Minnesota Lynx at San Antonio Silver Stars (-4.5, 164)
Desperation is setting in for both teams. The Lynx and Silver Stars each needed triple digits to get wins that momentarily stalled late-season stumbles that could cost them playoff spots.
The Lynx lost six in a row - failing to cover in all six - before edging the Sacramento Monarchs, 100-95. They followed that by dropping an 81-75 decision at Washington as a four-point underdog. Minnesota has given up at least 78 points in its last eight games.
The Silver Stars dropped a season-high four straight games - also failing to cover in all four - before rallying for a 100-88 overtime home win over Detroit, which was without scorer Katie Smith. San Antonio has allowed an average of 84.8 points in its last five games.
The loser falls into fifth place in the Western Conference and out of the playoff picture. The road team has won all three meetings this season.
Pick: Minnesota
Seattle Storm at New York Liberty (-2, 140.5)
Winners of five in a row, the Storm have clinched a playoff berth and have a firm grip on second place in the Western Conference.
This is the opener of a three-game trip and marks the fourth trip of three games for Seattle. In each of the previous trips, the Storm lost the first game.
Two of those trips began in the Eastern time zone - a 73-66 loss to Indiana on June 9 and a 64-53 loss to Connecticut on Aug. 13.
Seattle is coming off a grueling double-overtime home win over Atlanta on Saturday without injured star center Lauren Jackson, who will miss this game as well.
The Liberty has won six of their last 10 games and are playing better under new coach Anne Donovan. One of the losses in that stretch was a 70-69 setback at Seattle as a 6.5-point underdog on Aug. 8.
Lady luck 9/1
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