slots games|pompsie slots

Tweets by Ballislife

The post 2024 NBA all-star starters and snubs appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA betting: rivals week prop bets

Sara Jane Gamelli — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 23:36:33 +0000

Sara Jane Gamelli

Rivals week continues in the NBA, and there are seven games on the NBA slate. There are two featured matchups on TNT, which includes the Boston Celtics vs. Miami Heat, and Sacramento Kings vs. the Golden State Warriors. In other matchups, the Philadelphia 76ers will face the Indiana Pacers on the road. Starting at 10:30 p.m. ET, there will be a classic rival showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls.

I have several recommended player props for today. For my picks, I took them all as straight bets, no more than 1 u on each.?Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Thursday, Jan. 25.

Odds are current as of Jan. 25, at 4 p.m. ET
SJ's NBA?Player Prop record this season: 16-13

What NBA Rivals matchup are you betting the most tonight?
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) January 25, 2024

NBA Bet #1: Steph Curry O 27.5 Points (-130) DK

30 from coast to coast

?@NBCSAuthentic pic.twitter.com/wviAJQE5Yy
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) January 15, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?26.8 |?FG:?44.6 %?| 3 PT:?40.1 %?| FT:?92.6 %?| REB:?4.2?| AST: 5 | STL: 0.8?| BLK: 0.5

The Golden State Warriors (19-22) will host the Sacramento Kings (24-18) tonight at home. If you're betting on the NBA, I have Warriors guard Steph Curry to score over 27.5 points tonight. At -130 odds on DraftKings, he has a prime matchup tonight against the Kings.

I wanted to initially bet the under tonight, until I saw his numbers against the Kings. A prop thats only hit 46 percent this season, Curry has six straight games under 27.5 points. He's due, and this time Golden State gets home court advantage for rivals week.

Tonight, Curry gets the Kings, who allow the 20th most points per game (117.7), and 21 most assists (27.2). Similar to last season, they have trouble defending the perimeter, allowing teams to put up 13.4 three-pointers a game at 39 percent. Teams are shooting at a high clip against Sacramento (48.5 percent), and tonight they face one of the best shooters in the history of the NBA.

^{Statistics courtesy of Props.Cash}

Historically, Curry's balled out against Sacramento. What is there not to love about a rivals game that will be broadcasted on TNT this evening? In the last 14 meetings against the Kings, Curry has over 27.5 points in 11 of them, including 29 their last matchup. Over those 14 games, the guard averages 32.7 points against the Kings.

Hitting over points in 90 percent of his last ten matchups against them, Curry has a career average of 24.6 points in 45 career games against Sacramento. In three games against them this year, he's putting up an incredible 30.3 points, on 46.9 percent three-point shooting. While the line is at 27.5, his average vs. the Kings is over three points above that tonight.

Sacramento ranks 21st defensively against point guards, allowing T.J. McConnell, Damian Lillard, Cameron Payne, Dejounte Murray, and Bogdan Bogdanovic to all hit over their points props this week. Although the line is cutting it close, Curry is putting up 27.1 points in 21 home games this season.

Although Curry is only averaging 24.5 points in the last ten games, his shot volume and minutes remain fairly steady. He's coming off a 25 point performance against the Hawks, in which the guard shot 62.5 percent from the field. With Gary Payton II, Moses Moody, and Chris Paul all out with injuries, Curry doesn't have much depth behind him at point guard. Expect Curry to go off tonight.

NBA Bet #2: John Collins O 19.5 Points and Rebounds (-115) DK

final frame on the way pic.twitter.com/Of98muduAa
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) January 24, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?13.8 |?FG:?49.9 %?| 3 PT:?35.6 %?| FT:?88.9 %?| REB:?7.6?| AST: 1?| STL:?0.6?| BLK:?0.8

One of my favorite props to bet on this season is John Collins over points and rebounds. With a 76 percent hit rate on the season, the Jazz are on the rebound, despite losing three games in a row. Tonight the Jazz get the Washington Wizards, who are one of the least efficient teams on the defensive end.

The Wizards are in the basement as far as defensive ranks. They allow nearly the most points, rebounds, assists, and field goal percentage in the league. Coming off a 14 point, 9 rebound game against the Pelicans, he faces the Wizards, in which he put up a combined 26 points and rebounds last meeting.

^{Statistics courtesy of Props.Cash}

Collins continues to hit over this prop, even with Clarkson and Sexton back in the lineup. While I've gotten the line as low as 16.5, I am confident at the current line of 19.5, especially given the matchup tonight. Averaging 27.5 minutes on the season, this prop has a hit rate of 76 percent when Collins plays those minutes or more.

Overall, Washington is poor defensively against centers, even with a matchup against Gafford and Kuzma. If you're betting on the NBA over points and rebounds hit in 9 of 12 games so far in January. Behind Collins is Kelly Olynyk and Walker Kessler, who haven't nearly been effective as Collins defensively as of late. While defense isn't Collins strong suit, he's been efficient on the boards and offensive end. In the last 10 games, he's putting up a combined 21 points and rebounds.

This line should honestly be higher for Collins, who remains a solid starter and scorer for Utah Jazz. As the leading rebounder on this Jazz team, he's been able to hit this prop, even in several games where he entered foul trouble. I'm going to keep betting on this prop until the wheels fall off. He should eat tonight, especially since the Wizards allow the second most paint points in the NBA.

NBA Bet #3: Kristaps Porzingis O 26.5 Points, Assists, and Rebounds (-110) DK

KP brought the spark we needed making him tonight’s @Gatorade Player of the Game pic.twitter.com/BGNnHsdF7Z
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 22, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?19.5 |?FG:?52.5 %?| 3 PT:?35 %?| FT:?83.7 %?| REB:?6.8?| AST: 2?| STL:?0.7 | BLK:?1.9

The Boston Celtics get another matchup with Eastern Conference rival Miami Heat on the road tonight. While it's hard to bet on Boston props, I like the matchup for Kristaps Porzingis tonight.

A 56 percent hit rate this season, Porzingis over 26.5 points, rebounds, and assists has hit in three of the last five matchups, including two straight games against the Rockets and Nuggets. Tonight, he has a touch matchup against Bam Adebayo, in which the Heat allow only 110.5 points per game. Hitting four of the last six games, we can't forget his history against Miami.

When I look at head-to-head matchups, I do take into account if the players were on different rosters. Although Porzingis was on the Wizards last year, he's hit this prop in 75 percent of the last four matchups against Miami. In fact, he's coming off 27 points and assists back in October against the Heat.

^{Statistics courtesy of Props.Cash}

Red hot as of late, Porzingis has showed the Celtics he can step up when everyone else is struggling. Coming off several days rest, Porzingis poured in 32 points, 6 rebounds, and one assist against the Houston Rockets on Sunday. Well rested, I like this prop even better with him having the time to recover.

Coming off three-days rest, the Unicorn has a hit rate of 100 percent against the Raptors, Cavaliers and Denver Nuggets. The Celtics thrive on three point shooting, and should be able to drag Bam Adebayo outside the paint. Defensively, he should excel on the boards given Adebayo is strictly an inside big, and isn't a threat from the perimeter.

Over the last month, Chet Holmgren, Alperen Sengün, and Wendell Carter Jr. all hit over points, rebounds, and assists. Even with the addition of Terry Rozier, the Heat are struggling, dropping four straight games straight. Porzingis is fresh off rest, and is in the midst of an incredible shooting month (43.6 percent from deep).

With Abebayo in the paint, the Heat force teams to shoot from outside. While they struggle to defend the perimeter at times, Porzingis excels very well in the two man game. Expect Porzingis to get a ton of outside looks when Tatum or someone else is double teamed. I'm going to ride the hot hand tonight, especially against a Miami team who allowed the Grizzlies to shoot nearly 50 percent from three.

Click here to sign up for Props.Cash

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post NBA betting: rivals week prop bets appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA betting: favorite player props for Jan. 21

Sara Jane Gamelli — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 20:09:58 +0000

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

There are six games on the Sunday NBA slate, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET and 10:00 p.m. ET. The Phoenix Sun have won four straight games following the return of their big three. Will newly acquired Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers get a road victory against Phoenix? With the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic neck-and-neck in the standings, these two teams will matchup tonight in Orlando.

I have several recommended player props for today. For my picks, I took them all as straight bets, no more than 1 u on each. Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Sunday, Jan. 21.

RELATED: Ballislife is now partnered with Props.Cash

Odds are current as of Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. ET
SJ's NBA Player Prop record this season: 14-11

https://twitter.com/BallislifeBets/status/1749128661158990064

NBA Bet #1: Grayson Allen O 2.5 Assists (-166)

Meet the Allens

Sit down with @GraysonJAllen, Morgan, Teddy & Rosie and have a little look into their world beyond basketball! pic.twitter.com/SqSxWVLmmH
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 21, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?13.8 |?FG:?50.3 %?| 3 PT:?48.1 %?| FT:?88.9 %?| REB:?4.2?| AST: 3?| STL:?1?| BLK:?1

Statistics courtesy of Props.Cash (Home Games)

Tonight, the Phoenix Suns (23-18, 12-11 home) will host the Indiana Pacers (24-18, 11-10 away) tonight. One of my favorite props, I am taking Grayson Allen, of the Suns, to dish over 2.5 assists tonight. In addition, I found the best value at the time on Draft Kings Sportsbook.

If you're betting on the NBA, Grayson Allen is a vital part of this Phoenix team, and remains a member of the starting five. Now with his fourth team in seven years, Allen is averaging career-highs in assists(3), points (13.8), rebounds (4.2), three-point percentage (48.1 %), field goal percentage (50.3 %), and minutes per game (33.4). Overall, he's flourishing into a prolific deep shooter and role player for Phoenix.

Coming off one days rest, Allen had a 12 point and six assist performance against the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. With Bradley Beal healthy and back in the lineup, the Suns have significant threats offensively on both the weak and strong side of the ball. With 12 assists in the last two matchups. Allen will look to expand on that tonight.

The Indiana Pacers still remain one of the worst defensive teams in the league, While they've recently acquired two-way player Pascal Siakam, they allow the 29th most points (123.3), and 25.2 assists per game.

It's undeniable Allen's value has increased this season. He's been fairly consistent in the assists category, especially over the past two months. In the month of January, the forward averages 3.6 assists, and in December, he dished over 4 assists per game. Just having Devin Booker, Beal, and Kevin Durant alongside him alone should boost this prop value.

A prop that's hit the over in 10 of the last 12 games, Allen has over 2.5 assists in 80 percent of the last 10 games. A 67 percent hit rate this season, he's 100 percent vs. the Pacers in the last three meetings, dating back to Jan. 2023.

Although it's their first matchup of the season, the Pacers recently allowed Michael Porter Jr., Jayson Tatum, Khris Middleton, Malcom Brogdon, and Kevin Huerter to all have over 2.5 assists. In addition, this prop has a hit rate when Allen plays 33.4 minutes or more. While I'm confident in his minutes, Allens over hit rate is 90 % of the last 10 home games. It's also important to note he's dished out over 2.5 dimes in nine straight home games.

Off one days rest, he's been equally as consistent, hitting the over in seven straight games. Overall, he's tallying 3.4 assists at home this year. This prop to me is easy money, as Allens been quite overshadowed by the big three. While he doesn't seem like the typical playmaker, he's averaging way over 2.5 assists per game in the last 10 games.

When it comes to betting, I'm all about trends and finding the best value. With the fast pace Indiana plays at, this prop should soar over today. All signs point to the Suns starting five clicking together, along with Allen trending in the right direction.

Bet #2: Paul George O 2.5 Assists (-150)

This man is an All-Star.

VOTE PAUL GEORGE TO INDY https://t.co/QWOBIWBHr4

@Kia Performance of the Game https://t.co/zLp0sjMn3B pic.twitter.com/FIA4tmyv6L
— LA Clippers (@LAClippers) January 17, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?23.9 |?FG:?46.8 %?| 3 PT:?42.1 %?| FT:?91.1 %?| REB:?5.5?| AST: 3.7?| STL:?1.6 | BLK:?0.3

Statistics courtesy of Props.Cash

Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers (26-14, 17-4 home) will host the Brooklyn Nets (17-24, 7-14 away) this afternoon. One of the best teams in the Western Conference, George is healthy this season, averaging 3.7 assists per game.

If you're betting on the NBA, again, this is one of my favorite props for today. With eight assists in the last two games, George gets the Nets this afternoon.

The Nets overall are a middle of the road team, and below average in the wins/loss column. Allowing 25.9 assists per game, Brooklyn's allowed Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Austin Reaves, and Malcom Brodgon to all have over 2.5 assists per game against them.

A 70 percent hit rate in home games, George averages 4.2 assists per game in at Crypto.com Arena, which is almost two more than what the line is set at today. As he continues to impress this season, PG13 is dishing out 2.7 assists in the last ten games.

Although he had only one assists in one lone matchup against Brooklyn this season, the forward has been on a facilitating tear, hitting the over in 60 percent of the last ten games. If you're looking to bet on this prop, he has 8 assists in the last three meetings against Brooklyn.

With the recent trade, James Harden has become the Clippers primary playmaker. However, George has dished out over 2.5 assists in 25 of the 38 games he's played this season. Overall, he's playing a great volume of minutes, averaging 35.5 minutes played in the last ten games. A prop thats hit in 10 of the last 15 games, look for No. 13 to fill the boxscore today.

Bet #3: Kevin Durant 30+ Points and Assists (+100 DK Boost)

HOW WE FEELIN' SUNS FANS pic.twitter.com/yprhdV0v0A
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 17, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?28.9 |?FG:?52.5 %?| 3 PT:?46.6 %?| FT:?88.3 %?| REB:?6.2?| AST: 5.7?| STL:?0.9?| BLK:?1.1

Statistics courtesy of Props.Cash (Home Games)

This prop was a special I found on Draft Kings, boosted to +100 odds from -185. Averaging 28.9 points and 5.7 assists on the season, Kevin Durant finally has some help. While he's only hit the over in two of the last five games, this has a 79 percent hit rate this season.

Stated previously, Durant gets a matchup with the Pacers, who allow opponents to score nearly 125 points per game. A 50 percent hit rate in the last ten games, Durant has performed historically well against Indiana.

If you're betting on the NBA, I love this prop based off his past matchup history with the Pacers. While he hasn't faced them since 2022, Durant hit well over 40 points and assists in their last two matchups. Most recent, Indiana allowed Jerami Grant, Brogdon, Michael Porter Jr., and Jayson Tatum to all hit above 30 points and assists. As I've mentioned previously, Allen, Booker, and Beal are all reliable scoring options for Durant.

Tonight, Durant should matchup against Pascal Siakam, who's only seen one game with his new team. While Siakam is a two-way threat, Durant may have some challenges there. Overall, he's coming off a 26 point, two assist performance against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Whenever I look at props, I look at volume of minutes and shots taken. With Durant averaging 35.8 minutes in the month of January, he's also putting up 17 field goal attempts per game. Although his scoring production has dipped significantly this month, No. 35 hit this prop in 83 percent of home games this year.

Since the Pacers allow the 12th most assists and the 23rd worst opposing three-point percentage,(38%), I love this boost for tonight. Statistically, the Pacers allow teams to shoot 50 percent from the field, and allow 27 free-throw attempt. This should be a great matchup tonight.

Click here to sign up for?Props.Cash

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post NBA betting: favorite player props for Jan. 21 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA betting: favorite picks for Jan. 11

Sara Jane Gamelli — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:08:13 +0000

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

There are several games on the NBA Slate today, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets matchup hosted in Paris. The Boston Celtics (29-8, 11-8 away) will face Eastern Conference Rival Milwaukee Bucks (25-12, 16-4 home) on the road. For the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers (19-19, 13-6 home) will host the Phoenix Suns (19-18, 8-7) at home. If you're planning on betting on both of those matchups, they will air on TNT, starting at 7:30 and 10:00 p.m. ET.

Coming off a road victory against the Miami Heat, the Oklahoma City Thunder (25-11, 14-5 home) will face off against the Portland Trail Blazers (10-26, 5-15 away) at home. With tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET, the New York Knicks (22-15, 11-11 away) will travel to Dallas to play the Mavericks (22-15, 11-8 home). ?I have several recommended player props, and a few game props. For my picks, I took them all as straight bets, no more than 1 u on each.

Odds are current as of Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. ET
SJ's NBA Straight Player and Game Props this season: 31-14, up 16.5u

Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Thursday, Jan. 11

The NBA Slate Today

Odds courtesy of @DKSportsbook

Nets (+145) vs. Cavaliers (-3.5) :O/U 225.5
Celtics (+154) @ Bucks (-4.5) O/U 243: O/U 243
Trail Blazers (+575) @ Thunder (-12.5):O/U 235.5
Knicks (-4) @ Mavericks (+145): O/U 234
Suns (-110) @ Lakers (-110) O/U 238.5#NBA pic.twitter.com/iLm7XWe1F7
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) January 11, 2024

NBA Bet #1: OG Anunoby O 1.5 3PTM (-130)

KNICKS WIN!! pic.twitter.com/tY1bXTBkUZ
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) January 10, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?15 |?FG:?49.7 %?| 3 PT:?38.4 %?| FT:?73.1 %?| REB:?4.1?| AST: 2.4?| STL:?1.1?| BLK:?0.4

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Tonight, the Knicks play the Mavericks on the road. 5-0 since trading for former Raptor OG Anunoby, the Knicks have recent wins over the Trail Blazers, Wizards, 76ers, Bulls, and Timberwolves. Known for his defensive prowess, Anunoby is finding his stride on the offensive end with the Knicks.

Coming off a 23 points performance against Portland, Anunoby shot 66.7 percent from deep, on six attempts. This evening, he faces a Mavericks team who allow the 20th most points (116.9), and rank 19th and 15th in opponent three-point attempts (13.3) and percentage (36.5).

Although he's on a new team, Anunoby has a history of success against Dallas, hitting over 1.5 three pointers in their last three meetings. A cumulative of nine three-pointers made in those matchups, the newly acquired Knick has a 63 percent hit rate this season.

Able to hit this prop in five of the last eight games, OG will continue on the road, where he's hit this prop in five of the last ten, and 10 out of the last 15 games. With Luka Doncic out, and Grant Williams, Derek Lively II, and Max Klever listed as questionable, this a prime matchup for him.

Information courtesy of Props.Cash

OG Anunoby is a perfect fit with the Knicks

Most recent, Dallas allowed forwards Ziaire Williams, Toumani Camara, Simone Fontecchio, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, Isaac Okoro, and Grayson Allen all to hit over 1.5 made three-pointers. While Dallas ranks in the bottom tier against small fowards, Anunoby should be able this hit this no problem.

If you're betting on the NBA, Anunoby is shooting 45.5 percent from deep since acquired by the Knicks. Averaging 4.4 three-point attempts with New York, his current three-point percentage is a career-high.

In one game against the Mavericks, the Knicks forward has 26 points on 3-8 (37.5 percent) three-point shooting. Shooting over 37 percent from the corner, the Mavericks allow the most corner threes in the NBA. While Doncic remains out, it shouldn't affect this prop too much. He's been hot, and he ranks second in the league in made corner threes.

A catch and shoot floor spacer, I'm hot on this prop tonight.

NBA Bet #2: Chet Holmgren O 27.5 PRAs (-120)

Dub finds Chet down low pic.twitter.com/TN0PJxDAUt
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 11, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?17.9 |?FG:?55.5%?| 3 PT:?40.3 %?| FT:?81 %?| REB:?7.4?| AST: 2.7?| STL:?0.2?| BLK:?2.6

Thunder's Chet Holmgren is making a strong case for the Rookie of the Year, next to Victor Wembanyama. Known for his blistering defense, he's coming off an efficient night. Excellent off cuts and in transition, Holmgren had 23 points, three blocks, two assists, and nine rebounds in Wednesday's victory over Miami.

At first I was hesitant about this prop, due to a potential blow out. However, Holmgren is averaging 30 minutes in those last few blowout games. Tonight, he gets the Trail Blazers, who allow the 17 most points (116.2), 24th most rebounds (45.2), and 19th most assists (27.1). With the departure of star Damian Lillard, Portland's been faced with a rebuild and injuries.

Most recent, Portland allowed Nic Claxton, Day'ron Sharpe, Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins, and Domantas Sabonis to all his over points, rebounds, and assists. If Deandre Ayton is out for tonights matchup, Holmgren may have an easier matchup.

Although the Thunder will play their second straight game, Holmgren continues to be efficient off zero days rest. In these situations, the big man is averaging 16 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. It is important to note, in four games off zero games rest, Holmgrens has an average 24 minutes played, compared to a high 31.3 minutes off one days rest.

Information courtesy of Props.Cash

The Thunder are unleashing Holmgren

With Oklahoma City back home, Holmgren averages 18.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists in 19 games in front of their fans. If you're betting on this prop, it has a 58 percent hit rate when the Thunder are home, and it's hit in five of the last home matchups.

