Da Bum's 2013 WNBA Best Bets + News,Stats Etc. !!

[StarDust Bum]

Sunday, June 16

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Indiana - 2:00 PM ET Washington -2 500
Washington - Over 142.5 500 POD # 4

Chicago - 3:00 PM ET Chicago +4 500 POD # 2
Atlanta - Over 155 500

Phoenix - 4:30 PM ET Tulsa +6 500
Tulsa - Over 169.5 500 POD # 3

Seattle - 5:00 PM ET Connecticut -8.5 500 POD # 1
Connecticut - Under 143.5 500

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Washington at Seattle
The Mystics look to build on their 4-1 ATS record in their last 5 games against a team with a losing record. Washington is the pick (+5) according to Dunkel, which has the Storm favored by only 2 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Washington (+5). Here are all of today's picks

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

Game 651-652: Washington at Seattle (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 106.851; Seattle 109.471
Dunkel Line & Total: Seattle by 2 1/2; 145
Vegas Line & Total: Seattle by 5; 140 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Washington (+5); Over




WNBA
Long Sheet

Tuesday, June 18

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WASHINGTON (4 - 1) at SEATTLE (2 - 3) - 6/18/2013, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 229-282 ATS (-81.2 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 143-185 ATS (-60.5 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
SEATTLE is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) in home games after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
SEATTLE is 22-41 ATS (-23.1 Units) off an upset win as an underdog since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 3-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE is 4-0 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Tuesday, June 18

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Trend Report
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10:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. SEATTLE
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Washington's last 11 games when playing on the road against Seattle
Washington is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Seattle's last 9 games when playing Washington
Seattle is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Washington

[StarDust Bum]

Mystics-Storm Preview

Posted Jun 17 2013 3:52PM

With back-to-back victories over last season's WNBA finalists, the Washington Mystics have a chance to match last season's win total.

They'll have to end a seven-game skid in Seattle against the Storm for that to happen Tuesday night.

After defeating Minnesota 85-80 on June 8, Washington (4-1) extended its winning streak to three with Sunday's 64-60 victory over defending champion Indiana.

The Mystics, a league-worst 5-29 last season, have won all of their games by five points or fewer to jump out to their quickest start since opening a franchise-best 7-1 in 2002.

"We're pulling out games,'' said Crystal Langhorne, who scored all 16 of her points in the second half Sunday. "The past few years in the last five minutes of a game, we would lose it. This year we're showing a whole different mentality. We're closing out games."

Washington is also getting the job done outside the nation's capital, winning both times after finishing 1-16 as the road team in 2012. The Mystics can match the second-longest road winning streak in team history - the record is four in 2007 - as they begin a three-game trip.

Washington, though, is winless in Seattle since 2005 after falling 72-55 in its last visit June 24.

The Storm (2-3) have won four straight overall in this series, but this team is still searching for an identity with stars Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson out for the season with injuries.

"Our mindset is to fight through everything,'' Camille Little said after scoring 15 points with nine rebounds and five assists in Sunday's 78-66 road win over Connecticut. "You can make excuses if you want, but nobody cares if Sue and Lauren aren't playing. Nobody cares what may or may not be going on with our team. We have to believe in ourselves and fight through everything, and tonight we showed that.''

The Storm are also showing they can clamp down on defense, holding their last two opponents to a combined 41.4 percent from the field.

"We were aggressive (defensively), and it sparked our offense," Little said.

Seattle, averaging a league-low 67.8 points, shot a season-best 51.4 percent against the Sun after hitting a season-low 33.9 percent in its previous game, a 68-59 loss at Atlanta on Friday.

Veteran forward Tina Thompson, the Storm's leading scorer (12.2 ppg) and rebounder (5.0), averaged 8.5 points and 2.0 boards against Washington in 2012.

Langhorne had 41 points and 16 rebounds in those contests to lead all players.

