Los Angeles Sparks at Sacramento Monarchs (-3, 145.5)
As the Sparks conclude a seven-game road trip a short drive from their own gym, they learned an important lesson: They aren’t a good road team.
Los Angeles is just 2-9 on the road this season and has dropped four of six away games heading into the final test of its trip. The problem for the Sparks has been finding consistent scoring. With an injury to center Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker not fully in game shape as she returns from pregnancy leave, the club has struggled with veteran Tina Thompson as its most reliable player.
But help is on the way. Parker has led the team with double-digit rebounds each of the past two games. When her MVP shooting stroke returns, the Sparks should again be considered contenders.
For now, they must focus on a Monarchs team they already beat by 20 once this season. Sacramento has lost three of its past five games.
Pick: Sparks
San Antonio Silver Stars at Seattle Storm (-6.5, 140)
Home teams haven’t just held an edge when these two squads tangle – they dominate.
Since 2006, the home team has won eight of 10 meetings between these two sides, including splitting a pair of games won by the host team this year. But then again, the Storm are a tough opponent for any visiting club.
Seattle is 7-2 in its own gym this year, winning those games by an average of 8.5 points per game. The Silver Stars figure to have a slight mental edge over the Storm after beating them, 74-71 in Texas on Tuesday. San Antonio, however, won the game on a last-second, 21-foot three, and the Silver Stars are unlikely to shoot 41.4 percent from down town again.
Lady luck 8/1
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