Lady luck: Thursday's best WNBA bets


San Antonio Silver Stars at Atlanta Dream (-4, 165)

The only thing missing in the Atlanta Dream’s recent run toward a berth in the playoffs is a lock-down defensive effort.

If they can get one against the San Antonio Silver Spurs (11-13), they should be headed toward the postseason in the franchise’s second year of existence.

There has been a major steam on the total in this game, which opened at 160 but is now at 165 at most sportsbooks. This seems to make sense considering the teams have combined to average 172 points over their past five contests.

However, despite averaging 87 points per game in their last five outings, the Silver Stars are still just seventh in the league in offense at 76.5 points per game.

Atlanta (13-11), which has won and covered in six of its past seven games, has the league’s 11th-ranked defense at 81 points per game.

Dream coach Marynell Meadors recently told the media she was pleased with the team’s balanced scoring but was looking for her club to get tougher on the other end of the floor.

Such an effort against a struggling San Antonio club, which is just 4-5 since the All-Star break, seems a good place to start.

Pick: Under 165

Indiana Fever at Sacramento Monarchs (+5.5, 149)

Sacramento’s recent road play has given Monarchs fans hope. The team's play at home has left their faithful feeling hopeless.

The good news for potential Monarchs backers is that Thursday’s opponent is the Indiana Fever, who they have thrived against in recent seasons.

The Monarchs (7-18) need a home win and they know it. They have lost three straight in front of the home fans, including a 78-61 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks in their last outing.

“I was proud of my team because we never quit, we played to the end and we were trying to get better,” coach John Whisenant told the media after the game. “We still have nine games left. Six of them are at home. For our fans, we need to turn things around here and win.”

Although the Fever (19-5) boast the WNBA’s best record, they are 2-7 ATS in their last nine against Sacramento. They have not won on the Monarchs’ home floor since June 2003.

Pick: Monarchs