Chicago Sky vs Los Angeles Sparks

Chicago is regrouping after opening against Indiana and defending champion New York. They've had two days off. Chicago is an underdog but swept Los Angeles in three games last season, 83-73, 92-78, and 90-86. Los Angeles has lost three in a row saddled by a defense that is ninth in the 13-team league in points surrendered (81.8 ppg). They come off an 82-73 loss at home to expansion Golden State as a 10-point favorite, turning it over 18 times. Play Chicago. 

Chicago heads out to the West Coast with a losing record, on a 6-13 spread run. They're favored, though the offense is 10th in scoring and shooting (42.31%), plus last in free throw shooting (74.3%). They opened the second half of the campaign getting crushed at home by Phoenix, 85-65. The defense is eighth in field goal shooting allowed. Los Angeles had a tough time against the best team in the WNBA in the last game. They play their second straight at home. Los Angeles has a strong frontcourt with 6-3 Dearica Hamby (19 ppg, 10.1 rpg), 6-2 Rickea Jackson (11.5 ppg), and 6-6 Azura Stevens (12.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg). Stevens has played the last five games after missing the first 20. She had 24 points and 15 rebounds two games ago. L.A. is 9-6 ATS as a dog and matches up well. Play Los Angeles. 

The Los Angeles offense is second in the WNBA in shooting (44.7%) and No. 1 from 3-point land. Dearica Hamby (20 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 4 apg) has been outstanding, along with newcomer guard Kia Nurse (12.5 ppg) and the return of guard Lexie Brown (10.7 ppg) from an injury. Throw in rookies 6-4 Cameron Brink (9.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), the second pick in the WNBA draft, and 6-2 Rickea Jackson (10.2 ppg), and the Sparks are much improved. They come off an 88-82 win at Indiana as a +5.5 dog. Chicago is winless at home, coming off home losses to Connecticut (86-82) and Seattle (77-68). They're 10th in the 12-team league in shooting (42.1%) and last from the free throw line (70.6%). Chicago is 65-95 ATS at home after allowing 75+ points in two straight games, plus 14-33 ATS at home after playing two consecutive home contests. Play Los Angeles. 

Chicago has gone OVER three consecutive games by an average of 15.2 points following its 90-85 win over Seattle on Sunday, which went OVER by 13.5 points. The Sky have averaged 93 points their past three games and the last meeting went OVER by 8.5 points on June 30 when Chicago won 86-78. Los Angeles had won six in a row before suffering an off-shooting game against Connecticut while hitting only 41.9 percent from the field. The Sparks will look to bounce back against the Sky, which allows 83.6 points per game. Chicago is 11-3 OVER playing with one day of rest and the Sky has soared OVER seven straight versus Western Conference opponents. Also, the Sky is 5-0 OVER following a win and the Sparks are 7-3 OVER with one day's rest. Take the first half to go OVER, and make it a Max Play on the full game to go OVER.