If you're betting on the NBA, this prop hit in 70 percent of the last 10 games, and is extremely effective when playing 30.1 minutes or more. Coming off two straight prop hits against the Heat and Washington, Holmgren hit this prop against back-to-back matchups against the Timberwolves and Knicks.

Leading OKC in rebounds (7.4), Holmgren is averaging 17.9 points, and 2.7 assists per game. In one game against Portland, he did not hit the over, putting up 16 points, six rebounds, and zero assists (22 PRAs). Over the last ten games, the former Gonzaga BullDog is putting up 20 points, six rebounds, and three assists.

NBA Bet #3: Kevin Durant O 26.5 Points (-150)

KD at the half:

20 PTS
5 REB
2 AST
2 3PM

Vote for All-Star: https://t.co/CGvPWMaKdh pic.twitter.com/qeqfffrIAO
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 9, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?29.6 |?FG:?52.5 %?| 3 PT:?47.4 %?| FT:?87.5 %?| REB:?6.4?| AST: 5.9 | STL:?0.8?| BLK:?1.1

Tonight, the struggling Suns get the Lakers. Even with Bradley Beal back in the starting lineup, I'm taking Kevin Durant over 27.5 points scored. One of the most bet props tonight on Draft Kings, Durant has a prime matchup against Los Angeles.

A prop hit rate of 67 percent this season, Durant has over 27.5 points in his last four matchups against the Lakers. Averaging 36 points in three games against them this season, Durant will face Los Angeles for the first time with both Beal and Booker in the lineup. In six games with a healthy Big 3, this prop hit three of six games (50 percent) for Durant.

While he's been inconsistent of late, Durant hit this prop just 60 percent of the last ten games. Coming off a 30 point performance against the Clippers, he'll get a primetime matchup tonight.

Information courtesy of Props.Cash

Why I like this prop tonight

While there's a slight risk Beal and Booker affect his points, he has an excellent projected matchup tonight. 16th in opponent points allowed (115.1), the Lakers allow a league low 14.4 three-point attempts, and 38.4 percentage. Dealing with injuries and inconsistencies, Los Angeles recently allowed forward Scottie Barnes, Ziaire Williams, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Herbert Jones to all hit over their props.

Tonight is going to be a classic showdown between Durant and LeBron James. Off two days rest, this prop hit in three of the last five games. In 24 regular season career matchups against LeBron, Durant averages 27.3 points per game on 50 percent field goal shooting.

An elite scorer, Durant can score anywhere on the court, and has done it with ease most of the season. In the last ten games, he's putting up 25 points, on 50 percent three-point shooting. A combined 40 field goal attempts, he's playing 35.5 minutes in two games this month.

Other Picks

Cleveland Cavaliers ML -210 (DK)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander O31.5 points -130 (DK)

Boston Celtics ML +140 (DK)

O.G Anunoby O.5 steals -160 (DK)

Click here to sign up for Props.Cash

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

The post NBA betting: favorite picks for Jan. 11 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA Betting: Favorite Picks for Jan 8

Sara Jane Gamelli — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 22:34:04 +0000

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

There are six games on the NBA slate tonight, starting at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET. The Indiana Pacers will look to get revenge tonight, as they host the Boston Celtics in back-to-back matchups. 8-2 in their last 10 games, the Chicago Bulls will face the struggling Charlotte Hornets on the road.

Fresh off two consecutive losses, can the Oklahoma City Thunder get a victory tonight against the Washington Wizards on the road? For my picks, I took them all as straight bets, although grouping into a parlay is just fine, if you want to take the risk. Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Monday, Jan 8.

The NBA SLATE!

Celtics (-3) @ Pacers (+130)
Thunder (-11) @ Wizards (+440)
Bulls (-6) @ Hornets (+195)
Rockets ( +142) @ Heat (-4)
Jazz (+280) @ Bucks (-8)
Suns (+200) @ Clippers (-245)

(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/oMHkM8zNPC
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) January 8, 2024

NBA Daily Game Odds for 1/8

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}

Celtics (-3) )(-155) @ Pacers (+130): O/U 247
Thunder (-11) (-575) @ Wizards (+440): O/U 247
Bulls (-6) (-230) @ Hornets (+195): O/U 215.5
Rockets ( +142) @ Heat (-4) (-175): O/U 220
Jazz (+280) @ Bucks (-8)(-355): O/U 242
Suns (+200) @ Clippers(-6.5) (-245): O/U 230

NBA Bet #1: Jaylen Brown Over 37.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists

JAYLEN BROWN FINISHING THIS GAME ON A HIGH NOTE pic.twitter.com/RENKMwlxKM
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) January 7, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?22.7 |?FG:?48.6 %?| 3 PT:?72.5 %?| FT:?88.7 %?| REB:?5?| AST: 3.6 | STL:?1.1?| BLK:?0.6

Tonight, the Boston Celtics (28-7, 11-7 away) will play the Indiana Pacers (20-15, 11-8 home) for the second consecutive matchup. With Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser out with injury, that should leave Brown to feast tonight.

If you're betting on the NBA, Jaylen Brown is coming off a 31 point, one block, one assist, and four rebound performance against Indiana on Saturday night. Tonight, he gets the Pacers again, and this time, will have limited wing depth behind him.

On Saturday, Brown had 20 field goal attempts, the most since Dec. 20. Logging 36 minutes, Brown will have the task of carrying the offensive load on his shoulders, along with Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford. While Tatum and Hauser combined for 43 points last matchup, Boston will look to give wingman Oshe Brissett some minutes behind Brown tonight.

Normally I wouldn't pick the over, but we can't ignore how Brown performs without Tatum. Dating back to the 2022-2023 season, the Celtics swingman has over points, rebounds, and assists in eight straight games without Tatum in the lineup. In two games without Tatum this season, Brown has 39 and 47 PRAs against the Sacramento Kings and the Toronto Raptors. Under different circumstances, I wouldn't pick the over, since it only has a 21 percent hit rate this season, including 40 percent in the last ten matchups.

In this case, I'm taking my knowledge of the Celtics, combined with advanced stats and the matchup. In the last 5 meetings against Indiana, Brown is averaging 42.4 points, rebounds, and assists against the Pacers. With Tatum in the lineup, No. 7 is averaging 33 PRAs in three regular season matchups against them this season.

Stats courtesy of Props.Cash

The Celtics won't have Jayson Tatum, Sam Hauser tonight

Coming off a combo of 36 points, rebounds, and assists on Saturday, Brown has a prime matchup with the Pacers, who allow the 29th most points in the NBA (124.2). Additionally, they allow opponents to shoot over 50 percent from the field this year, and rank 25th in offensive rebounds per game (11.3).

If you watch Jaylen Brown, he's adapted on this newly constructed Celtics team, and is elite with those mid range fadaway shots. He learned to attack inside and be aggressive against the Pacers this past weekend. Since the New Year, Rick Carlisles Pacers allowed Brown, Dejounte Murray, Bogdan Bogdanovich, Garrison Matthews, and MaJon Beauchamp to all hit over points, rebounds, and assists.

This is also a prop that's hit 100 percent of the last five games without Jayson Tatum. While Porzingis should be good tonight, look for Brown to have more opportunities, especially with Porzingis and Al Horford able to space the floor.

In three games against Indiana this season, Brown is averaging 25.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 0.7 assists. Averaging slightly less numbers on the road, he's averaging 19 field goal attempts in there games against the Pacers this year. While he came out slightly flat in turns of rebounds and assists last game, he had a cumulative 16 boards in their first two matchups.

Overall, the Pacers will play hard and physical against the Celtics tonight. They rank 26th in defensive rating, allowing nearly 124 points per game. In addition, they are ranked 25th in opponent effective field goal percentage.

NBA Bet #2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander O 29.5 Points

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the @KIA ?????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????? ???? ?????? ?????????? for December pic.twitter.com/zvbzZfPyOU
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 4, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?31.5 |?FG:?54.7 %?| 3 PT:?34.2 %?| FT:?89.1 %?| REB:?6?| AST: 6.4?| STL:?2.4?| BLK:?0.7

Certainly in the MVP conversation, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having a career year with the Oklahoma City Thunder. In his 6th season, SGA is averaging a career high 31.5 points on 54.7 percent field goal shooting. At a 32.9 percent usage rate, the Thunder guard will get the Struggling Washington Wizards on the road tonight.

At first I was hesitant of this prop, in case No. 2 was pulled from the game in case of a blow out. 2-0 in their last two meetings, the Thunder defeated the Wizards 127-110 on Jan 6. In that game, SGA finished with 30 points in 33 minutes, on 12-23 and 1-4 three-point shooting

On the road, we simply cannot forget his 42 point performance in D.C back in Nov. 2022. Simply fantastic this season over 29.5 points has a 76 percent hit rate this season, including 90 percent in the last ten games. Hitting the over in consecutive straight games, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 34.3 points in the last three matchups against the Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, and the Boston Celtics.

Stats courtesy of Props.Cash

Why I like this prop tonight

Tonight, he will face a Washington team, who are 2-8 in their last ten games, and are struggling, to put it lightly. Allowing 126 points per game is a league worst, and their opponents are shooting 38.2 percent from the three against Washington. With teams shooting over 50 percent from the field against the Wizards, SGA should not have a problem tonight. While he performs the best stat wise off two days rest, SGA averages 30.3 points on 52.9 field goal shooting coming off one days rest.

With no injuries reported, aside from Davis Bertans, Washington has recently allowed Jalen Brunson, Trae Young, and Steph Curry to all hit over 30 points. Likely to have a matchup with Tyus Jones or Jordan Poole, Gilgeous-Alexander over 29.5 points has a hit rate of 80 percent of the last five road games.

Overall, SGA is an MVP caliber player, and there's not much he can't do on the hardwood. With the shot volume there, he's averaging 36 minutes played and 21.6 field goal attempts per game. Getting to the line as frequent as he does, the Wizards allow the 24th most 23.9 free-throw attempts per game.

If you're betting on the NBA, Gilgeous-Alexander is a special player, who's proven he's one of the top guards in the NBA. Able to score in a multitude of ways, he leads the Thunder in scoring, and is averaging over 30 minutes in all but three games this season. It's important to note, this prop has a hit rate of 73 percent when SGA plays over 35 minutes.

NBA Bet #3: Chet Holmgren O 8.5 Rebounds

Right down the lane

Vote Thunder: https://t.co/2FFNkzxxzm pic.twitter.com/PL2oGjiues
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) January 6, 2024

Season Stats?PPG:?17.4 |?FG:?54.3 %?| 3 PT:?39.6 %?| FT:?82.6 %?| REB:?7.4 ?| AST: 2.6 | STL:?0.7?| BLK:2.6

Tonight, I have Chet Holmgren over 8.5 rebounds against the Washington Wizards. Only a 32 percent hit rate this season, I love this prop regardless of the stats. I say this especially since he's only had a combined 12 boards in the last three games.

Holmgren will get his first career start against the Wizards tonight. As stated previously, Washington has been equally terrible on the defensive end, as well as on the glass. 30th overall in opponent rebounds per game (49.4), the Wizards rank near last in opponent defensive and offensive rebounds. While Holmgren only hit this prop in 20 percent of the last ten games, he has a prime matchup tonight.

Stats courtesy of Props.Cash

He has an excellent matchup vs. the Wizards

Much like Washington, Oklahoma City has a smaller roster, and rank near the bottom in rebounding despite much success this season. Over the season, the Wizards have allowed centers to absolutely dominate their props and rebound numbers. Recently, Jarrett Allen, Tristan Thompson had a combined 28 rebounds against Washington. Additionally, they allowed Clint Capela (17), Nic Claxton (12), DeAndre Ayton (16), and Domantas Sabonis (13) to all hit over their rebound props.

Overall, the Wizards allow the most rebounds to centers, and Holmgren has 11 games over 8.5 rebounds. While he can stretch the floor, that certainly impacts his ability to attack on the glass. However, Battling Victor Wembanyama for Rookie of the Year, expect him to thrive in a juicy matchup tonight. Over the last ten, he's averaging only 5.9 rebounds per game.

In 15 road games this season, the sophmore is grabbing 7.8 boards in 29.5 minutes. The last time he had over 8.5 rebounds was on Christmas Eve against the Nets (10).

Click here to sign up for Props.Cash

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post NBA Betting: Favorite Picks for Jan 8 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA Betting: Favorite picks for Dec. 29

Sara Jane Gamelli — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 23:06:12 +0000

Written by:

Sara Jane Gamelli

There are ten games on the NBA slate tonight, beginning at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET. While the Celtics barely defeated the Detroit Pistons in overtime, can they stay undefeated at home tonight? With Joel Embiid out for the 76ers, can Philadelphia capture the win against Houston on the road? In this article, I am picking my favorite NBA plays of the day. You can bet them single, or group into a parlay, your choice. I chose to take each individual straight bets and placed 1 unit on each. Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Friday, Dec. 29

HUGE NBA Slate today!

What's your favorite matchup?

Knicks @ Magic (-1.5)
Nets (-6) @ Wizards
Bucks (-6) @ Cavaliers
Kings @ Hawks (-1)
Raptors @ Celtics (-8)
76ers (-1.5) @ Rockets
Thunder @ Nuggets (-2.5)
Hornets @ Suns (-15.5)
Spurs @ Trail Blazers (-5.5)
Grizzlies @… pic.twitter.com/6oHslvMEhm
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) December 29, 2023

NBA Daily Game Odds for 12/29

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}
Knicks (-1) (-115) @ Magic (-105): O/U 226
Nets (-6) (-238) @ Wizards (+195): O/U 241.5
Kings (-1) @ Hawks (-110): O/U 252
Bucks (-6) (-238) @ Cavaliers (+195): O/U 239.5
Raptors (+195) @ Celtics (-6)(-238): O/U 224.5
76ers (-1.5)(-118) @ Rockets (-102): O/U 224
Thunder (+100) @ Nuggets (-1.5) (-120): O/U 236.5
Hornets (+800) @ Suns (-16)(-1350): O/U 232
Spurs (+190) @ Trail Blazers (-230) (-5.5): O/U 233
Grizzlies (+210) @ Clippers (-6)(-258): O/U 225.5

Sara Jane's favorite bets

Bet #1: Toronto Raptors +6 vs. Celtics

The Boston Celtics (24-6, 15-0 home) will host the Toronto Raptors (12-18, 4-9 away) at home tonight. The only undefeated team at home, the Celtics are coming off a thrilling 128-122 overtime victory against the Pistons. While Boston has a 3-1 win/loss record coming off back-to-back games, I chose to stay clear of the money line tonight.

Tonight, Boston are the clear cut favorites, with a 65.8 percent chance to win, according to ESPN Analytics. However, there is much uncertainty in the lineup, with Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum all listed as questionable. Even worse, Boston will be without Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, as Horford doesn't play in back-to backs.

While the Raptors are fairly healthy, they are 14-16-0 against the spread, in which they have a 4-9 win/loss record on the road. 3-7 in their last ten games, they recently covered the favored -6.5 spread against the Wizards. Other than that, they haven't been able to cover any spread since Dec. 18 versus the Charlotte Hornets. Only 2-3 in their last five matchups, Toronto had some tough looks against Philadelphia and Denver. Respectively, they lost to the 76ers by ten points, and the Nuggets, nine points.

W in Washington pic.twitter.com/bHYZkWftKZ
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 28, 2023

Overall, the Celtics own the Raptors, standing at 8-2 against them in the last ten meetings. Their first matchup, Boston smoked Toronto, 117-94 at home, which I was in attendance. Their second matchup, the Raptors kept the game within three points at home. It's important to note, the Celtics starting five was fully healthy for that game.

For the Celtics, they are 9-1 in their last ten games, including four consecutive wins. However, they barely snuck out a win versus the Pistons, and are banged up. 15-13-2 against the spread, the Celtics ironically average the most points off zero days rest, at 126.8. Boston has already faced several tests with various players out of the lineup. With Horford and Porzingis out tonight, Lamar Stevens will get the test at Center. If there are more injuries, I wouldn't be as reluctant to take Toronto money line.

Offensively, these two teams aren't on the same wavelength when healthy. Unable to generate adequate offense, the Raptors rank 18th in offensive efficiency( 113.5), where the Celtics rank 4th overall (120.5). While Toronto started off as one of the best defensive teams, they rank 14th in defensive efficiency, whereas Boston ranks near the top.

Coming off a 132-102 victory over the Washington Wizards isn't certainly a statement, but the Raptors do hold the momentum. After avoiding an embarassing loss yesterday, the Raptors should be able to take advantage of the Celtics grueling schedule, along with their injury ailments.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic has played around with the starting five, taking Dennis Schroder out for Gary Trent Jr. It's important to note, Siakam, Anunoby, and Barnes are all coming over 20+ point games.

Given the Raptors aren't terrible defensively, I expect them to hang around with the Celtics tonight. I would be genuinely surprised if both Tatum, Brown, and Holiday all decided to suite up. Look for Toronto to capitalize tonight.

Bet #2: Trae Young 10+ Assists vs. Kings

Stats courtesy Propsdotcash

If there's a player prop I love tonight, It's Trae Young to have over 10 assists. Averaging 28.1 points and 11.3 assists per game, Young gets the Sacramento Kings who allowed the 23rd most assists (27.2) in the NBA. Coming off four straight games with 13 plus, is there any team that can stop Young from dishing out dimes as of right now?

10 + assists is a prop that's hit 67 percent this season, and in eight straight games. If you're betting on the NBA, the Hawks play at home, where Young is coming off a 15 and 13 total assist night against the Detroit Pistons, and the Memphis Grizzlies. While i've made the mistake of taking under Young assists, it's hard to fade a player who's averaging 40 minutes in the last three games, and hasn't dished out less than ten assists since Dec. 11 against the Nuggets.

Trae dimes up Bogi pic.twitter.com/7opWnQRfYx
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) December 27, 2023

The return of Jalen Johnson has been a huge impact on the Hawks offensively. Sharing the backcourt with Dejounte Murray, Young has the option of hitting Bey and Bogdanovich, who's been a proven sniper from downtown. Although DeAndre Hunter is out for tonights matchup, the Kings have recently allowed Scoot Henderson, and Jrue Holiday to hit 10+ assists.

Surprisingly, the Hawks have the 5th best offensive in the league, even though they stand at 12-18. While they rank middle of the road in assists, it's the defense that's been an issue. Currently, Young leads the Hawks in points scored and assists. In his first meeting with Sacramento this season, he last had seven and six assists against the Kings 2022, and early 2023.

Yes the Hawks are struggling, however, Young has clearly proved his value, especially since the team functions significantly better when he's on the court. Putting up historic numbers, it's hard to fade this prop, as I will continue to ride the hot hand. Plus, the Kings are a mess defensively. Since his prop line is lower than his season average, I'm taking Young to have a big night tonight.

Bet #3: Bradley Beal 12.5+ Points vs. Hornets

Stats courtesy Propsdotcash

It's no secret the Phoenix Suns are struggling, and that's been primarily due to Bradley Beals injury history. A team that's built to "win now" with Booker, Beal, and Durant, look for Beal to make an immediate impact tonight against the Hornets. Normally, I don't bet on player props, especially coming back from injury. However, Phoenix has a prime matchup with Charlotte, and with growing frustrations in the Valley, they will need him to step up tonight.

12.5 points is a low total, especially for Beal who's used to being the main scorer. Although a small sample size, Beal hit the over in five of the six matchups he's played this season. A 86 percent hit rate during the 2022/2023 season, over 12.5 points has hit in 11 of his last 15 games.

Tonight, the Suns will face the Hornets who allow the 26th most points in the NBA (121). Even worse, they rank near last in several statistical categories, including rebound, assists, opponent three-point percentage, and field goal percentage. With LaMelo Ball out with injury, the Hornets will also be without Gordon Hayward tonight. On the road, that primarily leaves Brandon Miller or Terry Rozier with the task of guarding Beal.

INJURY UPDATE: Bradley Beal is available for tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/A1x3HQ86nT
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 29, 2023

In his last three outings against Charlotte, the newly acquired guard scored 26, 33, and 17 points, all back last season, and as a member of the Washington Wizards. Yes, he'll have to share the scoring with Durant and Booker. However, with several minimum player signed, Beal should take the starting place of Grayson Allen or Eric Gordon. Other than that, Phoenix ranks 26th in bench points with 29.4 per game.

While it's unclear if he will be on a minute restriction, Charlotte most recently allowed Bennedict Mathurin, Gary Trent Jr. Duncan Robinson, Coby White, and Cam Thomas to all score over 12.5 points. While Beal was hurt against the Knicks on Dec.15, he did score six points in five minutes.

7-9 at home, the Suns will look to bounce back in front of their home fans at FootPrint Center. In five games at home, Beal hit over this prop in four of five games, including 24 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.

In six regular season matchups, the guard is averaging 14.7 points, on 42.9 percent three-point and 44.9 field goal shooting. After going through a tough 3-9 stretch, the Suns are coming off an impressive 129-113 victory over the Rockets. Although the big three have only played 25 minutes together this season, I'm all on the Beal train tonight versus a weak defense riddled with injuries.

