and a four-time All-Star before injuries set her back.

She re-emerged in Los Angeles as a defensive specialist, but she took center stage in Game 1. Before she hit the game-winner, Beard also had a spectacular block of a shot by Whalen and then a steal off an inbounds to set up Ogwumike's bucket for a 76-72 lead.

Moore scored on a coast-to-coast layup to tie the score at 76 with 24.7 seconds to play, but she helped aggressively on Gray's drive on the other end, leaving Beard open for just her second bucket of the game.

'I don't think I've ever hit a game-winner,' Beard said quietly. 'So it's pretty cool. Pretty cool.'

NEW LOOK: In years past these two teams never could have met in the finals because both are in the Western Conference. But the league changed its playoff format this year and seeded all of the teams based on record, not geography. The result in the first year could not have been better for the league with the top two teams throughout the season meeting.

'I don't think it's a fluke that we're here now in the finals,' Fowles said. 'I'm loving this new format.'

PARKER'S DEBUT: Parker has been one of the league's brightest stars for years, but has never been able to reach the league's biggest stage. She hit 5 of 12 shots and had three assists.

'At first obviously there's some nerves, but you kind of get lost in the game and just trying to execute,' Parker said. 'We had to take it possession by possession because you never know what's going to happen.'

MOORE'S MARK: The Minnesota star was 0 for 4 in the first half, but made 7 of 10 shots in the final two quarters to move past Diana Taurasi for first place on the WNBA's career scoring list for the finals. She set the mark with 5:20 to play after hitting a jump shot and converting the three-point play.

TOP 20: The WNBA hosted more than a dozen members of the top 20 players in league history for a halftime ceremony. Each player was presented with a ring to commemorate it. Whalen, Moore, Parker and Augustus all participated in the ceremony, and the league extended the length of halftime to allow them to receive their rings and then get back to the locker room to meet with coaches and teammates.

UP NEXT: Game 2 is on Tuesday in Minneapolis.

[StarDust Bum]

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 100-93-5 51.81% -1150

O/U Picks 94-104-0 47.47% -10200


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

LA at MIN 08:00 PM

LA +6.5 *****

O 160.0 *****

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Moore, Lynx even WNBA Finals at 1-1
October 11, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Maya Moore had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Minnesota Lynx even the WNBA Finals at one game apiece with a 79-60 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Sylvia Fowles had 13 points and 15 boards and Minnesota held Los Angeles to 32.9 percent shooting to bounce back from a last-second loss in Game 1. Seimone Augustus scored 14 points and Minnesota dominated on the glass, 46-32, to pull away.

Nneka Ogwumike had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Sparks, who head back home for the next two games in the best-of-five series. Candace Parker was quiet with six points on 3-for-12 shooting.

The Lynx are trying to become the first back-to-back champions in the league since the Sparks repeated in 2002. A win in this series would also give Minnesota its fourth championship, which would tie the Lynx with the Houston Comets for most in league history.

Last year the Lynx lost Game 1 at Target Center to the Indiana Fever, but rebounded to win that series in five games. But they know they face an even more capable challenger this year with the star-studded Sparks.

Neither team led by more than five points during an air-tight Game 1 that Los Angeles won at the buzzer on a jumper from Alana Beard. The first 16 minutes of Game 2 were just as competitive, but Moore and the Lynx seized control in the final four minutes of the second quarter.

After going scoreless in the first half of Game 1, Moore got rolling during a 17-3 blitz to close the period. She hit two 3-pointers and a layup, then picked Parker's pocket and heaved a three-quarter length outlet to a streaking Lindsay Whalen for a three-point play and a 37-25 lead.

Moore had 12 points in the first half and the Lynx took much better care of the ball after coughing it up 11 times in the first half of Game 1.

The Sparks made things interesting with a 14-0 run in the third quarter that made the score 44-41, but Augustus and Moore took over in the fourth to turn back the charge.

Ogwumike, the league MVP, scored just two points in the final period and the Sparks were 3 for 20 on 3-pointers for the game.

RECORD RATING: The WNBA instituted a new playoff format this year that seeded teams based on record, not geography. It resulted in the two best teams during the regular season meeting in the finals despite both playing in the Western Conference. Game 1 drew an average audience of 597,000, the most-watched Game 1 ever on ABC, the network announced on Tuesday. It peaked with 693,000 viewers and was the most-watched Game 1 since 1998 broadcast across ABC, ESPN and ESPN2.

