WNBA odds Preview: Liberty Hosts Fever in East Showdown
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
By: "Reload Joe Freda
Tuesday's WNBA betting action finds the top two squads in the Eastern Conference in the Big Apple for a showdown when the New York Liberty host the Indiana Fever.
The Eastern Conference has been a catfight all season, with its four playoff-bound teams continuing to jockey for final position. Tuesday’s WNBA card has the New York Liberty (19-11) hosting the Indiana Fever (21-10) in a battle of the group’s top two squads, with a 1 ½-game distance between them. The Liberty have won eight straight, cashing at 6-2 ATS, while the Fever are 4-0, SU and ATS, in their last four trips to the hardwood.
Sports books opened the Liberty as 1 ½-point home WNBA betting favorites, while first setting the ‘total’ at 148. Early wagers on the ‘chalk’ and ‘over’ moved these numbers north to 2 ½ and 152, respectively, on most betting boards. New York’s latest win came with Saturday’s 107-69 triumph as 4 ½-point home favorites against the Phoenix Mercury. The Liberty outscored Phoenix in all four quarters, including a 20-8 margin in the lopsided affair’s final period.
Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter notched a team-high 28 points and added five assists. The former member of the Mercury’s backcourt torched her former club, hitting 8-for-15 from the field and a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line.
New York’s Nicole Powell did her main damage beyond the arc, hitting 7-of-9 from downtown en route to finishing with a season-high 23 points. The seven-year forward added five rebounds, all on the defensive glass.
The combined 176 points ducked ‘under’ the ‘total’ of 186. New York’s defense held the Mercury to 32.8 percent shooting, with 2009 MVP Diana Taurasi logging only five points in 22 minutes on the floor.
The Liberty are 7-6-1 ATS in their 14 home games, with the ‘under’ 8-6. Anne Donovan’s crew has put up 80.2 PPG in that span, while allowing 75.1 PPG.
The Fever picked up Sunday’s 79-66 win as one-point road dogs against the Connecticut Sun with what got them to the WNBA Finals last year, a smothering defense. Lin Dunn’s ladies held Connecticut to 31.7 percent shooting, giving up only 4-of-22 from beyond the arc.
Fever forward Tamika Catchings led her troops with team-highs of 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. The nine-year veteran was a perfect 10-for-10 at the charity stripe and drained 2-of-3 from three-point land.
Indiana’s solid starting five had some help from center Jessica Davenport, whose 5-for-5 from the field in 16 minutes off the bench mustered 10 points. The Ohio State alum added two assists, her highest amount in eight games.
The Fever shooting 51.9 percent from the field was not enough to cash ‘over’ tickets with the matchup’s combined 145 points plunging below the 157 ½-point ‘total.’ Catchings and Co. outscored the Sun, 29-12, in the fourth quarter, after heading into the final stanza down by four points.
Indiana is 10-5 ATS in its 15 road games, with the ‘under’ 8-7. The East leaders have scored 79.5 PPG in that stretch, while allowing 73.6 PPG.
The Liberty are 2-1 ATS in their three meetings against Indiana, with the ‘over’ 3-0.
The most recent battle between the rivals in New York, one month ago, saw the Fever come away with an 84-81 overtime win as 2 ½-point road ‘chalk.’ Pondexter notched 40 points for the Liberty, while Catchings logged a double-double for Indiana with 22 points and 10 boards.
Tuesday’s tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET). Liberty starting center Janel McCarville (6 RPG) is listed as “questionable” due to an ankle injury, according to DonBest.com.
New York will be idle for one night, remaining home for Thursday’s battle against the Tulsa Shock, who boast the league’s worst record (5-26). Indiana will have two nights off before Friday’s visit to San Antonio (12-19), with the Silver Stars fighting for a playoff spot.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
By: "Reload Joe Freda
Tuesday's WNBA betting action finds the top two squads in the Eastern Conference in the Big Apple for a showdown when the New York Liberty host the Indiana Fever.
The Eastern Conference has been a catfight all season, with its four playoff-bound teams continuing to jockey for final position. Tuesday’s WNBA card has the New York Liberty (19-11) hosting the Indiana Fever (21-10) in a battle of the group’s top two squads, with a 1 ½-game distance between them. The Liberty have won eight straight, cashing at 6-2 ATS, while the Fever are 4-0, SU and ATS, in their last four trips to the hardwood.
Sports books opened the Liberty as 1 ½-point home WNBA betting favorites, while first setting the ‘total’ at 148. Early wagers on the ‘chalk’ and ‘over’ moved these numbers north to 2 ½ and 152, respectively, on most betting boards. New York’s latest win came with Saturday’s 107-69 triumph as 4 ½-point home favorites against the Phoenix Mercury. The Liberty outscored Phoenix in all four quarters, including a 20-8 margin in the lopsided affair’s final period.
Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter notched a team-high 28 points and added five assists. The former member of the Mercury’s backcourt torched her former club, hitting 8-for-15 from the field and a perfect 9-of-9 from the foul line.
New York’s Nicole Powell did her main damage beyond the arc, hitting 7-of-9 from downtown en route to finishing with a season-high 23 points. The seven-year forward added five rebounds, all on the defensive glass.
The combined 176 points ducked ‘under’ the ‘total’ of 186. New York’s defense held the Mercury to 32.8 percent shooting, with 2009 MVP Diana Taurasi logging only five points in 22 minutes on the floor.
The Liberty are 7-6-1 ATS in their 14 home games, with the ‘under’ 8-6. Anne Donovan’s crew has put up 80.2 PPG in that span, while allowing 75.1 PPG.
The Fever picked up Sunday’s 79-66 win as one-point road dogs against the Connecticut Sun with what got them to the WNBA Finals last year, a smothering defense. Lin Dunn’s ladies held Connecticut to 31.7 percent shooting, giving up only 4-of-22 from beyond the arc.
Fever forward Tamika Catchings led her troops with team-highs of 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. The nine-year veteran was a perfect 10-for-10 at the charity stripe and drained 2-of-3 from three-point land.
Indiana’s solid starting five had some help from center Jessica Davenport, whose 5-for-5 from the field in 16 minutes off the bench mustered 10 points. The Ohio State alum added two assists, her highest amount in eight games.
The Fever shooting 51.9 percent from the field was not enough to cash ‘over’ tickets with the matchup’s combined 145 points plunging below the 157 ½-point ‘total.’ Catchings and Co. outscored the Sun, 29-12, in the fourth quarter, after heading into the final stanza down by four points.
Indiana is 10-5 ATS in its 15 road games, with the ‘under’ 8-7. The East leaders have scored 79.5 PPG in that stretch, while allowing 73.6 PPG.
The Liberty are 2-1 ATS in their three meetings against Indiana, with the ‘over’ 3-0.
The most recent battle between the rivals in New York, one month ago, saw the Fever come away with an 84-81 overtime win as 2 ½-point road ‘chalk.’ Pondexter notched 40 points for the Liberty, while Catchings logged a double-double for Indiana with 22 points and 10 boards.
Tuesday’s tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. (ET). Liberty starting center Janel McCarville (6 RPG) is listed as “questionable” due to an ankle injury, according to DonBest.com.
New York will be idle for one night, remaining home for Thursday’s battle against the Tulsa Shock, who boast the league’s worst record (5-26). Indiana will have two nights off before Friday’s visit to San Antonio (12-19), with the Silver Stars fighting for a playoff spot.