Bet #4: Oklahoma City Thunder +1.5 vs. Nuggets

Slightly a risky play tonight, I love the Oklahoma City Thunder to cover the spread tonight against the Denver Nuggets. 20-9 on the season, the Thunder are 8-4 on the road, while the Nuggets are 13-2 at home. Two of the best teams in the west, Oklahoma City currently stands a game behind Denver for the No. 3 seed. With such a young, talented core, the Thunder lead the Western Conference with a +7.7 point differential, and rank 6th in offensive rating (118.8).

Don't be alarmed, the Thunder are the real deal. With Chet Holmgren favored to win Rookie of the Year, the team plays at a fast pace, and like the Nuggets, are at the top in terms of assists/turnover ratio. Defensively, they rank 6th in defensive rating, holding opponents to 113.6 points per game. Offensively, both the Thunder and Nuggets averaging near the same three-point percentage, and Oklahoma City ranks third overall in field goal percentage (49.7).

The Thunder are the most-bet ATS team by handle for tonight's NBA slate.

OKC is currently +2.5 for tonight's matchup against the Nuggets in Denver pic.twitter.com/9QLivxinov
— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) December 29, 2023

To me, these teams are fairly comparable on paper, except the fact Denver has NBA Championship experience. Riding a six game win streak, the Nuggets are coming off a 37 point win against the Memphis Grizzlies, and will have a back-to-back game tonight. Much like the Boston Celtics, the Denver Nuggets have a 5-1 record when coming off zero days rest, and Nikola Jokic is coming off a triple double against Memphis.

While Denver is playing incredible, so are the Thunder. 20-9 against the spread, the Thunder are 7-3 in their last ten games. What's more impressive, this team had hard fought victories over the Knicks, Timberwolves, Clippers, and Warriors. In their last matchup, the Thunder covered the +5.5 spread, the defeated the Nuggets 118-117.

It's worth a shot to sprinkle a little bit on the Thunder, who are clearly winning games versus teams over .500, and already beat the Nuggets once. They are a better shooting team and can absolutely hang in there defensively. They are 5-1 against the spread in their last six games. If you're betting on the NBA, I would ever pick Thunder money line as a straight bet.

Click here to sign up for Props.Cash

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post NBA Betting: Favorite picks for Dec. 29 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Massive underdogs, the Pistons face the Celtics tonight.

Sara Jane Gamelli — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 23:20:46 +0000

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

Amidst the middle of a 27-game losing streak, the Detroit Pistons are massive underdogs against the Boston Celtics on the road this evening.

The Detroit Pistons are not just bad, but historically bad. After their 27th loss against the Brooklyn Nets, guard Cade Cunningham shared a message to the team. Only in his third season in the NBA, it was a difficult, yet necessary statement.

"Don't jump off the boat, we have got to stay together, said Cunningham post game. We need to continue to lean on each other and continue to push each other, hold each other accountable more than ever now."

Will the 27-game losing streak end tonight?

Are you riding with the Pistons? pic.twitter.com/8U4M8ldJb5
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBet) December 28, 2023

Contrary to their record, Detroit has a fairly youthful roster, in which many deserve more minutes of playing time. While the Celtics remain undefeated at home, the Pistons are massive underdogs. Heading into tonight's matchup, the C's hold the largest spread of any game this season, in which they are favored by 17.5 points. With a record of 2-28, according to Darren Hartwell of Yahoo Sports, Detroit has just nine wins since the start of 2023, and 13 of their losses have come by single digits.

Speaking of the spread, it's quite massive, and stands as the largest margin of the 2023-2024 season. For Boston, the most they've been favored has been by 12.5 points, both against the Memphis Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls. The final result? Memphis covered against Boston. In what was an extremely controversial matchup, the Celtics covered the 12.5 spread versus the Bulls, which was a do or die In-Season Tournament game. With point differential in play, Boston accomplished the task of defeating Chicago by 23 points or more.

Overall, the Celtics are 4-4-1 against a point differential larger than 10. For the Pistons, they are 11-19-0 against the spread, despite losing as many games in a row as they have. When the underdog by 10 or more points, Detroit has a record of 3-4 against the spread. In fact, most recent, they couldn't cover colossal spreads against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Besides tonights matchup, the largest spread they've faced as underdogs was 16.5 points against Milwaukee.

Here’s #Pistons head coach Monty Williams on trying to strike a balance with his rotations to maximize the first and second units.

He talked about the importance of not leaving too many members of the latter out there by themselves. pic.twitter.com/c3sUQ4X5Nz
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) December 28, 2023

Recently making history with the longest losing streak in the NBA, the Pistons are now chasing the wrong side of history. There four major sports in the United States, Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL). While we've seen some terrible teams record wise over the years, the Pistons are on the brink of shattering several historical records.

When it comes to the four major sports, we quickly remember the historic downfall of several Detroit organizations. With or without a loss tonight, the Pistons join the 2008 Detroit Lions, 2020 Red Wings, among several other teams who had a miserable losing season. With a loss against the Boston Celtics tonight, this team will be one step closing to owning the worst losing streak in the 21st century in all core four sports, excluding NCAA basketball and football. Luckily for Detroit, the Lions just claimed themselves the Kings of the NFC North for the first time in 30 years.

The Philadelphia 76ers currently hold the record for most consecutive defeats with 28, dating back to consecutive seasons, and the Pistons are just one game away from tying that record. With just two wins on the season, they projected to win just six games this year. If that's the case, that would be the worst finish in the history of the NBA. While their trajectory is rather bleak, the team still holds hope.

For a time, I was excited for the Pistons. Drafting Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren seemed like a brilliant move. After selecting Ausar Thompson 5th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, there seemed to be a sense of hope for Detroit sports again. Coming of a 17-65 season last year, Detroit hasn't won an NBA Championship in almost 20 years. While the team has been absymal, especially in the month if November, they have young core pieces. With Cunningham leaving it all on the table, Duren and Ivey should certainly earn some increased playing time.

The Odds and Betting Lines for Tonights Game

As for a betting standpoint, a 17.5 point spread margin is something you don't see everyday. For the Pistons, they are primarily healthy, with the exception of Monte Morris and Isaiah Stewart, who are both ruled out. For Boston, Jaylen Brown was named the only player ruled out for tonights meeting with a lower back contusion. With the Pistons originally underdogs at 18.5 points, while it's possible, they have their backs against the wall. At 23-6, the Celtics own the NBAs best record, including a 14-0 win loss record at the TD Garden.

While the Celtics haven't taken their foot off the gas just yet, there's hope for Detroit. With 39 percent of bettors wagering on Detroit's money line, we can't forget when the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves as 19.5 point underdogs last season. As far as the money line goes, the line currently stands at -1450, with the Boston heavily favored. With a line so high, it's a very high risk, low reward circumstance. Basically for any sort of return, bettors would have to wager a large number of units, which is extremely risky. For example, you would have to risk $1000 for a $68 profit. If you're looking to bet tonight, I rather put a percentage of my bankroll on the Detroit Pistons as insurance. At +850, just $5 could result in a $42 profit.

While I'm rooting for the Pistons to turn things around, they currently have the second worst point differential (-11.5), next to the San Antonio Spurs (-12.3). With Boston chasing banner number 18, they rank 2nd in the league in point differential (+10.2), and head coach Joe Mazzulla hasn't let up on the gas in any given game.

As for the Celtics, tonight will an ordinary matchup. Veteran Al Horford gave some insight, stating "there's nothing different. We know what we have to do"

"There's nothing different. We know what we have to do"

Al Horford on the C's mindset heading into their matchup with the Pistons, who've lost 27 straight games #DifferentHere pic.twitter.com/O6DUkZJQWJ
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 28, 2023

Tonight is a matchup of purely the best team in the league versus a team that's close to becoming one of the worst teams ever in NBA history. Detroit Pistons money line currently is the most popular straight bet on ESPN BET.

Click here to sign up for Props.Cash

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post Massive underdogs, the Pistons face the Celtics tonight. appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA Daily: Warriors, Suns, Rockets Prop bets

Sara Jane Gamelli — Sat, 23 Dec 2023 00:46:56 +0000

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

There are several games on the NBA slate tonight. However, my picks will focus on two specific matchups, starting at 10 p.m. ET. The Washington Wizards (5-22, 3-14) will matchup against the Golden State Warriors (13-14,7-6 home) on the road. If you're looking to bet on this game, it will air on ESPN. The Phoenix Suns (14-13, 7-5 away) will play the Sacramento Kings (16-10, 10-4) in California. Also, will the Houston Rockets get the win with all the injuries to Dallas? ?In this article, I've provided my best picks for tonight. While I took them as straight bets, you can group them into a parlay.?Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Friday, Dec. 22.

TONIGHT’S NBA SLATE

Joel Embiid coming off his 3rd straight 40/10 game
KD looks to follow 40-point performance last time out

ESPN, NBA TV, NBA App
https://t.co/j7XaSJX9DR pic.twitter.com/BLZDrqmR5C
— NBA (@NBA) December 22, 2023

NBA Daily Game Odds for 12/22

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}
Raptors (+285) @ 76ers (-8.5) (-360): O/U 230.5
Nuggets (-4.5) (-180) @ Nets (+150): O/U 230
Hawks (-102) @ Heat (-1) (-118): O/U 238.5
Mavericks (+275) @ Rockets (-345) (-8.5): O/U 223
Wizards (+136) @ Warriors (-11.5) (-600): O/U 248.5
Suns (+136) @ Kings (-3.5) (-162): O/U 244

Bet #1 Kevin Durant 25+ Points

pic.twitter.com/32CvZBoe6n
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 22, 2023

Season Stats PPG: 21.1 | FG: 49.6 % | 3 PT: 42.4 % | FT: 75.7 % | REB: 2.3 | AST: 2.5 | STL: 1.1 | BLK: 0

Tonight, the Suns get the Kings on the road in Sacramento. With Bradley Beal out for Phoenix, Kevin Durant has been consistent, putting up incredible numbers' night in and night out. Averaging over 30 points per game, Durant is coming off a 40-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers.

One of the best to ever play the game, Durant has been durable and reliable from a betting standpoint. This prop not only hit the past few games, but it has a 95 percent hit rate this season, and 100 percent rate over the last ten games. More impressively, he's hit the over in 15 straight games. Tonight, Durant gets the Kings, who allow the 22nd most points (118), and 26th worst three-point percentage (38.6 %) in the NBA.

Most recent, Sacramento allowed Kawhi Leonard, Luguentz Dortz, Kyle Kuzma, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis to all hit over points props. In addition, they continue to be one of the least efficient teams in terms of defense.

Stats courtesy of Propsdotcash

Why I like this prop tonight

While the Suns don't have a home matchup, there is great news. In 10 games on the road, Durant is playing out of this world. Averaging 33 points per game, No. 35 is hitting 50 percent of his shots, and 42.6 percent from downtown in 38.2 minutes played. A true scorer from any level, Durant has a prime matchup tonight versus Keegan Murray and Harrison Barnes. In terms of props, the over has hit in 9 straight away games, besides an 18 points game vs. Golden State. In terms of stats against Western Conference teams, Durant hit this prop in every single game besides against the Warriors and the Nuggets.

Their first matchup this season, Durant is notorious for balling out against Sacramento. In 40 career games, the forward has a career average 27.9 points and 7.1 rebounds against the Kings. Averaging the most points since the 2013-2014 season in Oklahoma City, Durant continues to carry this team on his back, along with Booker.

If you're betting on the NBA, I love this prop for one of two reasons: Durant is coming off a 28-field goal attempt night vs. Portland, and he's shooting an incredible 46.7 percent from downtown. As smooth as he is at jumpers, expect Durant to lead the way in scoring tonight. In his last matchup against the Kings in 2022, he finished with 27 points. It's important to note, this is Durant's second team in two years, and there are several members on the Suns injury report.

Bet #2: Klay Thompson 15+ Points

Klay Thompson has scored 24+ points and knocked down 4+ threes in each of the last four games.

He's one of only four players in the NBA this season to have such a streak
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) December 20, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?21.1 |?FG:?49.6 %?| 3 PT:?42.4 %?| FT:?75.7 %?| REB:?2.3?| AST: 2.5?| STL:?1.1?| BLK:?0

While Klay Thompson had a rocky start to the season, he's recently found his stride, as he was once known as one of the best shooters in the league. Tonight, the Warriors get the Wizards at home.

15 points seems low, especially for Thompson. Tonight, he has a great matchup against Washington, who allows the 30th most points per game (126.5) and assist rate (30). Coming of several fantastic outings, Thompson recently put up 24 points against the Celtics. Inconsistent with his shooting the first few months, the guard is coming off four consecutive matchups with 20 + points. No. 11 is averaging a season high 20.4 points on 40.2 percent three-point shooting in the month of Dec. alone.

Stats courtesy of Propsdotcash

If you're betting on the NBA, this prop hit the over in four of the last five games, and 88 % in the last ten. The guard had a season high 30 points on 66.7 percent three-point shooting against the Clippers on Dec. 14. A prop that has a 91 percent hit rate; Thompson has surprisingly had better numbers on the road. While that doesn't deter me, he's put up over 15 points in two consecutive road games, and in six of the last seven. For the 2022-2023 season, this prop had a 78 percent hit rate.

Klay Thompson has a prime matchup tonight

I love what the Warriors have done with the lineup amid the Draymond Green suspension, especially with Chris Paul coming off the bench. As Golden State finds their stride, they have elite playmakers with Curry and Paul. The addition of Podziemski in the starting lineup has created looks for Klay as well. After all, all Thompon needs is a decent screen from Kuminga or Looney, and a small amount of space.

Most recent, the Wizards allowed Anfernee Simons, of the Portland Trail Blazers, to drop 41 points. Additionally, Devin Booker, Cam Thomas, De'Anthony Melton, Jalen Suggs, Harrison Barnes, and Brandon Ingram all scored over 15 points. In 18 career games against Washington, Thompson has an average of 18.5 points per game, on 37.7 percent three-point shooting.

As the Warriors look to improve and move up in the standings, they will heavily rely on Curry and Thompson on a nightly basis. Once benched for his poor play against the Phoenix Suns, Thompson has showed signs of life. While Thompson wasn't happy with the decision, he's let his recent game play do the talking. If Podziemski is unable to start tonight, I like this prop even more in terms of points scored. Either way, he should have a solid matchup with Deni Avdija or Jordan Poole and should get a high volume of shots.

Bet #3 Daniel Gafford O 1.5 Blocks

Which was better: the swat or the slam? pic.twitter.com/jn6TEmMucN
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) December 22, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?21.1 |?FG:?49.6 %?| 3 PT:?42.4 %?| FT:?75.7 %?| REB:?2.3?| AST: 2.5?| STL:?1.1?| BLK:?0

I try not to be bias, but let's face it, this has been my favorite prop to play all season. No matter what matchup, bettors have been able to count on this play on a nightly basis. Tonight, the Wizards get Golden State, which may be a tougher matchup. However, as I stated in my Instagram Reel, I will continue to play this prop every single night until it doesn't hit anymore. I am fully on the over Daniel Gafford blocks train.

Gafford has been an unbelievable force for the Wizards, who are simply a bad team. Coming off a 6-block night against Portland, the big man is averaging nearly 3 blocks per game. A true bright spot on this team, Gafford has hit over 1.5 blocks in 12 straight games, and 83 percent of the matchups this season. While he might have a tough matchup since the Warriors play mostly beyond the perimeter, It's hard to full fade this tonight.

Stats courtesy of Propsdotcash

On the road, Gafford has been sensational, hitting the over in 8 straight away games, and 87 percent of them this season. Averaging 2.5 blocks on the road, Gafford has 9 in the last two matchups against the Trail Blazers and the Kings.

Daniel Gafford has been unstoppable

In their latest matchups, the Warriors have been staying afloat without their defensive playmaker, Draymond Green. While Al Horford and Deandre Ayton only had one block each, Nic Claxton had four, as well as Ivica Zubac, Drew Eubanks, and Chet Holmgren all 2+. Although he has all the momentum, they are coming off back-to-back road games.

If you're betting on the NBA, it's tough to fade a prop that's made me a lot of money and is an automatic cash out every night. The good news is that Kevon Looney doesn't shoot threes and won't likely pull Gafford out of the paint much tonight. Although he hasn't hit this prop line in the last two meetings against Golden State, the Center has five total blocks in four career games against them.

BONUS BET: Houston Rockets Money line

I made this decision with the Detroit Pistons last night, and it backfired badly. Yes, the Rockets are coming off three straight losses. However, their defense is elite, and one of the best in the league. Allowing only 108.4 points per game, the Rockets face the Mavericks who will be without Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Dante Exum, Josh Green, and Derek Lively II. In another words, Dallas will be missing several of their key players. While the Rockets will play their second consecutive games, they are elite around the perimeter, allowing teams to shoot under 33 percent from deep. As much as I like the Rockets to win this game outright, I like the under, especially with a depleted Dallas team.

Click here to sign up for Props.Cash

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Follow the Movement on social media!

The post NBA Daily: Warriors, Suns, Rockets Prop bets appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA Betting: Daily Odds & Predictions for Dec. 11

Sara Jane Gamelli — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 21:36:17 +0000

Written and edited by:

Sara Jane Gamelli

The NBA In-Season Tournament has concluded, and there are 13 games on the NBA Slate today. Beginning at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET, there are several key matchups in both conferences. Will the Detroit Pistons let their losing streak slide to 20 straight games? Can the San Antonio Spurs snap a 16- game losing skid? ?Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Monday, Dec. 11.

The NBA slate is back!

Pacers (-7) @ Pistons
Wizards @ 76ers (-11.5)
Heat (-4) @ Hornets
Cavaliers @ Magic (-1.5)
Nuggets (-2.5) @ Hawks
Raptors @ Knicks (-4.5)
Bulls @ Bucks (-11.5)
Mavericks (-2) @ Grizzlies
Jazz @ Thunder (-12)
Spurs @ Rockets (-8.5)
Timberwolves @ Pelicans…
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) December 11, 2023

NBA Daily Game Odds for 12/11

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}

Pacers (-7) (-278) @ Pistons (+225): O/U 247
Wizards (+490) @ 76ers (-12) (-675): O/U 244.5
Heat (-4) (-166) @ Hornets (+140): O/U 221
Cavaliers (+105) @ Magic (-1.5) (-125): O/U 227
Nuggets (-2.5) (-142) @ Hawks (+120): O/U 241.5
Raptors (+150) @ Knicks (-4.5) (-180): O/U 221
Bulls (+425) @ Bucks (-11.5) (-575): O/U 233
Mavericks (-1.5) (-122) @ Grizzlies (+102): O/U 227
Jazz (+525) @ Thunder (-12.5) (-750): O/U 233
Spurs (+280) @ Rockets (-8.5)(-355): O/U 225
Timberwolves (+136) @ Pelicans (-3.5) (-162): O/U 222.5
Nets (+154) @ Kings (-4.5) (-185): O/U 236
Trail Blazers (+575) @ Clippers (-13) (-850): O/U 220

NBA Bet #1: Minnesota Timberwolves +4 (-105)

eyes on seven straight.

Wolves at Pelicans
7pm CT, Smoothie King Center
? @BallySportsNOR
? @iHeartRadio App
? https://t.co/gPhx0nwXoS

Preview ? https://t.co/2RLlRuNukg pic.twitter.com/7yEtZwADJ4
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 11, 2023

The Minnesota Timberwolves (17-4, 7-3 away) will matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans (12-11, 8-4 home) on the road tonight. While the Pelicans were blown out 133-89 in the tournament semifinals, Minnesota has cruised to 6 straight victories. With Anthony Edwards listed as a game time decision for the Timberwolves, they currently hold the best record in the NBA.

While the line continues to move, I grabbed Minnesota at +4 at -105. Even with Edwards listed as questionable, this Timberwolves team are the real deal. Known for the defensive prowess, the Wolves lead the NBA in defensive rating (106.2). With that said, the Wolves, led by head coach Chris Finch, are second in the league in defensive rebounding (36.1). Off to their best start in franchise history, a large part of their defensive success can be accredited to Center Rudy Gobert. Gobert, previously acquired from the Utah Jazz, ranks third among all big men in boards per game. An elite rim protector, Gobert ranks 10th overall in defended field goals attempted (17.8).

Over their 6 game win streak, Minnesota still leads the NBA in defensive efficiency, limiting teams to just 44.1 points in the paint, second behind Chicago and Memphis. Second in blocks (6.6) over the winning streak, the Timberwolves have the best free-throw percentage. Limiting opponents to a low 105.2 points per game, Finch's squad has a +7.8 point differential, second behind the Boston Celtics. With consecutive victories over the Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, and Oklahoma City Thunder, they will get a tough test tonight. While only one of those opponents are above .500, the Pelicans are 3-2 in their last five games.