UP NEXT: Game 3 is Friday in Los Angeles.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR FRIDAY OCTOBER 14, 2016
Time (ET) Away Home Site
9:00 PM Minnesota Lynx Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center

SCHEDULE FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 16, 2016
Time (ET) Away Home Site
8:30 PM Minnesota Lynx Los Angeles Sparks Staples Center
Updated Thu Oct 13 1:04 AM EDT

[StarDust Bum]

Preview: Lynx (28-6) at Sparks (26-8)
Date: October 14, 2016 9:00 PM EDT

MINNEAPOLIS -- Los Angeles Sparks coach Brian Agler had just finished with a split in the first two games of the WNBA Finals in Minnesota and was asked about his feeling heading back home for two games.

The home-court advantage in the series had seemingly flipped in Los Angeles' favor when the Sparks took Game 1 with a buzzer-beating, game-winning shot by 12-year veteran Alana Beard. Following the Game 2 loss, Agler didn't seem at ease despite heading to Los Angeles with a split.

"You know, I'm glad we won a game," Agler said, almost tentative of his team's chances against the defending champion Lynx. "You're sitting back and saying, 'Well, that team has got to win on the road. That's going to be very important,' and it is, there's no question about it. But from my seat now, I don't really look at it that way. I just sort of focus on the next game...

"Our focus right now is to win one more game. That's what we want to do. We want to win one more game, and then we'll see where we stand and we'll go from there."

Minnesota won Game 2 on Tuesday night, 79-60, finally pulling away in what had been a close series until the second quarter on Tuesday. Game 3 is Friday at the Galen Center.

Agler's hesitancy is fitting a series against the Lynx, who are seeking their fourth championship in six years. Last year, Minnesota lost the first game on its home court before beating Indiana in five games. The Lynx won Game 2 at home before going on the road and taking back the home-court advantage with a Game 3 win in Indiana.

"We have a lot of confidence," Minnesota guard Seimone Augustus said after 14 points in Tuesday's victory. "Like you said, we were in this position before, last year. And, I mean, the thing for us is we know what we needed to do."

The Lynx have been in a similar position not only in recovering from a blown Game 1. Minnesota's core has been around during their championship runs.

Augustus, Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen and Rebekkah Brunson have been key players on each of the championship teams. Even relative newcomer Sylvia Fowles has played nine WNBA seasons and was on last year's title team, winning the Finals MVP.

Los Angeles features one player with Finals experience in seldom-used center Ann Wauters.

The inexperience might have shown on Tuesday when the Sparks' couldn't counter the Lynx big runs.

"Everybody just kind of has to do a better job of helping one another," Los Angeles guard Kristi Toliver said. "Sometimes it's hard in an environment like this, and it just feels like everything is going a mile a minute. You kind of just have to take a pause sometimes, and I think (Tuesday) we didn't take that pause."

Los Angeles led the league during the regular season by shooting 48.7 percent from the floor. On Tuesday, the Sparks shot just 32.9 percent (23 of 70). League MVP Nneka Ogwumike took just six shots, making five in a 14-point performance.

Meanwhile, the Lynx controlled the boards with a 46-32 rebounding advantage.

"I think there's only one statistic that maybe there's a separator between the two teams, and it's rebounding," Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. "So, we might as well try to use it to our advantage, and it gives you the extra possessions. We got some good hustle plays."

Moore, who was third in MVP voting behind Ogwumike and New York's Tina Charles, was the star of Game 2. Moore scored 21 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the game, and keyed a 17-3 lead in the second quarter as the Lynx took control of the game and changed the outlook of the series.

"It's a series," Toliver said. "I said after Game 3 when we lost in Chicago (in the semifinals) that we weren't going to sweep them, and we're not going to sweep now in the Finals. We're still a confident group. We still feel good.

"We came here to do what we wanted to do, and that was to get one (win). We feel pretty good about that, and now we need to take care of business at home."


WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Oct 11, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS 60 Under: 139
MIN « 79 Cover: 12
Tools: Recaps

Oct 9, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS « 78 Cover: 8.5
MIN 76 Under: 154
Tools: Recaps

Sep 6, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN « 77 Cover: 4
LOS 74 Under: 151
Tools: Recaps

Jun 24, 2016 Score ATS Results
LOS « 94 Cover: 23.5
MIN 76 Over: 170
Tools: Recaps

Jun 21, 2016 Score ATS Results
MIN « 72 Cover: 4
LOS 71 Under: 143
Tools: Recaps

[StarDust Bum]

Armadillo: Friday's six-pack

— Dodgers 4, Nationals 3– Kershaw got last two outs to close game out, two days after he threw 110 pitches in Game 4. Thats why you pay the guy $31M a year. Break for Cubs, who won’t see Kershaw until Game 3 now.