Mystics guard Ivory Latta, a teammate of Seattle's Temeka Johnson in Tulsa last season, is among the WNBA's best with 19.8 points per contest. She's shooting 48.7 percent, including an 8-for-14 effort from 3-point range, in the team's longest undefeated stretch since a six-game winning streak to end 2010.

"The chemistry is building,'' Latta said.

Another victory would pull first-year Mystics coach Mike Thibault into a tie with Van Chancellor for the most wins in league history with 211.

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday, June 18

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Washington - 10:00 PM ET Washington +4 500 POD # 1


Seattle - Under 139.5 500 POD # 2

[StarDust Bum]

Lynx-Mercury Preview

Posted Jun 18 2013 3:43PM

Less the two weeks ago, the Minnesota Lynx routed Phoenix behind a solid performance from Maya Moore, sending the Mercury to a third consecutive defeat.

Diana Taurasi is a big reason Phoenix hasn't lost since.

The league's two highest-scoring teams go head to head as the Mercury seek a fourth straight victory when they host Minnesota on Wednesday night.

Moore scored 22 points and the Lynx (4-1) recorded an assist on 30 of their 36 field goals in a 99-79 home victory over Phoenix on June 6.

Taurasi scored 21 points in that contest, beginning a streak of four straight 20-point games that is her longest since a nine-game run in August 2011. She's averaged 27.5 points during her current run after netting 29 in Sunday's 108-103 overtime win at Tulsa.

The veteran guard also finished with nine rebounds and nine assists, falling just short of the WNBA's first triple-double since 2005. DeWanna Bonner scored 23 points and Candice Dupree added 20 and 10 rebounds.

"When the game is on the line, hopefully you can make plays,'' said Taurasi, who leads the league with 23.0 points per game. "We had so many people making shots."

Phoenix (3-3) has won each of its three games since falling to Minnesota despite No. 1 overall pick Brittney Griner playing limited minutes in the last two after she missed an 82-67 victory over Indiana on June 8 due to a knee sprain.

Griner scored 16 points and added five blocks in 23 minutes Sunday.

"I wanted to utilize the minutes I had," Griner told the team's official website. "I had limited minutes per quarter so I wanted to go in and do something. I didn't want to go in and not be a factor."

The Mercury's 86.3 points per game rank second in the WNBA to Minnesota's 87.8, and they may have their hands full again with Moore, who is averaging 19.8 points to rank among the league leaders.

She struggled in Minnesota's 83-74 win over Tulsa on Friday, though, shooting 4 for 12 and scoring 10 points. Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whalen helped pick up the slack, scoring 19 and 17 points, respectively.

"For sure, we do like when we can take some pressure off Maya,'' coach Cheryl Reeve said. "It's what we do as a team.''

Brunson may not get the same notoriety as players like Moore and Seimone Augustus, who scored 19 points in the first meeting with Phoenix, but Reeve said the opposition is very aware of her talent.

"I think she's under the radar as far as media types, but for opposing coaches, she's a big, big part of every scouting report," Reeve said. "Everybody understands how good she is. I don't think she really cares much; she just goes about her business."

Brunson had only four points but added 10 rebounds in the first meeting with the Mercury, who got 18 points from Bonner and 16 - including a dunk - from Griner.

Phoenix is averaging 95.7 points during its winning streak compared to 77.0 in its three losses.

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Minnesota at Phoenix
The Lynx look to build on their 4-0 ATS record in their last 4 games in Phoenix. Minnesota is the pick (-3) according to Dunkel, which has the Lynx favored by 4 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-3). Here are all of today's picks

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

Game 601-602: Minnesota at Phoenix (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 114.091; Phoenix 109.518
Dunkel Line & Total: Minnesota by 4 1/2; 172
Vegas Line & Total: Minnesota by 3; 177
Dunkel Pick: Minnesota (-3); Under