Overall, the Timberwolves are not favored in this game, especially since they are on the road. 7-3 in away games, Minnesota is 12-9-0 against the spread, compared to the Pelicans, who are 13-9-1. 4-5 against the spread in road games, the Timberwolves have been able to cover the spread three consecutive games away from Minnesota. Although averaging only 113 points a game, the the Wolves have one of the best field goal percentages league wide (48.1 %).

Minnesota is a defensive powerhouse

There's no question why Minnesota are underdogs, especially with injuries to Jordan McLaughlin, Jaden McDaniels, and now Edwards uncertain to suit up. While averaging 113 points during their win streak, they've limited the past 6 opponents to 100 points per game. Even without McDaniels, who is an underrated defender, this team has figured out how to win games. The best of 4 regular season series, Minnesota holds a 2-0 lead over New Orleans, including a 121-120 thrilling victory in New Orleans early on this season.

As I previously stated, the Pelicans are one of my favorite teams this season, especially when healthy. A team that shoots 35.7 percent from long range will now face a Wolves team thats holding opposing teams to 33.6 % shooting beyond the arc. While New Orleans has a magnitude of talent with Zion Williamson, C.J. McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and so forth, it's concerning they laid an egg against the Lakers. With Williamson and Ingram held to 22 combined points, New Orleans couldn't find their stride anywhere on the hardwood. Back and healthy, Williamson has gone missing, putting up a combined 23 points in the last two matchups.

This season, the Pelicans are an average team on both sides of the ball. While the Timberwolves haven't allowed a team to score over 103 points over the last 6 games, their defense should be able to keep the Pelicans in check, and this game fairly close tonight. In their last 10 games head-to head, Minnesota has a win/loss record of 6-4, and covered the spread 4 of the last 5 meetings. If you're betting on the NBA, I'm picking Minnesota to cover.

NBA Bet #2: OKC Thunder -12.5 (-112)

Passion for the game pic.twitter.com/ALn08Eo2Ip
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 9, 2023

The Oklahoma City Thunder (14-7, 7-4 home) will host the Utah Jazz (7-15, 1-10 away) at home tonight. 3-2 in their last 5 matchups, the Thunder had an exhilarating 138-136 OT victory over the Warriors. The Jazz, who are 1-4 in their last five games, are coming off a 117-103 loss against the Los Angeles Clippers. Tonight, the Jazz will be without star Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler, while John Collins is listed as questionable. One of the youngest teams in the league, the Thunder are truly an exciting units to watch.

If you're betting on the NBA, OKC is 7-4 at home, and I grabbed the spread at -12.5 this morning. With the return of Rookie Chet Holmgren has been the emergence of MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA). Averaging 30.5 points per game, SGA has elevated his game defensively, averaging 2.8 steals a game. With a strong starting five, the Thunder are middle of the road in bench points per game (35.3).

Second in scoring is Jalen Williams, who's coming off a 28 point, performance against Golden State. With Holmgren, Josh Giddey, and Lugentz Dort all averaging points in double figures, OKC is a top ten team in terms of offense and defense. Although Dort is out for tonight's matchup, the Thunder shouldn't have any problem tonight against the Jazz.

With OKC ranked third in overall net rating (7.2), they are a fast paced team, who puts up nearly 120 points a game, and allows 112.5 opponent points. One of the more elite teams in terms of guarding the perimeter, the Thunder have an 88.3 percent change to win this game outright, according to ESPN Analytics. With impressive victories over the Warriors, Lakers, and the Mavericks, this is a team thats averaged 120 points in their last 5 matchups, while allowing 116 points. Third overall in NBA point differential (+7.2), they face a Jazz team that has a point differential of -8.7.

The Thunder are the real deal

While the Jazz showed promise in the 2021-2022 season, they are in complete rebuild mode, especially with the departure of Donovan Mitchell, Ruby Gobert, and Mike Conley. 1-4 in their lat 5 matchups, Utah struggles offensively, only putting up 111 points per game. One of the worst teams in terms of field goal percentage, Utah ranks near last in defense, allowing teams to out up 119.7 points per game. While Markkanen is out tonight, the Jazz will be hurting without it's biggest star. Their biggest struggles have recently been put on full display.

Overall, the Jazz are large underdogs, which factors in injuries, win/loss record, and away record. 1-10 on the road, Utah has a 11-11-0 record against the spread, while the Thunder are 14-7. 6-4 against the spread in the last ten matchups, OKC has a stellar 8-3 record against the spread on the road. With the Jazz blown out 147-97 against the Mavericks, I can't see this game remotely close. In the last five matchups, Utah has closest game was a 5 point differential in overtime against Portland. They've been defeated by 11 points or more in four matchups against the Clippers, Mavericks, Timberwolves, and Grizzlies. If you're betting on the NBA tonight, I'm picking OKC to cover the spread.

NBA Bet #3: Denver Nuggets -2.5 (-112)

Back-to-back starts tonight in ATL

5:30 PM?
@AltitudeTV 2
@AltitudeSR 950 AM pic.twitter.com/RVgEA7WHyT
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) December 11, 2023

The Denver Nuggets (14-9, 5-8 away) will face the Atlanta Hawks (9-12, 3-6 home) on the road tonight. 2-3 in their last five matchups, the Nuggets have been unrecognizable as of late. They will look to bounce back tonight after three consecutive losses against the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Sacramento Kings. While the Nuggets were initially considered underdogs this evening, it looks as though Jamal Murray will suit up for tonights matchup. For the Hawks, guard Trae Young is back with the team, while DeAndre Hunter is listed as a game-time decision.

If you're betting on the NBA, yes, the Nuggets have been terrible on the road. However, this has to be their bounce back game. While in the worst stretch of their season, the Nuggets should have their healthy starting five on the floor tonight. With 71 % bettors putting money on Denver to cover the spread, they will face Atlanta, who've lost three straight against the 76ers, Nets, and Bucks.

Why the Nuggets can cover the spread

Overall, these teams are not comparable on paper. The Hawks have some decent pieces, and put up the second most points in the league, but their defense has been atrocious. A decent three-point shooting team under head coach Quinn Snyder, is allowing opposing teams to score nearly 123 points a game. Tonight they get the reigning NBA Champions, who are a top 8 defensive team.

Overall, there's one piece of information you should know before betting on this matchup. The Hawks are just 5-16 against the spread this season, and the Nuggets, 8-15. 1-9 against the spread in the last ten matchups, Atlanta hasn't been able to cover in 6 straight games. With Nikola Jokic struggling with his shot, Murray was ejected last game. Back after an 11 game absence, the Nuggets have a 6-4 win/loss record against the Hawks. With a 20 point victory over Atlanta early 2023, they shouldn't have any problem covering the -2.5 spread tonight.

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Follow the Movement on social media!

The post NBA Betting: Daily Odds & Predictions for Dec. 11 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA Betting: Daily Odds & Predictions for December 8

Sara Jane Gamelli — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 22:05:08 +0000

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

There are 13 games on the NBA slate, beginning at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. ET. With all of these teams out of contention for the NBA In-Season Tournament, there are several key matchups in the Eastern and Western Conference. Will the Celtics stay undefeated at home against the New York Knicks? Can Ime Udoka and the Houston Rockets grab their first victory on the road against the Denver Nuggets? Here you will find the NBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Friday, Dec. 8.

26 TEAMS PLAY TONIGHT

#1 Timberwolves seek 6th-straight win
Embiid looks to build on 50-point performance
Joker and Luka coming off triple-doubles

ESPN, NBA TV, NBA App
https://t.co/x0DNPls50S pic.twitter.com/1bOZItUylf
— NBA (@NBA) December 8, 2023

NBA Daily Game Odds for 12/8

^{*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}

Hawks (+310) @ 76ers (-9) (-395): O/U 234.5
Pistons (+400) @ Magic (-11) (-525): O/U 228.5
Raptors (-5.5) (-218) @ Charlotte (+180) : O/U 228.5
Knicks (+240) @ Celtics (-7) (-298): O/U 220.5
Wizards (+350) @ Nets (-9.5) (-455): O/U 240.5
Warriors (+130) @ Thunder (-3) (-155): O/U 236
Timberwolves (-6) (-218) @ Grizzlies (+180): O/U 213.5
Cavaliers (-2) (-118) @ Heat (-102): O/U 222
Bulls (-2.5) (-130) @ Spurs (+110): O/U 224.5
Rockets (+310) @ Nuggets (-9) (-395): O/U 221
Kings (-2) (-130) @ Suns (+110): O/U 235
Mavericks (-8) (-340) @ Trail Blazers (+270): O/U 231.5
Clippers (-7.5) (-290) @ Jazz (+235): O/U 225

NBA Bet #1: Philadelphia 76ers Moneyline

G A M E D A Y

7:00 PM
@NBCSPhilly
@975TheFanatic
@ATLHawks
https://t.co/dtv9YDnnVl @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/nMkXAM7VlU
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 8, 2023

The Philadelphia 76ers (13-7, 7-3 home) will host the shorthanded Atlanta Hawks (9-11, 6-5 away) at home tonight. Coming off a 131-126 victory over the Washington Wizards, the 76ers are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Given Philadelphia is 13-7-0 against the spread, they couldn't cover a +11.5 spread margin against the Wizards.

Tonight, they face the Atlanta Hawks, who will be without All-Star Trae Young tonight. With a win/loss record of 3-7 in the last 10 games, Atlanta remains at below .500, and are 1-9-0 against the spread. While they haven't been to cover in five straight games, the Hawks have two straight losses, against the Brooklyn Nets, and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Overall, the 76rs have a win/loss record of 7-3 against the Hawks in their last 10 meetings. Having won the last four straight games, Philadelphia also covered the spread in every matchup. While the Sixers only have three losses on their home court, the Hawks remain above .500 on the road.

Over their last ten games, Philadelphia averages 120 points, while Atlanta is putting up 124. With just an 18 percent chance to win, the Hawks will desperately miss Young, who accounts for 22 percent of the total offense. While the Hawks have a strong backcourt with Murray and Young, they've struggled against solid teams, including the Bucks, Cavaliers, Celtics, Pacers, Sixers, and Knicks.

Why bettors can capture the 76ers Money Line tonight

In their second meeting of four matchups this season, the 76ers defeated the Hawks 126-116 back on Nov. 17. With Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris combining for 61 points, Tyrese Maxey added 19. With Trae Young leading the way for the Hawks with 22 points and 13 assists, Atlanta shot just 44.9 % from the field. Furthermore, the 76ers dominated on the boards, and had 32 assists on 43 shot attempts. Dejounte Murray finished the game just 5-16 from the field, and 3-7 from long range.

If you're betting on the NBA tonight, I would feel comfortable even taking Philadelphia -8.5. Not only do they have an excellent record at home, but they are also playing a shorthanded Hawks team, who have struggled, even when Young is in the lineup. While sending off John Collins was a blessing, Bogdanovic and Bey will need to step up off the bench. On paper, these two teams aren't comparable, as Philadelphia ranks 4th in total offense, and has Joel Embiid. With Hawks surprisingly putting up the 2nd most points per game (122.7), they haven't been able to secure vital wins.

While the Sixers have a +6.9-point differential, the Hawks have a +0.3. While Young's 30- and 40-point performances have simply not been enough to get this team over the hump, tonight they have another tough matchup. MVP candidate Joel Embiid is coming off a 50 point and 13 rebound game against the Washington Wizards. It's two of the best offenses, against Atlanta, who allows over 122 points a game. The Hawks defense simply hasn't been there and shouldn't be a problem for the 76ers tonight.

Injuries

76ers:
None Listed

Hawks:
Trae Young, G: OUT

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

^{*ATS-Against the Spread}

Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers:?3-2 in?their last?5 games.
5-5 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record:?13-7-0
O/U Record: 13-16-1
3-2?ATS?in their last?5 games.
5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U?is?5-0 in the last?5 games.
O/U:?7-2-1 in the last?10 games.
2nd?in Offensive Rating (118.8)
14th?in Defensive Rating (120.1)
4th?in Points Per Game (120.7)
16th in Pace: 99.98
Opponent Points Per Game:?113.8 (17th)
Three-Point Percentage:?37.5 % (9th)
Rebounds Per Game: 45 (9th)
Philadelphia ATS won last 10 games:?Atlanta Hawks (-1.5), Brooklyn Nets (-3.5). Oklahoma City Thunder (-1.5), Los Angeles Lakers (-5.5), Boston Celtics (+5.5)

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks: 1-4 in?their last?5 games.
3-7?in their last?10 games.
ATS Record:?5-15-0
O/U Record: 12-8-0
0-5 ATS?in their last?5 games.
1-9-0 ATS?in their last?10 games.
O/U?is?2-3 in the last?5 games.
O/U:?6-4 in the last?10 games.
5th?in Offensive Rating (118.2)
26th?in Defensive Rating (117.9)
2nd?in Points Per Game (122.7)
3rd in Pace: 103.24
Opponent Points Per Game:?122.4 (27th)
Three-Point Percentage:?37 % (10th)
Rebounds Per Game: 44.5 (12th)
Atlanta ATS won last 10 games: Washington Wizards (-9.5)

NBA Bet #2: RJ Barrett 18+ Points, Rebounds & Assists

Add that to the mixtape pic.twitter.com/H6RwPxIvpS
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 1, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?18.9 |?FG:?41.8 %?| 3 PT:?38.2 %?| FT:?85.3 %?| REB:?3.9?| AST: 2.6?| STL:?0.5?| BLK:?0.2

The New York Knicks (12-8, 6-5 away) will matchup against the Boston Celtics (15-5, 9-0 home) on the road tonight. After being knocked out of the NBA In-Season Tournament, 146-122 by the Milwaukee Bucks, New York will face the Celtics for the third time this season. Down 0-2 against Boston, New York didn't have guard RJ Barrett last matchup due to a migraine. Averaging 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in one game against Boston, Barrett will be back in the starting lineup tonight.

If you're betting on the NBA, Barrett has an average of 20.5 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 14 career games against Boston. Having played 15 games this season, the guard is putting up nearly 19 points a game, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. In a Knicks team loaded with talent (Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle), Barrett has been a reliable scorer for the Knicks. Since he's dealt with injuries and missed some time, I chose 18+ alternative points, rebounds, and assists tonight. Although the odds aren't as great, he's hit over this prop 93 percent this season, 100 percent in the last 5 matchups, and 8 of the last 9 games.

Statistics courtesy of Props.Cash

Barrett performs well on the road

Tonight, he gets the Celtics, who allowed Bruce Brown and Bennedict Mathurin to hit over points, rebounds, and assists last matchup. Additionally, De'Anthony Melton, Jevon Carter, and Coby White all hit over their props in the shooting guard category against Boston. As far as road games go, Barrett averages 18.1 points, 2.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 7 games on the road. On away games, the over for this prop has a hit rate of 100 percent in all 7 games.

There's no doubt the Knicks face a challenge tonight, given Boston has an elite defense. Allowing the 4th least points (108.1), the C's shut down passing lanes, and rank 8th in defensive rebounds allowed (32.4). With that said, if Kristaps Porzingis is able to suit up, he should pose a threat for New York, along with Al Horford off the bench. In his only game against Boston, he was 3-4 (75 %) from the floor against Jayson Tatum, and 2-3 (66.7 %) from the field versus Derrick White. Tonight, he will need to stay away from Porzingis, who held him to 1-7 (14.3 %) field goal percentage.

Why the over can hit against Boston

Josh Hart got the start for Barrett last matchup against Boston, and finished with 16 points, 3 assists, and 9 rebounds, on 6-12 (50 %) shooting. Coming off a 23 point, 1 assist, and 8 rebound performance against the Bucks, No. 9 is averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in two December games. Although that's a small sample size, Barrett has an 80 % hit rate when playing at least 28.6 minutes on the floor. So far this season, the guard averages 29.5 minutes of playing time.

I am fairly confident in this prop tonight, as I've altered it down, and he has a combined 29 points, rebounds, and assists against Boston in October. In two matchups last season against the C's, Barrett far exceeded the over on the prop with 43 and 24 points, rebounds, and assists in early 2023.

In his fifth season, all with the Knicks, Barrett is averaging his best three-point percentage (38.1 %) since the 2020-2021 season. Up and down last season, both his rebounds and assists are slightly down. However, with the spotlight on Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, he might be the perfect play tonight.

NBA Bets #3: Karl-Anthony Towns OVER 6.5 Rebounds

let's keep the streak going.

Wolves at Grizzlies
7pm CT, FedExForum
? @BallySportsNOR EXTRA
? @iHeartRadio App
? https://t.co/gPhx0nwXoS

Preview ? https://t.co/aW6tsyGHgL pic.twitter.com/Zsq9rSZHXH
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) December 8, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?21.8 |?FG:?51 %?| 3 PT:?42.6 %?| FT:?90.2 %?| REB:?9.1?| AST: 3.1?| STL:?0.9?| BLK:?0.8

The Minnesota Timberwolves (16-4, 6-3 away) will face the injury riddled Memphis Grizzlies (6-14, 1-8 home) on the road this evening. Coming off 5 straight wins, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves will play Memphis for the second time in two weeks. With a 119-97 victory over Memphis, Anthony Towns is averaging 18 points, 1 block, 2 assists, and 8 rebounds in one game against them.

If you're betting on the NBA, Anthony Towns is putting up 21.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in the 2023-2024 NBA season. Towns, a former member of the Utah Jazz, has an average of 19.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3 assists in 26 career games against Memphis. While some have been critical of the KAT and Rudy Gobert experiment, Minnesota remains one of the best defensive teams in the NBA, and rank 7th in overall rebounds per game (45.5). In 20 games played this season, over 6.5 rebounds has an 85 % hit rate this season, 100 % rate in the last 5 games, and 80 % in the last 10. While the original line is at 8.5 rebounds, I altered it to 6.5.

Statistics courtesy of Props.Cash

Karl-Anthony Towns has a great matchup against Memphis

This evening, Towns gets the struggling Memphis Grizzlies, who rank in the bottom half in rebounds per game (42.7). Allowing nearly 44.5 boards per game, KAT will face Memphis, who allowed Jalen Duren and Jusuf Nurkic to grab a minimum of 9 rebounds. While Memphis has been fairly consisting in keeping Centers under their props, Isaih Stewart recently grabbed 7 boards against them on Dec. 6. The Grizzlies especially struggle on the defensive boards, and have a long injury list that includes Smart, Kennard, Clarke, and LaRavia is listed day-to-day. Most likely playing the 4, Towns will likely be matched up with Aldama, Jackson Jr, and Biyombo. In the last event against Memphis, KAT grabbed 8 defensive boards, and had non on the offensive side.

On the road again, Towns is averaging 24.2 points, and 9.4 rebounds in 9 away games this season. He's been just as efficient away from home, hitting over this prop 89 percent, and 9 out of the last 10 games. He's previously coming off a 7-rebound performance against the Charlotte Hornets, and 8 against the Grizzlies. Prior to grabbing just 6 boards against the New Orleans Pelicans, Anthony Towns have a consecutive streak of 6 games with over 6.5 rebounds. While Gobert will challenge him for rebounds, Memphis ranks 18th in defense against his position.

He's a floor spacer

While Gobert is mainly a defensive juggernaut, KAT is able to space the floor on offense, which sometimes limits his offensive rebounds. Given the Grizzlies are terrible in terms of defending on the glass, I like this prop tonight. In the last four games he's had 38 total rebounds in matchups against the Spurs, Hornets, Jazz, and Thunder.

You can choose to tail, fade, group these into a parlay, or play them straight out. I put no more than 1 unit on this bet.

BONUS BET Warriors vs. Thunder OVER 237 points

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Follow the movement on social media!

The post NBA Betting: Daily Odds & Predictions for December 8 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

"Fired up" Rockets lose to the Lakers, 107-97.

Sara Jane Gamelli — Tue, 05 Dec 2023 22:12:34 +0000

Written and edited by:

Sara Jane Gamelli

The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets had a rather physical matchup Saturday night, involving several technical fouls, and the ejection of Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.

^{t. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)}

Post by @ballislife

View on Threads

One thing has been made clear, LeBron James beef with Dillon Brooks and head coach Ime Udoka is here to stay, so get your popcorn out.

The Los Angeles Lakers (12-9) hosted the Houston Rockets (8-9) at home Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. With their third matchup in less than a month, the Lakers once again take a 2-1 series lead over Houston. In what should've been a routine matchup between two western conference teams turned into a physical, emotional dog fight.

With the Lakers holding a career 148-88-win loss record against the Houston Rockets, many fans are left wondering why there is so much hostility between these two teams. First, there's been the Dillon Brooks versus LeBron matchup since last season. Second, there's a playoff history between these two organizations dating back to the 2009, 2004, 1999, 1996, 1991, and 1990 playoffs.

Although the Rockets haven't faced the Lakers in the playoffs in nearly 14 years, fans won't forget the way Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets beat Los Angeles with a 4-1 series win in the 1986 Western Conference finals. Saturday night, the defense told the story, and for the Lakers, they finally have a healthy roster.