— Florida visits LSU November 19 in a makeup game; Bayou Bengals go to Gainesville in both 2017 and 2018.

— In his great career, WR Larry Fitzgerald has caught TD passes from 13 different Cardinal QB’s.

— Since August 2014, half the 30 major league teams have hired a new chief baseball executive. Lot of impatient owners out there.

— Thru five weeks in the NFL, no kickoffs have been run back for a TD; last time that happened was 1979.

— Open Court on NBA TV has some good discussions with both NBA coaches/GMs that were filmed in Las Vegas this summer. Good stuff.

— Big Sky conference has 12 hoop teams; 8 of the 12 teams have either 4 or 5 starters back from LY. Will that make it harder to win on the road?

**********

Armadillo: Friday's List of 13: Things I’m looking for this weekend

13) Cam Newton should be back at QB for the 1-4 Panthers, who visit the Superdome this week. Saints allowed 34+ points in three of their four games, had their bye last week, while Carolina is traveling on short week after the Monday night loss to Tampa Bay.

12) Tennessee Vols have had a brutal schedule: Florida-Georgia-A&M the last three weeks, now Alabama on the third Saturday in October. Vols have been gritty and resilient- beating Bama is a tall order, even in Neyland Stadium. One thing in Tennessee’s favor; Crimson Tide has only played one close game- if this one is close, the Volunteers are in familiar territory.

11) Who will have more fans in Miami Sunday, the Steelers or Dolphins? Pittsburgh fans are usually everywhere, but Steelers are just 12-21-1 as road favorites the last nine years. Miami scored total of 24 points in losing its last two games. Steelers are 4-0 if they allow 16 or less points.

10) Ole Miss QB Kelly got in a fight at his brother’s high school game during his bye week; I’m sure the Ole Miss coaches were thrilled to hear that. Rebels lost 53-52 in OT to Arkansas LY; this figures to be a high scoring, fun game to watch.

9) Colin Kaepernick starting for the 49ers means that thru six weeks, 8 of 32 (25%) NFL teams have started at least two QB’s this season. Will it helps the 49ers? Kaepernick is more mobile, throws a better deep ball— he is 29-20 as an NFL QB, Gabbert 9-31, but Gabbert was also on a terrible Jaguars team.

8) North Carolina beat Miami 59-21 LY; what is the over/under on the number of times Miami coaches brought that up this week? Problem is, Miami had their rivalry game with Florida State last week and it is tough to get really fired up two weeks in a row.

7) League championship series get underway in baseball, but first, I have a question.

Cubs pinch-hit for Addison Russell in Game 4 against the Giants. When was the last time a guy with 95+ RBI during the regular season got pinch-hit for in a big spot in a playoff game?

6) Northwestern covered its last six visits to Michigan State; now they’re visiting a Spartan squad that lost three games in row for first time in seven years.

5) Eagles-Redskins is an intriguing game. Wentz played well in Eagles’ loss LW, but they did lose, after entering their bye week 3-0. Redskins have won three games in row and pass the Eagles in the standings with a win here.

4) Total in the West Virginia-Texas Tech game is 83; kickoff is noon ET, which is 11am in Lubbock, more stupid scheduling for TV purposes.

3) Oakland is 4-1, with three wins by 3 or less points. Chiefs have been dismal on road so far, but Andy Reid is 11-4 vs spread coming off a bye. Big rivalry game in the Coliseum, with the Raiders fired up for their first playoff spot since 2002.

2) Texas-San Antonio won as a 17-point home underdog LW; now they’re a 3-point road favorite at Rice this week, a historic soft spot for the favorite. Rice is 0-5, allowing 40.2 pts/game, so they’re impossible to back, but this will be an interesting result.

1) St Louis Cardinals drafted Joe Namath in the 1965 NFL Draft; Jets drafted him in the AFL Draft. How would the football world have changed if Namath had played for the Redbirds? Arizona had extra time to prep after playing on Thursday last week; they’re hoping get QB Palmer (concussion) back this week.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Friday, October 14

Minnesota @ Los Angeles

Game 651-652
October 14, 2016 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
118.201
Los Angeles
121.521
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Los Angeles
by 3 1/2
152
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Los Angeles
by 1 1/2
157
Dunkel Pick:
Los Angeles
(-1 1/2); Under




WNBA
Long Sheet

Friday, October 14

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MINNESOTA (32 - 7) at LOS ANGELES (30 - 10) - 10/14/2016, 9:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 9-7 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 11-5 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
11 of 16 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Friday, October 14

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
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9:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. LOS ANGELES
Minnesota is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Minnesota is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Minnesota
Los Angeles is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Minnesota

[StarDust Bum]

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 100-94-5 51.55% -1700

O/U Picks 94-105-0 47.24% -10750


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MIN at LA 09:00 PM

MIN +2.0

O 159.0

[StarDust Bum]

Sparks rout Lynx 92-75; move within game of WNBA title
October 15, 2016

LOS ANGELES (AP) Candace Parker watched video of herself in every game the Sparks played against Minnesota this season.