WNBA
Long Sheet

Wednesday, June 19

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MINNESOTA (4 - 1) at PHOENIX (3 - 3) - 6/19/2013, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 65-90 ATS (-34.0 Units) in road games vs. division opponents since 1997.
MINNESOTA is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game over the last 3 seasons.
PHOENIX is 12-28 ATS (-18.8 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 11-24 ATS (-15.4 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 8-17 ATS (-10.7 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 7-19 ATS (-13.9 Units) vs. division opponents over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 6-18 ATS (-13.8 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 9-19 ATS (-11.9 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 10-24 ATS (-16.4 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 6-16 ATS (-11.6 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 9-3 against the spread versus PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 10-2 straight up against PHOENIX over the last 3 seasons
7 of 12 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Wednesday, June 19

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Trend Report
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10:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. PHOENIX
Minnesota is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Minnesota is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 18 of Phoenix's last 25 games when playing Minnesota
Phoenix is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing Minnesota

[StarDust Bum]

Wednesday, June 19

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Minnesota - 10:00 PM ET Phoenix +3 500 POD # 2

Phoenix - Over 175 500 POD # 1

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Chicago at Tulsa
The Sky look to take advantage of a Tulsa team that is 1-7 in its last 8 games SU. Chicago is the pick (-5) according to Dunkel, which has the Sky favored by 9 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-5). Here are all of today's picks

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

Game 651-652: Chicago at Tulsa (12:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago 114.188; Tulsa 104.845
Dunkel Line & Total: Chicago by 9 1/2; 156
Vegas Line & Total: Chicago by 5; 162
Dunkel Pick: Chicago (-5); Under




WNBA
Long Sheet

Thursday, June 20

First Post

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CHICAGO (4 - 2) at TULSA (1 - 7) - 6/20/2013, 12:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CHICAGO is 3-2 against the spread versus TULSA over the last 3 seasons
CHICAGO is 4-1 straight up against TULSA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Thursday, June 20

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Trend Report
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12:30 PM
CHICAGO vs. TULSA
Chicago is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games
Chicago is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Tulsa
Tulsa is 1-9 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Tulsa's last 6 games

[StarDust Bum]

Sky-Shock Preview

Posted Jun 19 2013 4:30PM

After losing two of three without her, the struggling Chicago Sky could get Epiphanny Prince back in the lineup Thursday.

The Sky's high-scoring guard might return as her team looks to avoid a third straight road loss Thursday against the struggling Tulsa Shock.

While Prince fulfilled her overseas obligations to the Russian national team, Chicago (4-2) split two games against San Antonio before falling 88-74 at Atlanta on Sunday. The Sky committed 17 turnovers to give them 36 over the past two games.

"You have to handle the ball better than that, especially against a team like Atlanta,'' coach Pokey Chatman said.

Though Russia has failed to advance in EuroBasket tournament play, it's uncertain whether Prince will be able to return in time for the Thursday tip in Tulsa.

Prince scored a game-high 19 in a 92-71 home win over the Shock (1-7) on June 2 in her most recent WNBA game. She's averaging a career-high 20.7 points and 56.8 percent shooting while making 10 of 19 from 3-point range.

Chicago has scored 93.3 per game in its three contests with Prince as opposed to 71.7 in its last three.

A bright spot during Prince's absence has been rookie Elena Delle Donne, who has stepped up her game. Delle Donne had a then-career high 23 points in a 72-70 home win over San Antonio on June 9 before scoring 25 on Sunday.

She is second in the WNBA with 20.3 points per game.

Center Sylvia Fowles, tops in the league in rebounding at 14.0 per game, had 13 to help the Sky to a 40-25 advantage on the boards in the June meeting with Tulsa.

Led by point guard Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago limited Shock rookie Skylar Diggins to eight points and 3-of-10 shooting in that contest.

Diggins, though, is coming off her best performance of the season, scoring 22 points with eight assists in a 108-103 overtime loss to Phoenix on Sunday. Teammate Glory Johnson had 32 points and 15 rebounds while reserve guard Riquna Williams scored 28.

Williams has gone 8 for 11 from 3-point range in her last two games.