Post by @ballislife

View on Threads

Prior to the game on Saturday evening, 84 percent of users on our threads account predicted the Lakers would get the win over the Rockets. They certainly got the victory, and it came in dramatic fashion. When introduced pre-game, Lakers fans made sure they expressed their feelings about Brooks amongst the entire arena. As expected, Brooks received several boos, as he was pumped up by his teammates.

Post by @ballislife

View on Threads

The LeBron James vs. Dillon Brooks rivalry was on full display

And so much for Lakers head coach Darvin Ham for limiting LeBron James minutes. For the oldest player in the game, 16 points, 1 block, 1 steal, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in 35 minutes isn't too shabby. In fact, LeBron had several inside baskets in the low post in Dillon Brooks, which resulted in an immediate stare down. While James has downplayed his rivalry with Brooks, the body language speaks for itself.

For James, that prime matchup with Brooks dates back to the first round of the Western Conference playoffs last year. Although he hit some nice shots beyond the perimeter, Brooks finished the night -10 on the floor, with 10 points. In fact, Brooks finished with zero points when guarded by James, and shot 33 percent when guarded by Anthony Davis. If the Lakers can get this version of Davis, LeBron, and their rotational players on a nightly basis, they will be a force to be reckoned with in the west.

James is still performing at a high level

The leader in all-time points, No. 23 is still showing why he's one of the best players in the game. Averaging 24.4 points a game this season, LeBron showed no signs of slowing down at the age of 38. While the Lakers trailed for a better part of the first half, James was turning heads all night. Creating jab step lay ins, backdoor cuts, James put his athleticism on full display. While father time is creeping up, the man is creating 360-degree layup moves over Tari Eason and Jeff Green. Although LeBron had a decent night, he was loving the work his teammates put in beside him.

Post by @ballislife

View on Threads

Along with LeBron, Anthony Davis showed his defensive prowess, having 5 blocks, 27 points, 3 assists, and 14 rebounds in 37 minutes. With Davis as an elite rim protector, Houston's Alperen Segun finished with 21 points on 8-25 field goal shooting. With 11 steals as a team, the Lakers were able to crash the boards and put up 13 total second chance points. As a whole, the Lakers held the Rockets to just 40.4 percent shooting from the field, and 35.5 percent from long range. For a team that allows opponents to score 114 points a game, the Lakers arguably had their best defensive outing of the season, next to their 100-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns.

The Lakers bench steps up massively

With a two man-game with LeBron and Davis, the Lakers had 6 players finish with points in double-figures, including Austin Reaves and Max Christie off the bench. Offensively, the Lakers unit did what they were supposed to do to help out AD and James. Bullying the Rockets in the paint, Hams team utilized the mismatches and got the foul calls they wanted. They finished 19-27 from the free-throw line, compared to the Rockets, who had just 18 free-throw attempts. The return of Vanderbilt and Reddish created a ton of physicality against the Rockets this matchup. Although Houston beat LA on the boards, the Lakers starting five had 31 total rebounds, including 6 from Taureen Prince.

Lebron and Ime Udoka exchange words

It's no secret Ime Udoka was hired to turn the Houston Rockets franchise around after a 22-60 finish last season. With last year's free agency signing of Fred VanVleet, Houston arguably had the steal of the draft with rookie Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson. Having previous success with the Boston Celtics, it's evident Udoka wants to win. In order to win, the Rockets need to play hard fought basketball and compete night to night. Visibly frustrated by their recent play, the Rockets remain winless on the road. Following a technical foul in the second quarter, Udoka was ultimately ejected late in the game.

Post by @ballislife

View on Threads

For Laker fans, Brooks and Udoka immediately become the villain since their disputes with the King. A feud that's likely to stay, originated from common foul on Cam Reddish against Tari Eason. From there, Reddish made it known he was upset, which caused tensions to rise on both sides. While words were exchanged between the Rockets head coach the LeBron, Brooks blamed the officiating.

In his 21st season in the NBA, LeBron James seemed rather unbothered by the situation post-game. Bringing in some comedic relief. he even went out of his way to tell the press it looked "rather friendly." While he stated him and Udoka "were talking about how much we enjoyed thanksgiving," both head coaches had harsh words.

Whether the ejection was warranted, the was a clear disrespect felt by Udoka after James walked over to the sidelines. With one more regular season matchup between these two teams in January, tensions will sure be high.

Stay tuned for more NBA related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post "Fired up" Rockets lose to the Lakers, 107-97. appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Mikaylah Williams makes NCAA history with 42 points

Sara Jane Gamelli — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:48:23 +0000

Tigers Freshman guard Mikaylah Williams scored a career high 42 points as No. 7 LSU cruises to a 109-79 victory over Kent State. 42 points is the most by any freshman in the NCAA college basketball era.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

Mikaylah Williams makes history

LSU freshman Mikaylah Williams is embracing her entrance into the college basketball scene especially with the support of head coach Kim Mulkey. She put on an eyebrow raising performance that has sent the college basketball world into a frenzy on Tuesday afternoon.

1⃣2⃣ is just scratching the surface of her potential

42 points in her fourth collegiate game for @mkwill12_ pic.twitter.com/oGlpSfApZE
— LSU Women's Basketball (@LSUwbkb) November 15, 2023

Williams put the entire nation on notice after a 42 point domination over Kent State in front of a crowd of over 9,000 fans. The No. 1 recruit from Louisiana, Williams showcased her talents for everyone to see on Tuesday. The 6-foot-1 guard finished with 3 steals, 3 assists, and 7 rebounds on 15-20 (75 percent) field goal shooting, 5-8 (62.5) percent beyond the arc. She's just the 11th player to score 40 plus points in LSU history. The last player to score at least 42 points in a single game was Cornelia Gayden in 1995 (49 points).

The LSU Tigers, led by Mulkey, move to 3-1 on the season, after dropping a disappointing season opener against Colorado. The reigning 2022-2023 National Champions remain one of the favorites to win it all again this year, especially with Angel Reese and the addition of Hailey Van Lith. Four games into the season, Williams leads the tigers in scoring with 22 points per game, and an astonishing 63.2 three-point percentage.

42 Points by Mikaylah Williams!

It's the most points scored by a Freshman in WBB history. pic.twitter.com/7VpJFClZae
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) November 15, 2023

With the way LSU struggled against Colorado, Williams seems to be the missing key the Tigers desperately need. The person that's going to push her to the best of her abilities? Kim Mulkey.

"She can score anywhere," Mulkey told the press. "I've been riding her because as good as she is, I don't think she knows how good she is. I think a lot of it will come with just making her play extended minutes as hard as she can. You saw today what she's capable of doing. She's a special talent."

Williams is a star in the making

The guard has slowly made her way through headlines, as she's increased her production every game. In the last two matchups against Kent State and Mississippi Valley State, the freshman tallied a combined 52 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. With a strong bodied frame, Williams has an extremely versatile skill set. Not afraid to pull from long range, No. 12 can also drive baseline, and has the capability of fighting through multiple bodies.

No, this is not a one and done. Mikaylah Williams is the real deal. She also plays on a talented roster, who knew exactly where to find her on the court.

"I wouldn't say I wanted the ball every trip, my teammates knew I had a hot hand and they were finding me," said Williams. "I applaud them for finding me, and I was executing on the shots."

Mikaylah Williams just dropped 42. The most points by any @LSUwbkb player in the last 25 seasons

BUCKET @mkwill12_ pic.twitter.com/N3IgNCJSsY
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) November 14, 2023

LSU had a game high 17 assists, 5 of which came from transfer guard Van Lith. While several of his shots came unassisted, Williams was making tough shots.

Coach Mulkey recruited Williams for a reason

"It's just in me," Williams continued. With that said, Coach Mulkey has an extensive coaching career, and has witness several stellar performances. In her third season with LSU, Mulkey knew exactly what she would be getting from Williams after recruiting her from Parkway High School.

Junior guard Aneesah Morrow knows the meaning of hard work. She finished with 17 points and 9 steals on 7-15 (46.6 percent) free throw shooting.

"It makes me feel good, being able to give Mikaylah a pass and see her score other than shooting it myself," said Morrow. "I get to see the work MK puts in everyday-- it's a non stop thing, she's very consistent, she work's hard everyday. To see that pay off is amazing."

No. 12 is a Lousiana Native

It's not everyday where freshman athletes are comfortable right off the jump, especially in front of her hometown fans at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Louisiana.

"It was fun, I just wanted to show the kids that it's possible," Williams continue. "A little kid from Louisiana, being on this big stage is possible-- to do this and be big."

Admitting she previously had a career high 34 points in high school, Williams is adamant about about the work she puts in practice on a daily basis. An All-American in high school, the guard was named 3x FIBA 3x3 under 18 World Cup MVP, and was chosen as USA Basketball 3x3 Athlete of the year.

"I think it all starts in practice, how you practice is how you play. Coach Mulkey had been riding me and staying on my tail about working hard, effort and everything."

If anything, the future is very exciting for the LSU Tigers and Mikaylah Williams.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and NCAAW articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post Mikaylah Williams makes NCAA history with 42 points appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

NBA Season is here: Betting Odds & Stats

Sara Jane Gamelli — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 21:20:55 +0000

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

The NBA is back today! pic.twitter.com/4ireEdRhfD
— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 24, 2023

It's official, the 2023 NBA season starts tonight. The Denver Nuggets, the reigning champions, will take on the Los Angeles Lakers on their home court. Having a home opener record of 60-16, the Nuggets will face the Lakers for the first time since their 4-0 sweep in last year's Western Conference Finals. The newly revamped Phoenix Suns will matchup against Golden State on the road tonight. Here you will find the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, and predictions for Tuesday, October 24.

How to watch the matchups

The Los Angeles Lakers will matchup against the Denver Nuggets tonight. The matchup will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, at Ball Arena, located in Denver, Colorado. The Phoenix Suns will play the Golden State Warriors, starting at 10 p.m. ET, Chase Center, located in San Fransisco, California. If you're betting on the NBA and interested in watching, the game will air on TNT. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

Daily Game Odds: Los Angeles Lakers @ Denver Nuggets

Joker and LBJ are two of the league's premier passers at their positions

Take a look at some of the best dimes from their careers ahead of #KiaTipOff23!

LAKERS/NUGGETS, 7:30 PM ET, TNT pic.twitter.com/ZAsUgZHFPR
— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2023

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook*

Lakers: +164
Nuggets: -198
Spread: Lakers +5 (-108), Nuggets -5 (-112)
Total: O 228 (-115)/ U 228 (-105)

Daily Game Odds: Phoenix Suns @ Golden State Warriors

Brian Windhorst on the Suns BIG3: "They have the potential to be the No. 1 offense in the history of the NBA."pic.twitter.com/fqj0kNq9Dp
— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) October 24, 2023

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook*

Suns: +130
Warriors: -155
Spread: Suns +3.5 (-115), Warriors -3.5 (-105)
Total: O 233.5 (-112)/ U 233.5 (-108)

Injuries

Lakers

Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) ruled out for season opener on Tuesday.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) October 23, 2023

-Jalen Hood-Schifino: OUT

-Jarred Vanderbilt: OUT (Heel)

Nuggets

-Julian Strawther: Day-To-Day (Right Ankle Sprain)

-Jay Huff: Day-To-Day (Ribs)

-Vlatko Cancar: OUT (Left Knee)

Suns

Shams: Devin Booker (toe) "50-50" for season opener Tuesday; will warm up and try to play.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) October 24, 2023

-Devin Booker: Game Time Decision (Toe)

-Bradley Beal: Game Time Decision (Back)

-Damion Lee, OUT (Knee)

Warriors

Draymond Green (ankle) ruled out for Tuesday.
— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) October 23, 2023

-Draymond Green: OUT (Ankle)

Lakers + 5 (-108)

GOT A GAME TODAY

4:30 PM PST
NBA on TNT
ESPN LA 710/1330 KWKW pic.twitter.com/DOvfqeepqY
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 24, 2023

It's opening night, and the Los Angeles Lakers will be in town to see the Denver Nuggets receive their championship rings. After getting swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals last season, this will be a revenge game for the Lakers. After finishing the season 43-39, and failing to win a championship, the Lakers overhauled their roster this offseason.

Yes, the Nuggets are at home, and have a 60-16 in season openers. Conversely, the Lakers are 0-5 in their past five season openers. The Nuggets kept their main Championship core, with the exclusion of Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, which will give the Lakers some sort of advantage. For Los Angeles they have the new acquisitions of Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes, Maxwell Lewis, and Jalen Hood-Schifino. In addition, the Lakers have a fully healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

It's unclear how long the Lakers will need to develop chemistry with these additional assets. One advantage Los Angeles has over the Nuggets is their bench depth. Either the Lakers will struggle early on with this new lineup, or Denver will have a tough time coming up with a plan defensively. Either way, this is a matchup the Lakers have been eyeing since they were swept 4-0.

Why the Lakers will cover

If you look at last years playoffs, yes, the Lakers didn't win a game against the Nuggets. The point differential wasn't astronomical, given Denver won by an average of 6 points over four games. With two games decided by 5 points or less, I have full confidence the Lakers will be able to cover the +5.5 spread tonight.

I'm going to full fade the Nuggets at home spread wise, and their 4-1 record in season openers in the past. They retained one of the best starting lineups in the NBA, one that's won together and has chemistry. The Lakers have a much stronger bench than Denver, and these two teams are 5-5 against the spread in the last ten games. With a 4-6 record against the Nuggets over the last ten, I'll stick with the spread.

Warriors vs. Suns Over 228 Points (-115)

Make
'Em
Look pic.twitter.com/yjLRm5UPME
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) October 24, 2023

Tonight, is a highly anticipated matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns. After playing three seasons in Phoenix, Chris Paul was traded to the Warriors for Jordan Poole just after Bradley Beal was traded to the Suns. Tonight will be his homecoming against his former team, the Suns.

Phoenix has a new big three in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, and will have to wait to see them on the court together. Beal was already ruled out for tonights game with a back injury, and Booker is "50/50" to play. For the Warriors, they will be without Draymond Green with an ankle injury.

Both eliminated in the Western Conference Finals, the Warriors and Suns are projected to be two top teams in the West. Still without those players, Phoenix and Golden State have high power offenses. In their last ten matchups, the over hit five times, and the Warriors finished 44-34-4 against totals last season. Second in the league in offensive, Golden State averaged 119 points per game, and that was with Klay Thompson and Steph Curry out for some games. Defensively, the Warriors struggled, and finished 115.1 in defensive rating.

For the Suns, they made a splash for Kevin Durant in the middle of last season, and finished 42-39-1 against totals. With the departure of Deandre Ayton and Chris Paul, this team should generate a ton of offense, even with Beal out tonight.

I expected for this game to hit the over, especially with two high powered offenses on opening night. Not the best teams defensively, it should be an absolute showdown tonight.

Best bet: LeBron James/Nikola Jokic to score 20 + Points
Odds Boost Draft Kings: +100

In his 21st NBA season, Lakers star LeBron James has no plans on slowing down. He's averaging 25.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in 20 openers. For Jokic, He's averaged 17.3 points and 9 rebounds in 8 season openers. Having averaged over 20 points in the past two openers, LeBron has scored over 20 points in three straight opening days.

Two of the best stars in the league, I expect James and Jokic to show out tonight. James is averaging over 26 points a game against the Nuggets in his career, and scored over 20 points in each of the four playoff matchups against Denver. In his prime, the Joker hasn't scored below 20 points since Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against Minnesota.

Stay tuned for more NBA betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

Follow the Movement on Instagram and Threads

The post NBA Season is here: Betting Odds & Stats appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Aces defeat Liberty in heartbreaking game 4 loss, repeat as Champions

Sara Jane Gamelli — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:30:28 +0000

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty 70-69, and captured their second consecutive WNBA title. They are the first team to win back-to-back WNBA titles in 21 years.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{BROOKLYN, NY - OCTOBER 18: Las Vegas Aces forward A'ja Wilson (22) hoists the championship trophy after defeating the New York Liberty in game 4 of the 2023 WNBA Finals between on October 18, 2023, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)}

The Aces win their second consecutive WNBA Championship

Heartbreaking loss for the Liberty. Congrats to the Aces on winning the 2023 WNBA Championship pic.twitter.com/aoUaOBF20T
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 19, 2023

Game four of the WNBA Finals was intense, disappointing, and exciting all at the same time. New York Liberty fans were left heartbroken, while the Las Vegas Aces celebrated their triumph on New York's home court. In a low scoring affair, the Aces defeated the Liberty 70-69, which was a dogfight up until the final seconds.

With a one point victory, the Las Vegas Aces stormed the middle of the court in front of 16,000 plus New York Liberty fans. Having been there before, the Aces finally captured their second straight WNBA Championship. Las Vegas seized another trophy in what was the most watched game four in WNBA history. They did so without Chelsea Gray, Candace Parker, and Kiah Stokes, all out with foot injuries.

Through a rollercoaster of a season, the aces stated they've experienced adversity all season long. If there's one constant, it's been A'ja Wilson's brilliant play and determination to win.

You can really tell the Aces and A’ja Wilson are a tight group for real. It shows in all aspects. #wnba #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/CWSrdsdlsT
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 19, 2023

"We kept the main thing, the main thing, and we remained focused through everything," told the press. "We weathered the storms, I think that's what I'm very happy about. They hit us with a big punch, and we came back harder."

The Aces bench came out to play

Crowned Finals MVP, Wilson led the Aces with 24 points and 16 rebounds, 15 of which came during the second half. The Aces are the first team in 21 years to win back-to-back titles. They join the Houston Comets and the Los Angeles Sparks as the only teams to do so.

Up 39-30 at halftime, New York never truly found their rhythm on either side of the ball. With the Aces starting Alysha Clark and Cayla George, the Liberty couldn't capitalize on the the loss of Gray and Stokes. No disrespect to Clark and George, but Chelsea Gray is not replaceable. Although Gray was sidelined on the bench, she remained vocal on the bench in leading her team. Don't let the Aces bench fool you, they are poised with professionals that were willing and ready to play.

Becky Hammon #wnba #wnba pic.twitter.com/AHnExHkeP3
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 19, 2023

"This is probably the tightest group I've ever been around," said Aces coach Becky Hammon. "They're a special group, I don't know what else you can throw at them. All we did is buckle down and keep playing."

The New York Liberty were "highly disappointed"

The Liberty's ball movement wasn't fluid, and their shots simply weren't falling. Looking disheveled, New York shot just 26-72 (36.1 percent) from the field, and 9-26 (34.6 percent) from long range. Sabrina Ionescu finished with 13 points, and Betnijah Laney 15. The Most Valuable Player, Breanna Stewart finished with just 10 points and 14 rebounds on 3-17 (17.6 percent) shooting. Her 38 percent effective field-goal percentage was the lowest of any 10 game-game stretch in her career.

Despite such a successful season, and a franchise best 32-8 finish, the Liberty fell short of their championship desires.

Having experienced both winning and losing in the finals, Liberty guard Courtney Vandersloot stated their level of disappointment was "very high."

"It's hard to answer these questions right now because we're so disappointed, and it's such an emotional time," Vandersloot continued. "We're proud that we had the opportunity to play for a championship. It didn't go out way tonight. This is what we came here to do, we're trying to build a championship team. We are going to use this as a learning experience, you can only get better from here."

Vandersloot finished with a team high 19 points, 6 assists, and 7 rebounds on 50 % three-point shooting. Having struggled with her shot throughout the playoffs, Vandersloot very much kept the Liberty in the game tonight.

The New York Liberty's downfall has been losing leads in the third quarter, which is exactly what happened in game four. Las Vegas outscored New York 23-13, and held them to 25 percent shooting. Cayla George, an unlikely hero, made two key three pointers on four attempts. With the task of guarding Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart, George finished +1, 11 points, 3 steals, and four rebounds.

By the end of the third, the Aces were shooting 50 percent from the field, and 40 percent from three. A'ja Wilson made several shots over Jonquel Jones, who finished with just 6 points and 11 rebounds, in 33 minutes played.

It was a dogfight until the end

THE FINAL SECONDS THAT CROWNED THE @LVACES BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPS pic.twitter.com/YhlV9rCzYb
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 19, 2023

Tied 64-64, the crowd remained intense and involved at the Barclay's Center. Down 70-64 with 1:12 to go, the Aces could taste another Championship victory. In a matter of seconds, guard Courtney Vandersloot made the most important three-pointer of the season, followed by steal and a Sabrina Ionescu made shot over Sydney Colson. Down 70-69 with 41.7 seconds remaining, Jonquel Jones had a momental block on A'ja Wilson, in which Courtney Vandersloot grabbed the unlikely defensive rebound.

At that moment, New York took a timeout with 8.8 seconds to go. With the season on the line, the Liberty had to score on the final posession. Alysha Clark on Stewart, the ball was passed to Betnijah Laney, guarded by Kelsey Plum, and onto Courtney Vandersloot. Less than 2 seconds left, Vandersloot badly missed a mid range shot which concluded the game. In a building that was once filled with an enormous amount of energy, it felt so lifeless.