She didn't like what she saw.

Parker brought a different mentality into Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, leading an aggressive charge from the opening tip in the Sparks' 92-75 victory Friday night that put the franchise on the brink of its first championship since 2002.

''That was a product of me being non-existent in every game we played Minnesota this year,'' Parker said.

She scored 24 points, Nneka Ogwumike added 21 and the Sparks took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.

''We've worked too hard to get to this point and just be there,'' Parker said. ''We had a game plan of just going to the basket and being aggressive.''

The Sparks can close out the Lynx with a victory in Game 4 on Sunday.

Los Angeles built a 22-point advantage in the opening quarter when it shot 60 percent in the game played at Galen Center on the Southern California campus, down the street from their home court at Staples Center.

''It's all on the want to of Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker to start the game. Their want-to was on `10,''' Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. ''I'm not sure what we were expecting when we started the game but it wasn't that.''

Parker and Ogwumike were especially devastating in a 2 1/2-minute sequence in the first. They combined to score 12 straight points with Ogwumike hitting consecutive 3-pointers and Los Angeles taking a 21-6 lead.

''I didn't see it coming,'' a clearly peeved Reeve said. ''They won the persistency battle. We didn't rise to the occasion. We were soft, we were feeble.''

Rebekkah Brunson and Sylvia Fowles led Minnesota with 14 points each. Lindsay Whalen added 11, and Maya Moore had nine points and seven rebounds. The Lynx had 13 turnovers.

''They're extremely good converting those turnovers into points,'' Moore said. ''If you give that much of a lead to a great team, it's going to be really hard to come back.''

The Lynx cut the deficit to 48-40 at halftime, outscoring the Sparks 10-0 to end the second.

''You're not going to sustain that,'' Sparks coach Brian Agler said about his team's initial intensity, ''but I also think a lot of that had to do with Minnesota. They experimented there for a while and finally got a group that was working.''

It didn't last long.

With their former and current league MVPs leading the way, the Sparks dominated inside. Parker and Ogwumike helped Los Angeles to a 52-32 advantage in the paint.

Parker and Ogwumike had nine rebounds each, helping the Sparks to a 29-24 edge on the boards.

Essence Carson added 16 points, and Alana Beard finished with 15 for Los Angeles.

The Lynx made a run in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sparks 11-2 to close to 81-71. Los Angeles answered with eight straight points to go up 89-71. Parker hit a layup and fed Ogwumike on a fast-break sandwiched around baskets by Beard.

''We just didn't have enough consecutive possessions on both sides of the ball to create enough of a run,'' Moore said.

Minnesota is seeking its fourth title in six years. The Lynx evened the series with a 19-point victory in Game 2 on their home court.

ALL-WNBA

League MVP Ogwumike was the only unanimous pick for the all-WNBA first team, receiving 39 first-place votes and 195 points from the media panel.

New York center Tina Charles was second with 38 first-team votes and 193 points. Guards Maya Moore of Minnesota and Sue Bird of Seattle, and forward Elena Delle Donne completed the first team.

Forwards Angel McCoughtry of Atlanta and Breanna Stewart of Seattle were selected to the second team along with guards Diana Taurasi of Phoenix and Jewell Loyd of Seattle, and center Fowles.

PURPLE ONE

Lynx F Natasha Howard scored six points, but made a bigger statement with footwear. She sported the purple symbol associated with the late singer Prince on her white shoes.

McCARVILLE INJURY

Lynx F-C Janel McCarville hurt her back and didn't return.

UP NEXT

Game 4 is Sunday night at Staples Center.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Sunday, October 16

Minnesota @ Los Angeles

Game 653-654
October 16, 2016 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
116.545
Los Angeles
121.177
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Los Angeles
by 4 1/2
167
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Los Angeles
by 2
160
Dunkel Pick:
Los Angeles
(-2); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Sunday, October 16

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MINNESOTA (32 - 8) at LOS ANGELES (31 - 10) - 10/16/2016, 8:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 9-8 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 11-6 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
11 of 17 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




WNBA

Sunday, October 16

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Trend Report
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8:30 PM
MINNESOTA vs. LOS ANGELES
Minnesota is 17-4 SU in its last 21 games
Minnesota is 8-17 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Los Angeles is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

[StarDust Bum]

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 100-95-5 51.28% -2250

O/U Picks 95-105-0 47.50% -10250


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MIN at LA 08:30 PM

LA -1.0

O 159.0

[StarDust Bum]

Lynx beat Sparks 85-79, claw back to tie WNBA Finals
October 17, 2016

LOS ANGELES (AP) Midway through the first quarter, Maya Moore was looking in her teammates' eyes, searching for clues as to how the game would go.