"I've been in the gym a lot lately," she said. "The coaches told me they wanted me to shoot 3s and that's what I've done.''

Each of the Shock's three straight losses have come by single digits, with two of the past three going to overtime.

While Tulsa is giving up 86.0 points per game, it's forcing 16.1 turnovers a contest.

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday, June 20

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Chicago - 12:30 PM ET Tulsa +5.5 500 POD # 1


Tulsa - Over 161 500 POD # 2

[StarDust Bum]

WNBA
Dunkel

Minnesota at Los Angeles
The Sparks look to take advantage of a Minnesota team that is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games when playing with 1 days rest. Los Angeles is the pick (-2) according to Dunkel, which has the Sparks favored by 4. Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (-2). Here are all of today's picks

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

Game 601-602: Seattle at San Antonio (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Seattle 109.054; San Antonio 112.789
Dunkel Line & Total: San Antonio by 3 1/2; 147
Vegas Line & Total: San Antonio by 5 1/2; 142 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Seattle (+5 1/2); Over

Game 603-604: Washington at Phoenix (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Washington 101.985; Phoenix 110.839
Dunkel Line & Total: Phoenix by 9; 160
Vegas Line & Total: Phoenix by 7; 166 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Phoenix (-7); Under

Game 605-606: Minnesota at Los Angeles (11:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Minnesota 115.926; Los Angeles 119.717
Dunkel Line & Total: Los Angeles by 4; 161
Vegas Line & Total: Los Angeles by 2; 166 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Los Angeles (-2); Under




WNBA
Long Sheet

Friday, June 21

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SEATTLE (3 - 3) at SAN ANTONIO (2 - 4) - 6/21/2013, 8:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SAN ANTONIO is 6-0 ATS (+6.0 Units) in home games in June games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 18-6 ATS (+11.4 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
SAN ANTONIO is 34-18 ATS (+14.2 Units) in home games after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
SEATTLE is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) after a non-conference game over the last 3 seasons.
SEATTLE is 14-5 ATS (+8.5 Units) when playing against a team with a losing record over the last 2 seasons.
SEATTLE is 74-50 ATS (+19.0 Units) versus poor defensive teams - allowing 77+ points/game since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
SEATTLE is 7-2 against the spread versus SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
SEATTLE is 6-3 straight up against SAN ANTONIO over the last 3 seasons
5 of 9 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WASHINGTON (4 - 2) at PHOENIX (3 - 4) - 6/21/2013, 10:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 229-283 ATS (-82.3 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 143-186 ATS (-61.6 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 40-66 ATS (-32.6 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 65-91 ATS (-35.1 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
PHOENIX is 12-29 ATS (-19.9 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 5-14 ATS (-10.4 Units) in a home game where where the total is greater than or equal to 150 over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 8-18 ATS (-11.8 Units) in May, June, or July games over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 6-19 ATS (-14.9 Units) after a division game over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 10-25 ATS (-17.5 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 7-16 ATS (-10.6 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
PHOENIX is 6-17 ATS (-12.7 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
PHOENIX is 3-1 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
PHOENIX is 3-1 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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MINNESOTA (5 - 1) at LOS ANGELES (3 - 2) - 6/21/2013, 11:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MINNESOTA is 8-19 ATS (-12.9 Units) in road games after 3 or more consecutive unders since 1997.

Head-to-Head Series History
MINNESOTA is 6-5 against the spread versus LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
MINNESOTA is 8-3 straight up against LOS ANGELES over the last 3 seasons
6 of 11 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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WNBA

Friday, June 21

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Trend Report
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8:00 PM
SEATTLE vs. SAN ANTONIO
Seattle is 4-8-1 ATS in its last 13 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
Seattle is 4-9 SU in its last 13 games when playing on the road against San Antonio
San Antonio is 14-6 SU in its last 20 games at home
San Antonio is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games

10:00 PM
WASHINGTON vs. PHOENIX
Washington is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Washington is 3-22 SU in its last 25 games on the road
Phoenix is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games at home
Phoenix is 1-7 SU in its last 8 games at home

11:00 PM
MINNESOTA vs. LOS ANGELES
Minnesota is 4-21 SU in its last 25 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Minnesota is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Los Angeles is 14-1 SU in its last 15 games at home
Los Angeles is 2-8 SU in its last 10 games when playing Minnesota

[StarDust Bum]

Storm-Silver Stars Preview

Posted Jun 20 2013 4:32PM

After a challenging start to the season, the Seattle Storm may be starting to establish an identity without their stars.