Tune in to the #WNBAFinals Game 4 Post Game Presser https://t.co/3rhTYWDP7o
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 19, 2023

New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello expressed her faith in putting the ball in the hands of Breanna Stewart. "I put the ball in the hands of the MVP because we trusted. It just didn't work out today. I'd still do it again, I still make that, that's the right call."

Alysha Clark, now a 3x WNBA Championship, dedicated the win to her late father. She had the game winning defensive stop against Stewart.

"He's been with me all season," Clark told Holly Rowe. "He's been by sixth man and I know he would be so happy right now. This is for him, this entire season, I showed up everyday because I know he loved watching me play."

Clark finished with 10 points, and 8 rebounds, on 4-7 shooting. Guards Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young combined for 23 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds. The New York Liberty are still in search of their first WNBA Championship in franchise history.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post Aces defeat Liberty in heartbreaking game 4 loss, repeat as Champions appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Aces Chelsea Gray, Kiah Stokes out for Game 4.

Sara Jane Gamelli — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 00:45:46 +0000

The Las Vegas Aces currently hold a 2-1 series lead over the New York Liberty. With game four on Wednesday, the Aces will be without two starters due to foot injuries.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

Breaking: Las Vegas Aces Kiah Stokes and Chelsea Gray will be out for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, head coach Becky Hammon announced.

Both have foot injuries and are questionable for Game 5 (if necessary). pic.twitter.com/8x1YqRB0xi
— ESPN (@espn) October 17, 2023

The Aces are once again plagued by injuries

The Las Vegas Aces command a 2-1 series lead, and remain one win away from capturing their second consecutive WNBA Championship. The best-of-five, the Aces are once again hindered by injuries. This time, both Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes are suffering from foot injuries. Already missing Candace Parker with a foot fracture, the Aces are filled with the task of filling multiple voids on the biggest stage of the year. They've also been without Riquna Williams, who was arrested on domestic battery charges earlier this year.

Chelsea Gray, the 2022 Finals MVP, is the heart and soul of the Aces team. Nicknamed the "Point Gawd," Gray is one of the most prolific point guards to ever play the position. She's often the most vocal in timeouts, and can be seen drawing up plays for her team. Without her, Las Vegas will be missing their facilitator and the engine that makes the team run. She was seen with a boot on her left foot, along with a scooter at Tuesday's practice at the Barclays Center.

Chelsea Gray says her teammates will respond without her. ?@LVAces? pic.twitter.com/8ML6hvYSix
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) October 17, 2023

Gray is certainly a leading factor in this Finals series. In three postseason matchups against the Liberty, Gray is averaging 15 points, 5 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.3 steals. An x-factor in games one and two, Gray is shooting 37.5 percent from three-point range through three games. In the first two matchups, Chelsea was facilitating like no other, and hitting incredibly high contested shots. Gray, originally hurt on a play guarding Breanna Stewart, was visibly seen in pain, hobbling on one foot to the locker room.

THE STEAL, THE DIME

Chelsea Gray is putting on a show in the #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/ynxyOA5ziY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 12, 2023

Kiah Stokes has been Candace Parker's replacement since her injury in July. Although Stokes isn't a large presence on the offense, she remains an integral part of the defense. Stokes is averaging 2.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2 assists in the Finals matchups against New York. Not appearing injured in game three, Stokes stated she "can't really tell you what happened, but my foot kind of hurts."

Becky Hammon weighs in: "Next woman up"

"They will both be out for game 4," Becky Hammon said at Tuesday's practice. When asked about Stokes and Gray's status for game 5, Hammon stated that "it's questionable." Stokes was seen on crutches during Tuesday's practice in Brooklyn.

"They both have foot injuries," said Hammon. "It's the next woman up. Everybody's gonna get a crack, everybody's gonna get a shot, probably-- Everybody just has to be ready to go, locked in."

Hammon later joked she would stick Sydney Colson at the backpack position, and stick her on Jonquel Jones.

Aces will use a committee

Becky Hammon stated the Aces will run by committee after game three, although it's clear not one player can replace Gray. Las Vegas will most likely look to Sydney Colson and Cayla George to replace Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes. The Aces ranked last in the regular season in terms of bench points per game (13.5). Thin at multiple positions, Becky Hammon has primarily relied on a six player rotation.

The Aces typically run a three guard lineup, which will allow Kelsey Plum to step up at point guard.

Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young will run the point

"We just shuffle KP [Kelsey Plum] over and Jackie [Young] will get some duties," Hammon told the press after game three. " Maybe we see Syd [Colson]. We do it by committee. I don't think there's any one person that's going to step up and fill her [Chelsea Gray] shoes. It's going to be a next woman up type scenario. Not one person is going to replace her, just everybody steps up and does a little bit more."

The Aces have vocalized they have battled adversity, and it hasn't just been in the postseason. "We bounce back from adversity all year, " said Hammon after game 3. "You either stay down or you get up. I know this group will get up."

The Aces will matchup against the Liberty for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals on October 18 in Brooklyn.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post Aces Chelsea Gray, Kiah Stokes out for Game 4. appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Liberty avoid elimination, defeat Aces 87-73 in Game 3

Sara Jane Gamelli — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 22:37:28 +0000

The New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 87-73 in a dire game 3 of the WNBA Finals. In front of a record-breaking sellout crowd of 17,143, the Liberty handled business on both sides of the ball.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

Liberty defeat the aces 87-73 in game 3#wnba pic.twitter.com/PvEzgYhqo3
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 15, 2023

^{October 15, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Las Vegas Aces 87-73 in Game 3 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Barclays Center Arena. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

New York avoids elimination at home

The @nyliberty take Game 3 as they defeat the Aces, 87-73 #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/67YnY6dzqE
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 15, 2023

Down 0-2 in the WNBA Finals, the New York Liberty knew they had one task on Sunday, and that was to win game 3. In front of their home crowd, they did so with grit, determination, and preposterous defense. With a 87-73 victory over the Aces, New York earned their first Finals win since September 1999, which was 24 years ago. Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello expressed the importance of not putting too much pressure on themselves, and letting emotions get the best of her team.

"It's all about action now," Brondello told the press. "It's not about emotions, and making sure we stay connected and committed---It's just us taking some pride, just go out there and play as hard as you can. Leave everything on the table, don't look back and say what if."

And with confidence, the Liberty did just that. New York started on a 11-2 run, in which Betnijah Laney tipped the ball in off a Breanna Stewart missed three. With the Barclays Center as loud as I've ever heard it, the Liberty were playing with poise. Unlike the first two games, New York were hitting their shots, including three-pointers made from Jonquel Jones. With the season on the line, New York switched up matchups, and improved vastly on transition defense.

No team has come back 0-2, “why not us?”

Sabrina Ionescu post game #WNBAFinals #LIGHTITUPNYL pic.twitter.com/A0WVtQep7x
— Sara Jane Gamelli (@SaraJGamelli) October 15, 2023

The Liberty found their shot again

In the first ten minutes, the Liberty forced the Aces to turn the ball over 4 times, in which they responded with 6 fast break points. Spacing, along with fluid ball movement, and shot selection were all determinants in game 3. Their 13 made three-pointers tie a franchise post season record.

All five Liberty starters finished positive +/- on the floor, compared to the Aces, all negative. With the shots falling, Betnijah Laney finished with 12 points (5-8), Breanna Stewart with 20 points (8-16), and Courtney Vandersloot with 12 points (5-10). Less hesitant to shoot this game, Vandersloot started to acquire her confidence back. New York finished the game with 87 points on 33-63 (52.4 percent) field goal shooting, and 8-16 (50 percent) from three-point range. The leading team in three-point percentage, the Liberty have struggled greatly beyond the perimeter in the playoffs.

Sabrina Ionescu was the ultimate facilitator

Sab with the no-look dime to Stewie pic.twitter.com/N74pVHkEG5
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 15, 2023

Admitting the Liberty felt "defeated" after the first two games, Sabrina Ionescu simply stated her team "believes in one another."

"It's really easy after those first two games in Vegas to be defeated," Ionescu continued. "To come out tonight, and not play for anything in particular. To be able to see our response, us come together, believe in one another."

No team has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit to win a Championship in WNBA history.

With their backs against the wall, Ionescu admitted the Liberty have that "understanding that no team has ever done what they are trying to do now." "Why not us? " said Ionescu. "We believe in one another, we continue to put one foot in front of another, and understand it's all part of the process. We gotta come and protect home court on Wednesday as well."

Aggressive early on the offensive end, Ionescu was a key factor in distributing the ball. Her no look dimes were crisp and No.20 passed up several shots, instead creating easier baskets for her teammates. Both Ionescu and Jones connected on several occasions, especially with the pick and roll. In 35 minutes, Ionescu finished with 9 points, 11 assists, and 2 blocks, on 3-9 (33 percent) field goal shooting. Having struggled on both ends of the ball, Sabrina played as efficient as we've ever seen her defensively, especially on Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. In this series, New York's backcourt has vastly struggled against Aces guards Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum in the series.

Chelsea Gray suffered a foot injury

With Plum consistent on offensive this series, #10 had another 20 + point night. New York's defensive shift played a monumental role in the decrease in production between Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Two players who torched the Liberty through games one and two, combined for 19 points, on 6-21 (28 percent) field goal shooting. Even worse, the two guards shot a total 1-6 from three-point range. Halfway through the fourth quarter, Chelsea Gray suffered a foot injury, which will keep her out of contention for game four. You never like to see injuries, especially when it comes to the big stage.

New York changed their defensive approach

JJ GOT THAT DAWG IN ‘ER @jus242 pic.twitter.com/Imitz13JMk
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 15, 2023

The New York Liberty have been here before. Their defense has cranked it up, especially in game two of the regular season, and the Commissioners Cup. The defensive scheme New York used against Connecticut and Washington simply wasn't working against Vegas.

With the Aces having high production on both the weak and strong side of the ball, New York's zone defense created opportunities for the opposition. This time around, New York created traps, and constantly picked up around the perimeter and screens. The Liberty held the Aces to just 33.3 percent field goal, and 31.8 percent three point shooting. They had a game high 23 free-throw attempts, in which the Aces made 20.

Typically, we've seen Breanna Stewart matched up with A'ja Wilson and Alysha Clark off the bench. Games one and two, Kiah Stokes was responsible for guarding Jonquel Jones, and is an anchor defensively for Vegas. In this matchup, New York came out with a much different defensive scheme, often pairing Breanna Stewart on Chelsea Gray, and Jonquel Jones on A'ja Wilson. With two stretch bigs, both Stewart and Jones were able to keep up on the perimeter, as well as on the inside.

The Liberty held the Aces to 10 third point quarters, which is a post season low.

The Block party

The @nyliberty defense is strong @breannastewart with the BIG TIME block in the 3Q

ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/3z2Eefh8QM
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 15, 2023

Buckets didn't come easy for Vegas in game 3. Knowing this was a "do or die" situation, New York essentially shut down their passing lanes, limiting the Aces to just 13 assists on 23 shot attempts. Defensively, New York had 8 blocks-- 3 from Jonquel Jones, 2 from Breanna Stewart, 2 from Sabrina Ionescu, and 1 from Courtney Vandersloot. Stewart on Gray forced her to take tough shots, many in which didn't fall. The Liberty knew how to trap Wilson on several occasions, which was their intent. Aside from Plum, the Aces had trouble generating their offense. New York limited A'ja Wilson to 16 points on 4-16 (25 percent) free-throw shooting, which is highly uncharacteristic for Wilson.

The Liberty's true x-factor

When Liberty GM Jonathan Kolb acquired Jonquel Jones, he knew she had extensive playoff experience. Yes, Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, and Stefanie Dolson all have Championships. Jonquel Jones is in her second consecutive finals, and has more experience than any player on the team. Through the backend of the season and the playoffs, Jones has easily been the most reliable, dominant player for New York. She was the Commissioner's Cup MVP, and lately has shown how valuable she really is.

"Her teammates trust her, I trust her," said Coach Brondello.

"We pride ourselves on screening as post players," Jonquel Jones told the media. "That's one of the things that we talked about coming into these games that we can do better. Just making sure to hit them, make sure they felt us with the screens, and then rolling and getting open. "

I noticed Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones were setting much stronger screens for both Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu. This opened up the flow of offensive, and the ability to drive to the basket and facilitate.

Jonquel Jones has been ELITE

JJ put on show for the city with her 27 PT performance in game 3 pic.twitter.com/IHLTMVei2p
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 15, 2023

Through playoff 9 games, Jones is averaging 18.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks, on 57.3 percent field goal shooting. In the postseason, Jones leads in total rebounds (105), and Blocks (21). She's third in total points (162), behind A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. In three playoff matchups against the Aces, No. 35 is averaging 21 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks. A player that can stretch the floor, Jones is shooting an incredible 63.2 percent from the field, and nearly 40 percent from long-range. For an Aces lineup that plays small (three guards), Jones has been able to take advantage of the mismatches below. Jonquel finished with a team high 27 points 10-15 (66.7) percent shooting from the field. Just short of a another double-double, Jones had 3 blocks, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Jonquel Jones is playing on an elite level, and the duo of Jones and Stewart was spectacular defensively. Only averaging over just 1 made three-pointer a game, Jones found her stride, and was locked in last matchup.

If there's anyone I trust in the playoffs, It's Jonquel Jones. At 6 foot 7, Jones has been the glue that's kept the Liberty's season alive. Both Jones and Stewart will be the keys to protecting the rebounds, and dominating inside the paint.

The New York Liberty will matchup against the Las Vegas Aces for game 4 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday. Again, the Liberty will be facing another elimination game.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

Follow the Movement on Instagram and Threads

The post Liberty avoid elimination, defeat Aces 87-73 in Game 3 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Liberty vs. Aces Odds & Predictions: WNBA Finals Game 3

Sara Jane Gamelli — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 02:11:27 +0000

Tomorrow, The New York Liberty will matchup against the Las Vegas Aces at home for game three of the WNBA Finals. Up 2-0 in the series, the Las Vegas Aces could capture their second consecutive championship on Sunday. Here you will find the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, and predictions for Sunday, October 15.

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

The No.1 seed Las Vegas Aces will travel to face the No. 2 seed New York Liberty for game three of the WNBA Finals Sunday afternoon.

The Las Vegas Aces remain undefeated, and cruised to a 2-0 over the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals. The reigning champions, led by Becky Hammon, look to be the first team to win consecutive titles since the 2002 Los Angeles Sparks. Over two games, the Aces have completely dominated the series in several statistical categories.

With a 45 point differential, Las Vegas leads New York in rebounds, assists, and steals. With monumental performances by their core four, the Aces are shooting an astounding 53.7 percent from then field, and 43.1 percent from long range. They are the first team in history to shoot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from three in consecutive finals games.

The New York Liberty will have home court advantage tomorrow, and game four if necessary. No team has ever come back 0-2 in the finals to win the series, and the chances are slim for New York. The Liberty won the regular season series 3-1, and finished a franchise best 32-8 during the regular season. The Aces finished a 34-6, the best start in WNBA history.

How to watch Game 3

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 3 p.m. ET, at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on?ESPN. ?For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

WNBA Finals Odds Game 3: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

2023 WNBA Championship Odds

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

WNBA Finals Remaining Schedule

Game 3: Sun, Oct 15: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 3 p.m. EDT, ABC
Game 4 *: Wed, Oct 18: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 5 *: Fri, Oct 20: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN

*If necessary

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

Las Vegas Aces

LV Aces: 5-0 in their last 5 games.
10-0 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 21-19-0
O/U Record: 24-16-0
3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
7-3 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 3-1-1 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 6-3-1 in the last 10 games.
1st in Offensive Rating (113)
3rd in Offensive Rating in the Playoffs (113)
1st in Defensive Rating (97.7)
1st in Defensive Rating in the Playoffs (91)
1st in Points Per Game (92.8)
2nd in Pace: 98.58
Opponent Points Per Game: 80.3 (2nd)
Three-Point Percentage: 37.2 % (2nd)
Three-Point Percentage in the Playoffs: 38.1 % (3rd)
Rebounds Per Game: 34.8 (5th)
Rebounds Per Game in the Playoffs: 39 (2nd)
LV ATS won last 10 games: Seattle (-20), Phoenix (-19), Chicago (-16, -17.5), Dallas (-10), New York (-4.5,-4.5)

https://t.co/RIOl2ZuVcR
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 13, 2023

New York Liberty

New York Liberty: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
6-4 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 19-21-0
O/U Record: 23-17-0
1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
2-8 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 5-0 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 9-1 in the last 10 games.
2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
3rd in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (105.1)
3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (108.4)
2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
5th in Pace: 96.56
Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 31.5% (5th)
Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 36.6 (5th)
New York ATS won last 10 games: Washington (-9.5), Connecticut (-4)

Home. pic.twitter.com/VmWwkdOmbr
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 14, 2023

Over 172.5 total points

With game three on Sunday, our experts will provide you with the best predictions, analysis, and statistics.

The Las Vegas Aces will take on the New York Liberty in the Big Apple on Sunday. Despite losing the first two matchups against Vegas, the over totals hit in both games. As much as I want to take New York +3 at home, I am much more confident in the point total.

In the regular season, the Aces had a totals record 24-16-0, and the Liberty 23-17-0. The over is 7-3 in their last ten matchups, including the Finals. With matchups against Connecticut and Washington, New York went over on totals in 8 of 9 games, including five straight games. For the Aces, they hit over totals in two games against New York, and have a 3-3-1 record in the postseason.

The best record in August, and since the All-Star break, the Liberty are playing unimpressive and uncharacteristic . Through 40 regular season games, both Las Vegas and New York were the top two offensive teams, as well as defensively. Both squads were top two in three point percentage, field goal, percentage, points scored, assists, and free-throw percentage. Even with the Liberty playing at their worst, the over has hit every time.

The Liberty will have a fighting chance at home for game three, after averaging just 78 points a game on 40.7 percent field goal shooting. With the over undefeated in the last five games, the Liberty are also 6-0 in their last six against Western Conference Teams. The over is 4-1 in their last five home games, and and 3-1 in their last four playoff games at home. The Aces have a 19-7 record on the road, favoring the over.

Why over points will hit

With the Aces playing as well as they have, not one team has been able to defeat them in the playoffs. In two home playoff matches against New York, the Aces averaged 101.5 points, on 53.7 percent field goal shooting. For the Liberty, it's been quite a different story.

In a must win game, New York will have to step it up on both sides of the ball. With their offense struggling greatly, the Liberty have still managed to nearly score 80 points. With Vegas dropping 99 and 104 points on the Liberty, I expect a slight decline in offensive numbers. The Aces have three players who averaged 20 plus points in the first two games, and I'm sure plenty of offense will be there.

Overall, I expect more from New York offensively, especially from Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart. A much anticipated high energy crowd at the Barclays, I expect this squad to bounce back, at least offensively. With such a short spread, New York has lost each game by 17 points or more. After two games, none of which were tight, I'll stick with the over for game three.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

Related article, click here!

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

The National Council on Problem Gambling operates the National Problem Gambling Helpline Network. The network is a single national access point to local resources for those seeking help for a gambling problem. The network consists of 28 contact centers that provide resources and referrals for all 50 states and US territories. Help is available 24/7 and is 100% confidential.

The post Liberty vs. Aces Odds & Predictions: WNBA Finals Game 3 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Aces crush Liberty 104-76, cruise to a 2-0 finals lead

Sara Jane Gamelli — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 02:24:50 +0000

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty in dramatic fashion on Wednesday evening. Led by A'ja Wilson, the Aces scored a WNBA record 38 points in the first quarter. The Aces are one win away from capturing their second consecutive WNBA Championship.

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{October 11, 2023; The New York Liberty fall to The Las Vegas Aces 104-76 in Game 2 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

The Las Vegas Aces are ELITE

The @LVAces set a new WNBA Finals 1Qscoring record with 38 PTS #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV | #PhantomCam pic.twitter.com/zXteyNft6z
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 12, 2023

No Candace Parker? No problem for the Aces.

Unable to regroup after a devastating game one loss, the Liberty looked unrecognizable as the Aces torched New York in game two of the WNBA Finals. Las Vegas started the game on a 27-7 run, and finished with a WNBA Finals record 38 points in the first quarter. The Aces defeated the Liberty 104-76, bringing them one step closer to another WNBA Championship. After dropping two consecutive losses for the first time this season, the Liberty are on the brink of elimination.

Through the first ten minutes, the Aces shot 14-20 on 70 percent field goal, and 6-10, 60 percent three-point shooting. It all started with Kelsey Plums step back three-pointer over Sabrina Ionescu, and ended with Chelsea Gray's mid range shot. The Liberty often looked disheveled on defense, allowing Kiah Stokes to shoot a wide open three-pointers in the corner. Stokes, primarily a defensive juggernaut for the Aces, had 5 points alone in the first, and 8 total. She's averaged only 2.2 points in the regular season.