She could see their passion and resolve.

''I knew we were going to fight,'' she said.

Moore scored 31 points and Minnesota's defense held Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker in check to help the Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks 85-79 on Sunday night and force a decisive fifth game in the WNBA Finals.

''Every possession was so crucial and we just made more of them,'' Moore said.

Lindsay Whalen added 13 points, Seimone Augustus had 12 and Sylvia Fowles had 10 points and 13 rebounds in tying the series 2-2 and sending it back to Minneapolis, where the Lynx will try to win their record-tying fourth championship on Thursday.

''This is what a Finals game should look like,'' Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. ''Both teams leaving it all on the floor.''

Ogwumike, the league MVP, scored 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting, while two-time MVP Parker scored 14 points and made 6 of 7 free throws for the Sparks, who were trying to close out their first title since 2002 in front of their fans at Staples Center.

Chelsea Gray led the Sparks with 20 points off the bench. She was 6 of 11 and made all four of her free throws.

The Sparks outscored the Lynx 10-4 to open the fourth, tying it at 69-all on Parker's driving bank shot as she fell out of bounds. Los Angeles got most of its points at the free throw line, going 6 of 9 in that span.

Whalen scored two straight baskets to put the Lynx back in front 73-69 on turnovers by Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver, who finished with 15 points.

''We'll replay this game in our minds and know we have to play with a little bit more poise down the stretch,'' Toliver said. ''Be more decisive.''

Trailing 77-72, Gray hit her fourth 3-pointer to draw the Sparks within two.

''We were trying, we were making things happen down the stretch,'' Los Angeles coach Brian Agler said. ''It's just the ability to play with poise down the stretch.''

The teams traded baskets and Minnesota led 79-77. Parker was called for a shooting foul on Rebekkah Brunson, who made both free throws for an 81-77 lead. Before Parker fouled Brunson, it appeared that Minnesota hadn't gotten the ball across halfcourt in time to avoid an 8-second violation. Replays suggested the ball was still in the backcourt when the shot clock was at 16.

''I think they forgot they had to get the ball over the line,'' Toliver said. ''But that's life. We can't leave it up to the officials to determine a series. We have to go take it.''

With 42 seconds left, Whalen lost the ball to Ogwumike. At the Sparks' end, Brunson stole it from Parker, who ended up getting whistled for the foul.

''I had it at one point and after that I didn't see what happened because I think I was on the floor,'' Whalen said. ''It was kind of a wild play.''

Moore stole an inbounds pass and Ogwumike fouled her with 4 seconds left. Moore made both to close out the win, missing just one of her 12 free throw attempts.

''We fought today,'' Ogwumike said. ''When it comes to focus and awareness, we can sharpen up there. We're going to fight again.''

The Lynx scored six in a row to take their largest lead, 52-42, early in the third, which ended in a 3-point contest. The Sparks made three, including two by Gray, and Moore hit two 3s for the Lynx, who led 65-59 going into the fourth. Moore scored 10 points in the third.

Minnesota dominated the Sparks 22-4 in fastbreak points and controlled the boards, 41-25.

STILL HURT

Janel McCarville missed her second straight game with a back injury, leaving the Lynx without her 6-foot-2 post presence.

FOUL TROUBLE

Brunson, who guarded Parker much of the time, finished with six points and five fouls. Fowles had four fouls.

KOBE & THE GIRLS

A bearded Kobe Bryant returned to the scene of some of his greatest career moments, watching courtside with wife Vanessa and their two daughters. Also on hand was Sparks co-owner Magic Johnson, who returned from Chicago where the Dodgers were playing the Cubs in the National League Championship Series at the same time. Lakers guard Lou Williams, Cedric the Entertainer and Marsai Martin of ''black-ish'' attended.

UP NEXT

Game 5 is Thursday in Minnesota.

[StarDust Bum]

SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY OCTOBER 20, 2016

Time (ET) Away Home Site

8:00 PM Los Angeles Sparks Minnesota Lynx Target Center

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 100-96-5 51.02% -2800

O/U Picks 96-105-0 47.76% -9750