The San Antonio Silver Stars, however, don't appear to be adjusting as well to their rash of injuries.

The Storm seek their third straight victory overall and 13th win in 16 meetings with the Silver Stars on Friday night in San Antonio.

With key players Sue Bird (knee) and Lauren Jackson (hamstring) out for the season with injuries, Seattle (3-3) opened the season 1-3 and suffered those defeats by an average of 17.0 points.

The Storm, though, have regrouped with double-digit victories over Connecticut and Washington to even up their record as they open a stretch of six of seven on the road.

Although she's set to retire at season's end, 38-year-old Tina Thompson has given the short-handed Storm a lift with team highs of 15.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

The veteran forward hit five 3-pointers and finished with season highs of 30 points and eight rebounds to lead Seattle to a 96-86 overtime win over the Mystics on Tuesday.

"She's a winner and she's proven that,'' Seattle coach Brian Agler said. "It's nice for us and our fans and our players to have her on our team so we can enjoy this and see her at her best.''

Teammate Tanisha Wright added 17 points and is second on the Storm with 12.5 per game.

Since averaging 65.3 points during their slow start, the Storm have scored 87.0 per game in their last two victories.

They'll try to continue that production against a San Antonio team that was swept in a three-game road trip and is third-worst in defensive scoring in the WNBA at 78.2 points per game.

Injuries have taken their toll on the Silver Stars (2-4), who lost 84-48 at Los Angeles on Saturday without leading rebounder Jayne Appel (undisclosed) and last year's leading scorers Becky Hammon (broken finger) and Sophia Young (ACL tear).

The Silver Stars were outscored 46-20 in the paint and their season-worst 25 turnovers led to 27 points for the Sparks.

"When you're turning the ball over to a team that loves to run and they have the players to run, then we're sitting ducks," said forward DeLisha Milton-Jones.

The lack of depth has plagued the Silver Stars, who have been outscored 101-56 in the second half of their last two losses.

Shenise Johnson (11.5 ppg), Danielle Adams (11.2), Jia Perkins (11.0) and Danielle Robinson (10.2) are averaging in double figures, but San Antonio is 11th in the league in scoring at 69.7 points per game.

The Silver Stars won both their home games last season against the Storm by a combined 37 points.

[StarDust Bum]

Mystics-Mercury Preview

Posted Jun 20 2013 1:25PM

The Phoenix Mercury and Washington Mystics were two of the league's hottest teams heading into their last contests, but humbling defeats made both realize they have plenty to improve upon.

Phoenix seeks a fourth victory in five tries versus visiting Washington as the teams meet Friday night.

The Mercury (3-4) had won three straight before falling to defending Western Conference champion Minnesota 80-69 on Wednesday. They averaged 95.7 points during their winning streak but were held to 34.4 percent shooting in the defeat.

DeWanna Bonner had one of the worst games of her career, going 0 for 13 from the field and scoring just four points for Phoenix, which was outrebounded 17-6 on the offensive glass and 48-26 overall.

It was outscored 24-9 while shooting 2 of 13 in the fourth quarter.

"Every shot they missed, they got the ball back 46 percent of the time," coach Corey Gaines told the team's official website. "It just killed us. We can't have that. Even with the bad shooting we were up in the game. You don't have to score when you get the ball but you can't give them the ball back when you get those rebounds."