The Liberty couldn't punch first

New York looked lifeless, and missed their first three shots to start the first quarter. Slow in transition defense, Las Vegas was able to known down three pointers, and attack inside. With a 19-2 lead, the Aces were able to capitlize on several possession where New York couldn't hit their shots. The Liberty finished the first quarter with 19 points on 30 percent field goal, and 20 percent three-point shooting. Breanna Stewart led the way with 7 points and 3 rebounds.

Speaking of transition defense, Coach Brondello noticed some deja vu in game two. "We talked about transition defense," Brondello continued. "No one was matched up with anyone. Our guards struggled out there tonight, their guards could do whatever they wanted."

New York hardly looked like the Liberty team that finished a franchise best 32-8 to end the season. Their offensive and defensive schemes were out of rhythm, leaving them unable to bounce back from such a large deficit. "I think it's disappointing, said Breanna Stewart of defeat. " We still have a lot of basketball to be played. This is the Finals and there's no reason why we shouldn't be ready to go from the start of the game to the start of the third quarter. As frustrating as it is, we still have an opportunity."

Jonquel Jones takes over the second quarter

Ballin' at its finest, @jus242 is gettin' buckets #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/DQQlrEwTO5
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 12, 2023

New York had a collosal second quarter, in which they outscored Las Vegas 28-13. The offense primarily flowed through Jonquel Jones, who put up 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Jones finished with a team high 22 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Outside of Jonquel, New York's offense looked relatively stagnant, and comatose. New York's backcourt continued to struggle, with Ionescu and Vandersloot shooting a combined 1-9. Jones utilized her size and mismatches, in which she accounted for 64 percent of the Liberty's offense in the second quarter.

"We haven't taken steps forward, no we haven't shown it," said Liberty coach Sandy Brondello. "We're disappointed, very disappointed because we're way better team than what we showed. We're better, We're better than this. The challenge is to go home and to win on Sunday."

With fluid ball movement, the Aces often caught the Liberty collapsing inside the paint, which opened up opportunities on the outside. Chelsea Gray was incredibly accurate, hitting several improbably shots before the shot clock expired. Gray, finished with 14 points and 11 assists on the night, which marks her second on the All-Time Finals Assists leaderboard.

A'ja Wilson is playing at an MVP level

A'ja Wilson had a MONSTER performance in game 2 of the WNBA Finals#WNBATwitter pic.twitter.com/20U9blasn3
— Ballislife Bets (@BallislifeBets) October 12, 2023

Defensive Player of the year and 2x WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson scored a team high 26 points and 15 rebounds. Jackie Young had another monumental game, finishing with 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Their core four, Wilson, Young, Plum, and Gray combined for 95 points, hardly missing any shots. The Aces are the only team in WNBA history to shoot at least 50 percent from the field, and 40 percent on three-pointers in consecutive games. That in itself should show the level of eliteness on this team. In fact, they are the only team in history to have three players score 20 points in two finals games.

is continuing to prove how elite she really is. She led the team in Points, Rebounds, and Blocks, for the second time in her Finals Career. She joins her opponent Jonquel Jones, as well as Lisa Lesley, as the only players to accomplish that stat line. In prime season form, Wilson was an automatic bucket from mid range last night.

"They were good tonight", Becky Hammon told the press."They don't leave me speechless very often, but they executed defensively. Offensively shared it, everything we've been asking them to do."

Las Vegas shreds New York in the third quarter

Defended The @_ajawilson22: 26 PTS // 15 REB // 63% FG@JackieYoung3: 24 PTS // 8 REB // 4 AST // 56% FG@Kelseyplum10: 23 PTS // 8 AST // 3 STL // 5 3PM@cgray209: 14 PTS // 6 REB // 11 AST // 43% FG@kstokes41: 8 PTS // 7 REB // 2 3PM#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/6kXhQ1QO4h
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 12, 2023

The Las Vegas Aces continued their dominance through the third quarter. Outscoring the Liberty 28-13, New York shot just 31.2 percent from the field. Both Young and Wilson combined for 21 points, which both players compiled several "and ones" at the line. Young especially used her size advantage with Sabrina Ionescu when driving to the basket.

"They are the real deal, said Hammon. They're the real deal. I could really go down the whole list. Their competitiveness and their fight for each other. They're a real team, they're a real team."

In an offensive showdown, the Aces finished the night on 52.9 percent field goal shooting, and 44.8 percent from long range. Their players each had points in double figures, and the lead ballooned to 32 points. Unable to stop the bleeding, the Liberty simple couldn't play to the standards of the Aces. Las Vegas is the first team in WNBA history to average 100 points, 40 rebounds, and 30 assists in a single finals game.

"We know what we're playing for," A'ja Wilson told the press. " The biggest thing when you're approaching this game in a series is keeping the main thing. The main thing and understanding that basketball is a game of runs. I think we understood, and we always tell ourselves, we've got to weather the storm. When you're playing against the Liberty, you have a great team that has a lot of weapons. "

No team has come back from a 0-2 deficit to win the WNBA Finals. Best of five games, the New York Liberty will attempt to capture a victory at home on Sunday.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

Follow the Movement on Instagram and Threads: @ballislifebets

The post Aces crush Liberty 104-76, cruise to a 2-0 finals lead appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Liberty vs Aces Player Prop Odds: WNBA Finals Game 2

Sara Jane Gamelli — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 22:38:51 +0000

The New York Liberty will matchup against the Las Vegas Aces for game two of the WNBA Finals tonight on the road. Here are the best player prop odds, bets, and predictions for Wednesday, October 11.

Written by

Sara Jane Gamelli

_{October 8, 2023; The New York Liberty fall to The Las Vegas Aces 99-82 in Game 1 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

Tonight, is game two of the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. With a game one victory, the Aces will look to take a series commanding 2-0 lead. In a tough matchup on the road, the Liberty will face an Aces team who are undefeated in the postseason. With 32 All-Star selections combined in the two teams, there are plenty of player prop bets to look at for tonight. Here, you will find the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, player prop bets and predictions for tonight.

Jackie Young under 19 Points

26 PTS
5 REBS
4 ASTS
3 STLS

Jackie Young FLEXED on the New York Liberty pic.twitter.com/akvZlhCNCO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?17.6?| FG:?52.3 %?| 3 PT:?44.9 %?| FT:?86.7 %?| REB:?4?| AST:?3.8?| STL:?1.3?| BLK:?0.1

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?17?| FG:?39.7 %?| 3 PT:?45.9 %?| FT:?88.5 %?| REB:?6.2?| AST:?4.8?|STL:?2 |?BLK: 0.2

Season Stats vs New York:?PPG:?17.8?| FG:?58.5 %?| 3 PT:?57.9 %?| FT:?100 %?| REB: 3?| AST:?4?| STL:?0.8 |?BLK:0

Jackie Young was a star in game one

Jackie Young stole the spotlight in game one of the the WNBA Finals. Young, 26, had a Playoff-Career High 26 points on 60 percent field goal, and 62.5 percent three-point shooting. Not only did she put on a show, Young became just the fifth player to have 25 points and five made three pointers in WNBA history. Drafted first overall by the Aces in 2019, Jackie Young has developed into a sniper beyond the perimeter. Shooting over 44 percent is absurd, but 62 percent? Her performance in game one was brilliant.

No. 0 has morphed into one of the best finishers in the league, along with her stellar shooting. I do think she will come back down to earth in game two. With three other All-Stars on the Aces, the probability of Young reliving her improbable game one performance is rather low. One of the most consistent players in the league, Young is averaging just over 17 points per game in the playoffs, similar to the regular season. In four regular season matchups against New York, the guard averaged 17.8 points on 57.9 three point shooting.

If you're betting on this prop, over 19 points hit just one time in the playoffs, and that was against the Liberty last game. Over points hit just two times in ten games, and one in five games. In fact, this prop hit just over 30 percent this season, and two of eight games in July.

Why Jackie Young will score under 19 points

Ironically, Young had her most efficient scoring games on the road rather than at home. On the road, the guard averaged just over 18 points a game, compared to 16.5 at home. In fact, Young had her least productive games scoring games coming off rest days. In nine games on two days rest, Jackie averaged a season low 15.2 points on 45.1 percent field goal shooting. Similarly, Young only averages roughly 14.5 points on two days rest this postseason.

In five regular season matchups against the Liberty, including the Commissioners Cup, Jackie Young scored over 19 points in just one game. If anything, I like Jackie Young over rebounds tonight rather than points. Post game, the Liberty stated the guards [Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum] had too many looks at the basket. Plum, along with Young, scored 29 points on 19 field goal attempts. With Sabrina Ionescu mostly guarding Young last matchup, look for head coach Sandy Brondello to stop the bleeding tonight.

The Finals is the best out of five, and coach Becky Hammon will need every ounce of energy from her six player rotation. Look for Jackie to take a step back tonight in terms of points scored.

Breanna Stewart O 21 Points

Stew York City pic.twitter.com/f0eXDZJQk5
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 8, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?23?| FG:?46.5 %?| 3 PT:?35.5 %?| FT:?85.1 %?| REB:?9.3?| AST:?3.8?| STL:?1.5?| BLK:?1.5

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?20?| FG:?36.5 %?| 3 PT:?21.2 %?| FT:?91.7 %?| REB:?9?| AST:?2.7?|STL:?1 |?BLK: 2.4

Season Stats vs Las Vegas:?PPG:?18?| FG:?35.6 %?| 3 PT:?22.2 %?| FT:?87.5 %?| REB:?7.5?| AST:?4.8?| STL:?1.8 |?BLK: 2.3

Breanna Stewarts is not a stranger to the finals

Liberty forward Breanna Stewart was named MVP for a reason. A 2x WNBA Champion and 4x NCAA Champion, Stewart shines in the brightest moments. Stewart undeniably struggled this post season, specifically against the Washington Mystics and the Connecticut Sun. In some of her least efficient shooting games, Stewart often finished with over 20 points scored.

In game one of the WNBA Finals, Stewie [Stewart] led New York with 21 points and 9 rebounds on 8-19 and 1-4 (25 percent) three-point shooting. Breanna Stewart scored over 21.5 points three of the last five games, including game one, and two wins over Connecticut. Hitting over 55 percent this season, over 21.5 points scored hit six of the last 10 games. Although Breanna Stewart scored over points just once in four regular season matchups, there's no stage brighter to shine than the WNBA Finals.

I mentioned before that Stewart tends to hit her scoring props even on a terrible shooting night. For example, No. 30 finished with 27 points in game two against Washington on 9-25 field goal shooting. With her tall, slender frame, Stewart excels at drawing fouls, and had eight free-throw attempts that matchup.

Stewart, the MVP, averaged just over 23 points per game this season. In four matchups against the Aces, the Liberty start averaged 18 points on 35.6 field goal percentage. On the road, Breanna was limited to just 14.5 points in two games in Vegas. Conversely, she averaged 22.6 points on 45.2 field goal shooting on two days of rest.

Why Breanna Stewart will score over 21 points tonight

They often say the regular season isn't an entire projection of the playoffs, which is somewhat true in Breanna Stewarts case. In seven playoff games, she's had improved games on the road, averaging 24.3 points on 48.3 percent shooting. In those matchups, No. 30 is averaging nearly 40 minutes a game, and 19.6 field goal attempts per game. Over 21 points seems like a steal for a player averaging close to full playing time and nearly 20 shot attempts per game.

In seven postseason games, Stewart ranks second in minutes played (271) and first in field goal attempts (137). Behind A'ja Wilson, she ranks second in free-throw attempts, with 36 in the playoffs. Although the Liberty are comprised of a magnitude of talent, look for Breanna Stewart to be on the court at all times tonight.

Breanna Stewart should have another tough matchup against defensive player of the year, A'ja Wilson tonight. If and when Wilson will get a rest, Alysha Clark will have the honor of guarding Stewie. If she can hit her notorious mid range shots, and get to the line, I have full confidence this prop will hit tonight.

We have now linked up with Prize Picks! Use the code LIFE to get a first deposit match up to $100 dollars on Prize Picks.?Click here?to get started.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here for more WNBA betting strategies.

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at Ballislife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the?University?of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The Las Vegas Aces will matchup against the New York Liberty for game 2 on Oct. 11. Best of five games, Las Vegas has homecourt advantage before flying out to New York for game three, and possibly four.

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

The post Liberty vs Aces Player Prop Odds: WNBA Finals Game 2 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Kelsey Plum gives playful warning to Tom Brady

Sara Jane Gamelli — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 22:20:00 +0000

After the Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty 99-82 in game one of the Finals, Aces star Kelsey Plum had some words for Tom Brady. As of last week, the ex-Patriots legend became an official minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

Las Vegas Aces owners Mark Davis and Tom Brady in the building for the WNBA Finals pic.twitter.com/0CpBlR7hgH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2023

Tom Brady is an official minority owner of the Las Vegas Aces

Back in March, it was announced that NFL legend Tom Brady purchased a share in the Las Vegas Aces. Last week, the WNBA officially announced Brady is an official minority owner of the Aces. Brady, 46, was seen sitting court side during game one with Aces and Raiders majority owner, Mark Davis.

Tom Brady now has an ownership interest with an organization who is in their second consecutive WNBA Finals. Brady is a 7x Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 3x NFL Most Valuable Player, Brady holds NFL records for Quarterback wins, career passing attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards. Having a win loss record of 649-212, Brady threw for over 12,000 yards in his career. His recent ownership with the Aces joins his long list of business ventures. The Founder of TB12 is also a minority owner with the Las Vegas Raiders, as well as Birmingham City FC. He's also a team owner in the UIM, and an advisor at Delta Airlines. After Brady announcement his retirement, he signed a 10-year $375 deal with Fox Sports. He will join Fox Sports in the broadcast booth next season.

Nobody is safe from KP @LVAces @Kelseyplum10 https://t.co/EV1an1k4yI
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) October 8, 2023

Brady is a fan of women's sports

Honored to be joining the @LVAces family, a world class organization with a team of incredible athletes pic.twitter.com/JGU4tndZR2
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) March 23, 2023

Back in March, Brady announced his ownership with the Aces on X.

"I'm excited to announce I'm going to become part of the Las Vegas Aces organization, " said Brady in an X post. "I grew up with three older sisters. They were all incredible athletes in their own right, they were role models to me. It's where my love of women's sports began. "

Brady is often photographed with his family, sisters, and nieces in family and sporting events on Instagram. In 2019, Brady created a touching Instagram post, quoting, "Happy International Women's Day to my beautiful, and more importantly, STRONG wife, mother, sisters, nieces, and daughter. I'm so lucky to have surrounded by your endless love and support through my entire life, I love you all so much." Since this post, Brady and Bündchen have called it quits in their marriage.

Brady had some heartful words for the WNBA and the Aces organization. "I admire all the work the Aces players and staff, and what the WNBA continues to do to grow the sport and to empower the future generations of female athletes. I am ready to contribute in any way possible as a member of such a great organization. What an honor. "

The former NFL Quarterback has three children, including a daughter Vivian Lake with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen.

Kelsey Plum Jokes with Tom Brady

Kelsey Plum jokingly told Tom Brady who sat courtside for Game 1, “it’s about f—in time you showed up.”

Plum continued to express how she’s grateful that Brady invested into the Aces and women’s sports. #LVAces

(: @NitecastMedia ) pic.twitter.com/aex1CaFriL
— Nick Hamilton (@NickHamilton213) October 8, 2023

After the Aces victory over the Liberty, Vegas Guard Kelsey Plum spoke at the podium, next to head coach Becky Hammon. Game one had a sellout crowd of over 10,000 people, which included Tom Brady, LeBron James, alongside other celebrities. One member of the media asked Plum about Tom Brady's appearance, and "what it will take to get him barking on the big screen."

"I looked at him and I said, it's about effing time you showed up," said Plum post-game.

Kelsey Plum has nothing but love and respect for new owner Tom Brady.

"What I love about him is he just like, you already know," said Plum about Brady. "Super excited for his investment in our franchise. Understanding what that means for us in the growth of not just us, but the league, and putting eyes on us. I joke around, but man, like it's been really awesome to have him [Brady.] And I know he cares. He has daughters and nieces, that you know, play women's sports. He understands the investment that it takes. So, it's cool to be a part of."

Late Sunday Night, Brady

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

Follow the Movement on Instagram and Threads

The post Kelsey Plum gives playful warning to Tom Brady appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Aces dominate Liberty in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals

Sara Jane Gamelli — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 19:30:18 +0000

In a much-anticipated first game of the WNBA Finals, the Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty 99-82. After a monstrous second half, the Aces trio of guards combined for 72 points. Unable to get stops on defense, the Aces scored nearly 100 points, on 40.9 three-point field goal shooting. Game two will take place on Wednesday, Oct 11 in Las Vegas.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{October 8, 2023; The New York Liberty fall to The Las Vegas Aces 99-82 in Game 1 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

THE LAS VEGAS ACES DEFEND HOME COURT AND TAKE GAME 1 pic.twitter.com/YY4hiQQXuS
— ESPN (@espn) October 8, 2023

The Liberty had the lead through halftime

The New York Liberty's second half offense looked uncharacteristic, while the Las Vegas Aces had one of the most dominant performances of the postseason. With the regular season series split, excluding the Commissioners Cup, Aces guard Alysha Clark recognized the playoffs are a different experience, in which both teams are "two completely different teams right now." Clark finished with 8 points, 1 steal, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists.

The Aces are the reigning 2022 WNBA Champions, while the Liberty haven't appeared in the Finals since 2002. While Las Vegas kept their championship core, the Liberty acquired three stars in the offseason, Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, and Courtney Vandersloot.

Two top teams on offense and defense, the Aces and Liberty equally shot 44.4 percent from the three. In fact, New York had a consistent three-point lead through the first into the half. Through two quarters, both sides were evenly matched, both shooting over 40 percent from three, and nearly 50 percent from the field. For New York, Jonquel Jones had an incredible first half, with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Jones finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, which marks her seventh consecutive double-double this postseason. For the Aces, Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson, and Kelsey plum each had 12, 10, and 14 points though the half.

Aces head coach Becky Hammon stated the team gave themselves a "D" grade in the first quarter. When asked about her team's classification, "I would say C-minus," "said Hammon. "I didn't think they were that bad in the first half, but they turn it around to an A [grade]--I thought they played a pretty good first half, didn't like our defense in the [first half]. We just kind of amped up defense, locked in, and just tried to say solid."

The Aces had a monumental third quarter

AND-1 FOR JY0

The @LVAces are on a roll to end the 3Q

ABC | #WNBAFinals | @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/NjNpTFP7Xq
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 8, 2023

The Aces did exactly what Hammon said. They executed on defense, and exploited New York's offensive weaknesses. In the second and third quarter, Vegas held the Liberty to just 1-9 (11 percent) three-point shooting, and 14-34 (41.2 percent) from the field. Besides Breanna Stewart with 11 second half points, no Liberty player saw numbers in double digits. New York had control of the boards in the first twenty minutes, which the Aces negated in the final half. In the final twenty minutes, the Aces outrebounded the Liberty 19-13. Along with A'ja Wilsons nine second half points, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Gray combined for 38 points in the second part of the meeting. The Aces took control of the paint, with several of their guards penetrating to the rim. New York was held to just 12 points in the paint in the final two quarters.

In a sellout crowd of over 10,000 fans, The Aces went on a 14-4 run in the third quarter, in which they extended to a 20-8 run in the fourth quarter. The Liberty, once up by three at the half, were outscored 53-33 in the second half of the matchup. Unable to answer on the defensive end, New York conceded 27 fourth quarter points to Vegas. All five of the Aces starters, including Alysha Clark, finished positive +/- on the court. With emotions tempered, Aces Head Coach Becky Hammon had to be physically restrained by her players after several questionable calls.

Jackie Young had a career night

?????????????? ?????????? ????????

Playoff career high for @JackieYoung3!

26 PTS
5 REB
4 AST
3 STL
5 3PM#RaiseTheStakes // #WNBAFinals pic.twitter.com/c5jmkJv2pb
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 8, 2023

Aces Guard Jackie Young was drafted first overall out of Notre Dame by the Aces in the 2019 draft. Originally not the finest three-point shooter, Young has risen to the top, and became the Aces deadliest weapon in game one. In 37 minutes played, Young scored a playoff career high 26 points on 5-8 (60 percent) from long distance. The guard added four assists, five rebounds, and three steals. No. 0 is just the fifth player in WNBA Finals history to average over 25 points and five made three pointers.

Young continued to be the catalyst of the Aces offense through the final two quarters. New York switching from man to zone defense, Jackie Young couldn't be tamed. Through the second half of the matchup, Young scored 14 points on 5-7 field goal shooting (71 percent). All three of her steals came in the back end of the game.

Less than a minute into the first quarter, Jackie Young pulled a deep 25-foot three point shot over Sabrina Ionescu. Four minutes later, Young drilled another three over Ionescu, this time utilizing the strong screen set by Kiah Stokes. Defensively, she held Ionescu to just seven points on 2-7 and 1-5 three-point shooting.