Diana Taurasi continued her hot stretch, though, scoring 28 points. She's averaging 27.6 during her run of five-straight 20-point games, and the five-time All-Star leads the league in scoring at 23.7 points per game.

"When it's clicking, it's clicking," Taurasi said. "There were stretches where we were doing really well. We were up going in the fourth and then they turned it up. It's a good lesson for us."

Taurasi missed both of last season's meetings due to injury with Washington (4-2), which had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 96-86 overtime loss to Seattle on Tuesday.

The Mystics had allowed an average of 67.3 points during their winning streak. They allowed 47 in the first half but clawed back into the game in the second to get to overtime.

``I thought we gave ourselves a chance to win by getting back into the game with our defense,'' coach Mike Thibault said. ``But then we made crucial mistakes and they took advantage of it. We have only ourselves to blame for that.''

Crystal Langhorne scored a season-high 23 points, but Ivory Latta finished with only nine and six assists. Latta attempted a season-low seven shots after averaging 13.6 attempts and 19.8 points over her first five games.

Latta seemingly has a solid chance to bounce back, as Phoenix is allowing a league-worst 86.7 points per game.

The Mercury and Mystics split last season's meetings, and Langhorne scored 22 points to help Washington snap Phoenix's three-game winning streak in the series with a 90-77 win July 1.

Charde Houston scored 26 points and Bonner added 19 in that contest for the Mercury.

[StarDust Bum]

Lynx-Sparks Preview

Posted Jun 20 2013 3:29PM

The Minnesota Lynx clinched their second straight Western Conference championship the last time they faced the Los Angeles Sparks, who will have multiple opportunities coming up to obtain some measure of revenge.

Minnesota concludes a stretch of three straight road games Friday night against the Los Angeles Sparks in the first of three meetings in 12 days.

The Lynx (5-1), leading the WNBA with 86.5 points per game, have won three in a row after beating Phoenix 80-69 on Wednesday. Maya Moore scored 26 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds for Minnesota, which outscored the Mercury 24-9 in the fourth quarter.

"I am so blessed to be playing on this team. We play for each other," said Moore, second in the league with 20.8 points a game. "When we get into tough situations, we want to make sure we don't let each other down. We do it together, and that's why it's so fulfilling and why we're able to do it consistently."

The Lynx have won by an average of 14.2 points, though they may have a much more difficult time dispatching the Sparks (3-2).

After the teams split four regular-season meetings last year, Minnesota beat Los Angeles 80-79 in Game 2 of the conference finals to sweep the series. Seimone Augustus scored 21 points in the finale and Moore added 20 to help overcome 33 points and 15 rebounds from Candace Parker.

The Lynx will host the teams' next matchup June 28th before visiting Los Angeles again July 2.

"It's another road test," Moore said. "We're the top teams in the West right now and every game is going to be a battle. They have a lot of talent. I'm excited, anxious to play them for the first time this season."

The feeling may be mutual for Los Angeles after an 84-48 win over San Antonio on Saturday. Nneka Ogwumike scored 16 points while Parker and Kristi Toliver added 13 points and six assists apiece.

The Sparks held the Silver Stars to 30.2 percent shooting in bouncing back after suffering a 16-point loss at Phoenix the night before.

"It's not this game, it's the next game that's going to tell us if this is a trend or if this is just a one-game thing," Parker said. " So right now you're just trying to figure out which team is going to show up (Friday) - the team from Phoenix or the team from (Saturday). We just have to make sure it's a positive trend, for sure.''

It's uncertain if guard Lindsey Harding will be able to play against Minnesota after she sat out the last contest with a right eye contusion suffered against the Mercury.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday, June 21

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Seattle - 8:00 PM ET Seattle +5.5 500 POD # 2
San Antonio - Under 143.5 500

Washington - 10:00 PM ET Washington +7 500 POD # 1
Phoenix - Over 166 500 POD # 4

Minnesota - 11:00 PM ET Minnesota +3.5 500 POD # 3
Los Angeles - Over 166.5 500