?????? ???????? pic.twitter.com/AycJQ7WMlT
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 8, 2023

"She's been impressive all year defensively," Becky Hammon told the press post-game. "Should've have been on one of those teams. She's somebody who going into the season-- I wanted her, you know kind of baby Bron [Lebron James] mode. She's [Young] really taken the challenge of getting downhill. She's strong, [Young] absorbs a lot of contact." Speaking of Lebron James, the "King" was attendance for game one of the Finals.

The Aces trio of guards shined

Four-of-a-Kind

Four Aces scored in double digits to secure the W.@JackieYoung3: 26 PTS // 5 REB // 4 AST // 3 STL // 5 3PM@Kelseyplum10: 26 PTS // 5 REB // 53% FG@cgray209: 20 PTS // 6 REB // 9 AST // 2 BLK // 3 3PM@_ajawilson22: 19 PTS // 8 REB // 2 STL // 3 BLK //… pic.twitter.com/DUpaeFC5hk
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 8, 2023

Jackie Young wasn't the only player to have a stellar night for the Aces. Guard Kelsey Plum finished with 25 points, on 10-19 (52.6 percent) field goal shooting, and 1-7 (14 percent) from long range. There were several occasions where Plum was able to drive and find the open lay in. 2022 Finals MVP Chelsea Gray added 20 points on 6-13 (46 percent) field goal, and 3-5 (60 percent) three-point shooting. Gray dished out 9 of the Aces 21 assists. The trio of guards finished with a combined 73 points, 2 blocks, 4 steals, 16 rebounds, and 14 assists. Plum, Young, and Gray all finished the regular season top 15 at their position and points scored. Young lead all guards in field goal percentage (52.3).

"It was a really nice contribution," Hammon said of Young, Gray, and Plum. "The three of them, our trio of guards, I thought were pretty ridiculous overall." Hammon mentioned "Jackie is just scratching the surface of how great she could be."

Defensive Player of the year stated Jackie Young "is the baby sister she never wanted." "I love her to death, and I'm going to make sure I am pulling that confidence out of her, Jackie is a little shy. " Wilson mentioned "eyebrows" were raised when the Aces drafted Young first overall.

Sisters

"I love her to death and I'm going to make sure that I am pulling that confidence out of her... Because when you see that, you get the best Jackie." — @_ajawilson22 on Jackie

"She really instills that confidence in me. She's like my big sister. She's always… pic.twitter.com/8kXHa8E4tU
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 9, 2023

The Liberty need to improve defensively

Liberty head Coach Sandy Brondello weighed in the Aces guard's performance post-game. "Well, we didn't do a great job of stopping them, obviously," said Brondello. "They're great players, and they were all getting into the paint. Jackie [Young] obviously was making a lot of threes. I think their movement got us out of position a little." Brondello mentioned the one-on-one defense, and the Aces got "the upper hand" on this game.

Coach Brondello recognized the Liberty need to improve defensively. Through 40 minutes, Las Vegas finished with 99 points, on 35-64 (54.7 percent) field goal shooting, and 9-11 (40.1 percent) from long range. On the guards, Brondello stated, "We've got to make them a little bit harder than what they were. I mean they had too many open layups at the rim."

The Liberty get early offensive support from the "Wizard"

^{October 8, 2023; The New York Liberty fall to The Las Vegas Aces 99-82 in Game 1 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

The Las Vegas Aces typically run a six-player lineup, which includes , Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Chelsea Gray, Kiah Stokes, and Alysha Clark. The New York Liberty have slightly more depth, which includes Marine Johannès and Kayla Thornton off the bench. Through 40 regular season games, both the Liberty and Aces ranked near last in bench points. In seven post season games, New York averages the second lowest bench points (seven), compared to the Aces ten. From playing man and zone defense, Sandy Brondello entered guard Marine Johannès in the game early. Through the playoffs, Johannès averages 3.2 points on 31.8 field goal and 29.4 three-point percentage. There' one team the France guard excels against, and that's the Las Vegas Aces.

Marine Johannès is a sniper from long range

^{October 8, 2023; The New York Liberty fall to The Las Vegas Aces 99-82 in Game 1 of the 2023 WNBA Finals at Michelob Ultra Arena. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

In twenty minutes, Johannès scored an early 14 first half points. The guard shot the ball effectively, 5-6 (83 percent) from the field, and 4-5 (80 percent) from downtown. Nicknamed the "Wizard," Johannès provided a spark off the Liberty bench, especially with Courtney Vandersloot struggling. On several instances, No. 23 utilized screens, hitting contested three pointers off one leg. In a Rythm, Johannès was able to create her own shot, again hitting off balance. Similar to the Commissioners Cup, the guard was ready and poised for transition three-pointers. In four regular season games against the Aces, Johannès averaged 6 points on 56.3 percent field goal, and 50 percent three-point shooting. In New York's Commissioners Cup Victory, Johannès scored 17 points on 5-7 three-point shooting.

"Apparently, Johannès really likes to play against us, " said Hammon post-game. "She hits tough ones. Like I'm just a huge fan, other than when she's playing us."

"Marine came out as Marine," said Liberty coach Brondello. " She's had some good games against this team, and she was making shots. " Johannès was limited to zero second half points, in which Brondello credits their defense and rotation.

WNBA Finals Schedule

Game 2: Wed, Oct 11: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 3: Sun, Oct 15: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 3 p.m. EDT, ABC
Game 4 *: Wed, Oct 18: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 5 *: Fri, Oct 20: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN

The Las Vegas Aces will matchup against the New York Liberty on Wednesday for game two of the WNBA Finals. Best of five games, the Aces will look to stay undefeated in the postseason. For New York, they've never lost two consecutive games, and will look to even up the series.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post Aces dominate Liberty in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Liberty vs. Aces, Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Finals Game 1

Sara Jane Gamelli — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 14:36:09 +0000

The New York Liberty will matchup against the Las Vegas Aces on the road for game one of the WNBA Finals. The Liberty will look to win their first ever championship, while the Aces will attempt to defend their title. Here you will find the WNBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Sunday, Oct. 8.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

Becky Hammon and Sandy Brondello have their teams atop the league this season

Who do you have winning the WNBA Finals? pic.twitter.com/n4gF17brLS
— ESPN (@espn) October 5, 2023

WNBA Finals Odds Game 1: New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

WNBA Championship Odds

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

The series will be a "dogfight"

^{Photo Credit: Brandon Todd/New York?Liberty}

Today marks the start of the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. This will be New York's first appearance since 2002, and the Aces will make their second consecutive finals. Head coach Sandy Brondello, of the Liberty, and Becky Hammon, of the Aces, are the first time former players in the WNBA finals. Two elite coaches, Hammon and Brondello have several connections.

Hammon was a former player for the New York Liberty from 1999-2006, while Brondello was an assistant coach for the San Antonio Stars. Coincidentally, Becky Hammon finished her WNBA career as a player for the Stars. In 2018, San Antonio moved to Las Vegas, and were renamed the Aces.

With the regular season series tied 2-2, the New York Liberty defeated the Las Vegas Aces 82-63 for their first Commissioners Cup victory. Each team is undefeated at home, with neither winning on the road in four regular season meetings.

The Aces finished with a WNBA record 34-6 record, while the Liberty finished a franchise best 32-8. Each of two teams ranks first and second in points per game, points per game differential, field goal percentage, opposing field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free-throw percentage, and assists per game. A combined 32 All-Star selections, this is the matchup the entire league has been waiting for. In the best of five games, the Aces will home court advantage for games one and two.

Where and how to watch game one

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 3 p.m. ET, at Michelob ULTRA Arena, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on?ABC. ?For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

Aces -4.5 (-110)

WNBA Finals loading...#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/E0vMpcjFeT
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 8, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?92.8?| FG:?48.6 %?| 3 PT:?37.2 %?| FT:?84 %?| REB:?34.8?| AST:?21.7 |STL:?8.1 | BLK:?4.8

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?86.2 | FG:?45.1 %?| 3 PT:?35.8 %?| FT:?89.1 %?| REB:?39.8?| AST:?18.2?|STL:?8.4 | BLK: 5.6

Season Stats vs New York:?PPG:?83 | FG:?45 %?| 3 PT:?35.9 %?| FT:?83.9 %?| REB:?29.3?| AST:?22?| STL:?7.8 | BLK:3

The Las Vegas Aces are undefeated in the postseason, although they were tested in game three of the Semifinals against Dallas. A regular season regular of 23-17-0 against the spread, the Aces are 3-2 ATS in the postseason. In fact, they covered in three straight, and lost the -6.5 and -10.5 spreads against Dallas. They have the best record throughout the postseason, and remain first in defensive and net rating.

Despite their slight regression towards the back end of the season, Las Vegas has shined throughout the playoffs. had three consecutive 30 plus games, which is the most in WNBA History. The Aces will matchup against the Liberty, who rank second in third in offensive and defensive rating.

With home court advantage, the Liberty face an Aces team who suffered only one loss at home. With the series split 2-2 and with two dominant teams, it's difficult to make solid predictions for the finals.

Why the Aces will cover game one

Both teams made history in their win columns, and New York did win the Commissioners Cup on their [Aces] home court. Although the Liberty were tested in the first two rounds of the playoffs, they went 17-3 on the road. After a game one defeat, they won three straight, including two on the road against Connecticut.

In two road games against Las Vegas, New York performed significantly worse than in Brooklyn. They averaged 78 points, 29.5 rebounds and 22 assists. They average about 15 rebounds more at home (45.5), which is a bit alarming. Although the Liberty shot fairly well from deep, their field goal percentage dropped to 43.3 percent in Vegas.

This should be a close series between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty. I do believe the Aces will take game one on their home court, based off the regular season statistics. I wouldn't be surprised if the Liberty steal game one, however all the statistics and history point to the Aces taking this one.

Chelsea Gray O 22.5 Pts + Ast

?????? ??????-???????? ?????????????? ?????????????? ????????????!

Another milestone for THA #POINTGAWDDDDD @cgray209 // #RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/ZvBRipDTUc
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 30, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?15.3?| FG:?49 %?| 3 PT:?42.1 %?| FT:?89.7 %?| REB:?4 | AST:?7.3 |STL:?1.4 | BLK:?0.6

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?16 | FG:?45.1 %?| 3 PT:?33.3 %?| FT:?100 %?| REB:?4.6?| AST:?6.4 ?STL:?1.6 | BLK: 1.2

Season Stats vs New York:?PPG:?16.8 | FG:?44.1 %?| 3 PT:?33.3 %?| FT:?76.9%?| REB:?5.8?| AST: 8?| STL:?1.8 | BLK:0.5

Chelsea Gray, the point guard of the Aces, was the 2022 Finals MVP for a reason. Known for her notorious mid-range shot, Gray is the ultimate facilitator for this Aces team. In the matchups against New York, the guard averaged over 16 points and 8 assists per game. Known as "playoff Chelsea," the Aces will face their toughest opponent yet here in the Finals.

Over 22.5 points and assists hit seven of the last ten games, and two of the five post season games. Gray thrives in crucial games, and will be forced to move the ball, and at times take shots herself.

With the first two games in Las Vegas, Gray performed superior on the Aces home court. In 20 home games, the point guard averaged 16.6 points, and 7.3 assists, on 46.5 three-point shooting. In four playoff games at home, she's averaging over 16 points and 7 assists, 45.5 percent shooting. I expect the ball to be in her hands for a majority of the series.

Betnijah Laney O 22.5 Pts + Reb + Ast

And that's why we caller Bucket B pic.twitter.com/DlN9cv44jg
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 1, 2023

Season Stats?PPG:?12.8?| FG:?49.9 %?| 3 PT:?39.2 %?| FT: 79.1 %?| REB:?3.3 | AST:?2.4 | STL:?0.9 | BLK:?0.1

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?17 | FG:?48.2 %?| 3 PT:?43.8 %?| FT:?75 %?| REB:?5.2 | AST:?3?|STL:?0.7 | BLK: 0

Season Stats vs Las Vegas:?PPG:?12.5 | FG:?50 %?| 3 PT:?41.2 %?| FT: 87.5 %?| REB:?5.3?| AST:?2.8?| STL:?0.5 | BLK:0

Betnijah Laney has been the ultimate x-factor for the New York Liberty on both sides of the ball. When she doesn't score in some way, it's noticed in crucial games. In six playoff games, Laney is averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, on 43.8 percent three-point shooting. Using her toughness, No. 44 excels at driving to the basket with resiliency, shooting 48.2 percent from the field.

Laney scored 20 plus points in three straight games, and helped the Liberty close out the Semifinals against the Connecticut Sun. In two games against Washington in the first round, Laney had back-to back 19 point games.

For this prop, over 22.5 points, rebounds, and assists hit eight of the last ten games, and four of the last game. This betting prop hit three of the five matchups against Vegas, including the Commissioners Cup. In the season series against the Aces, Laney averaged 12.5 points on 41.2 three point shooting.

The Box score doesn't always reveal how valuable a player is for a team. Benijah Laney is known for her defensive prowess, and defensive stops often turn into offense. With the way she's been playing, I fully expect No.44 to hit over 22.5 points, rebounds, and assists in game one.

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

Las Vegas Aces

LV Aces: 5-0 in their last 5 games.
9-1?in their last?10 games.
ATS Record: 21-19-0
O/U Record: 24-16-0
3-2 ATS?in their last?5 games.
5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U?is?1-3-1 in the last?5 games.
O/U:?5-4-1?in the last?10 games.
1st in Offensive Rating (113)
3rd?in Offensive Rating in the Playoffs (106.9)
1st in Defensive Rating (97.7)
1st?in Defensive Rating in the Playoffs (88.4)
1st in Points Per Game (92.8)
2nd in Pace: 98.58
Opponent Points Per Game: 80.3 (2nd)
Three-Point Percentage: 37.2 % (2nd)
Three-Point Percentage in the Playoffs:?35.8 % (3rd)
Rebounds Per Game: 34.8 (5th)
Rebounds Per Game in the Playoffs:?39.8(1st)
LV ATS won last 10 games: Seattle (-20), Phoenix (-19), Chicago (-16, -17.5), Dallas (-10)

?????? ?????????? ???? ??????

The Las Vegas Aces vs the New York Liberty in the 2023 @WNBA Finals. Meet us at The House!

Game 1 | October 8
Game 2 | October 11

https://t.co/qt0uXxkw1J pic.twitter.com/1a9YkcoaK7
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 1, 2023

New York Liberty

New York Liberty: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
8-2 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 19-21-0
O/U Record: 23-17-0
2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 7-3 in the last 10 games.
2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
4th in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (104.5)
3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (100)
2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
5th in Pace: 96.56
Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 30.9 % (6th)
Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 37.8 (3rd)
New York ATS won last 10 games: Phoenix (-12.5), Minnesota (-9), Las Vegas (-2), Connecticut (-7.5), Chicago (-9), Washington (-9.5).

Libs been lighting it UP pic.twitter.com/IKQ4JGmz2k
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 2, 2023

In two wins against the Aces, New York's defense held to 18 points in two games, including the Commissioner's Cup. Over those two games, Wilson was held to 4-24 shooting, which is rare for the Aces star. Limiting her looks will be vital to win the series. Over the playoffs, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart are averaging five blocks per game, and are a strong front court duo. With the Aces small guard lineup, New York will be forced to pick up on screens and heavily guard the perimeter. Having two rim protectors for the Liberty will be essential for defense, as well as paint presence on the offensive end.

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

The post Liberty vs. Aces, Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Finals Game 1 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

WNBA Finals, Liberty vs. Aces: Key Players

Sara Jane Gamelli — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 01:06:49 +0000

The WNBA Finals are set to begin Sunday between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. The series will include two finals MVPs, and three WNBA MVPs. With a magnitude of talent on both teams, lets break down the key players for each side.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{Photo Credit: Brandon Todd/New York?Liberty}

In an inevitable, much anticipated WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty, there are several key players to keep an eye on. What makes this series so exciting and unique is the level of talent on both rosters. In the finals, we will see three current and former MVPs, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and A'ja Wilson. Out of those players, both Stewart and Wilson are 2x WNBA Most Valuable Players.

With the Aces headed back to their second consecutive Finals, this matchup will include two finals MVPs, Breanna Stewart (Seattle) and Chelsea Gray. Four of the Aces starters were selected as All-Stars, A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young. For the Liberty, each of their five starters have been named an All-Star in their career, including Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, Betnijah Laney, Courtney Vandersloot, and Sabrina Ionescu.

After rewriting the NCAA record books, Kelsey Plum was drafted No. 1 in the 2017 WNBA draft.

First-round results https://t.co/FfcxEPXa9Q pic.twitter.com/ATIYWYwU18
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) April 14, 2017

Between these accomplished teams, the Liberty starting five and Aces core four have a combined 32 All-Star appearances. Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart join A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young as former first overall draft picks. In fact, Kelsey Plum was selected first overall by the San Antionio Stars in 2017. In 2018, the Stars moved to Las Vegas and became the Aces.

Liberty Key Players

Betnijah Laney was a force in the Semi-Finals

Game 2: 20 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST
Game 3: 20 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST
Game 4: 21 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST

@EmJ_not23 pic.twitter.com/XJqNTZOrEd
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 1, 2023

There are two key players for the New York Liberty in this series, Betnijah Laney and Jonquel Jones. The New York Liberty defense will also be essential.

A member of the Liberty since 2021, Laney has embraced her role around several stars. As the season progressed, so did her play and grit. Known for her defensive prowess, Laney was named to the All-Defensive second team. Becoming a confident scorer over time, Laney is usually tasked with guarding the best player on the court. A defensive juggernaut in the series against the Aces, Laney averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.

In four games, the forward shot 50 percent from the field, and 41.2 percent from the three. Laney, who was held to three points in Game one versus Connecticut, proved her value in the next three games. In six postseason games, No. 44 is averaging 15 points, 5.2 rebounds, and three assists. She's shooting a remarkable 48.2 percent from the floor, and 43 percent from long range. Though the box score often doesn't reflect the entire story, Laney will be the ultimate x factor on both sides of the ball. The Aces have a powerful guard trio, in addition to A'ja Wilson. Betnijah will be one of the players, aside from Breanna Stewart and Jones to step up on the defensive end.

Jonquel Jones is a double-double machine

New year, same result

Jonquel Jones dropped 25 points in the win to eliminate her former team pic.twitter.com/Qou9EQeU45
— espnW (@espnW) October 1, 2023

Jonquel Jones is a former MVP for a reason. Traded to the Liberty this offseason, No. 35 found her stride, specifically after the All-Star break. Named Commissioners Cup MVP, Jones was a vital part of New York's game two win against Washington. When the Liberty couldn't hit their shots, the offense flowed through Jones. Jones grabbed a critical rebound, and hit two free throws, saving the Liberty.

Using her size and strength, the forward was able to score inside the paint, as well as run the pick and roll with Stewart. Post All-Star break, Jones averaged 12.2 points, and 10.3 rebounds, on 52 percent field goal shooting. In six postseason games, Jones is averaging 16.5 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks. She set WNBA history with six consecutive double doubles. Jones leads the entire playoffs in total rebounds.

It will be crucial for Jones to stay out of foul trouble. While only averaging 9.3 points against the Aces, No. 35 totaled close to ten boards per game. Look for the Kiah Stokes matchup with Jones, as she is a defensive presence for the Aces. If the Aces limit the Liberty in perimeter scoring, the offense must flow through Jones.

Liberty Defense

The New York Liberty played zone defense this postseason over 40 times, compared to 88 in the regular season. New York ranked third in defensive rating this season, and limited opponents to 80 points per game. With the Aces running a six-player rotation, Kayla Thornton will be pivotal for New York's defense. Don't let the box score fool you, Thronton is a 3&D guard, who can also shoot the ball.

Aces Key Players

We still think about this @cgray209 pass.

pic.twitter.com/1m3UqKzCBc
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) October 4, 2023

As much as I want to say this will be the battle between Stewart and Wilson, Kiah Stokes, Alysha Clark, and will be key for the Aces. In four matchups, both Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson were held to under 20 points per game. With a six-player rotation, Clark will be key off the bench, especially on the defensive end against Stewart. If the guards are struggling on the perimeter, look for Clark to be open on the corner, especially if New York decides to switch to a zone defense.

In five playoff matchups, Clark is averaging 8 points, and 4 rebounds. No. 7 is shooting over 40 percent from deep, and 53.6 percent from the field. Despite Parker out with injuries, Stokes has been a defensive presence, although hesitant to shoot at times. Stokes will have the primary responsibility of guarding Jonquel Jones. The center has averaged 8.6 rebounds and nearly 1.5 steals in five playoff games.

Stewart started to show signs of life in game four against Connecticut. She's struggled primarily on the offensive end in the postseason, which shows how deeply talented New York is. Stewart shot 22 percent from the three-point against the Aces and averaged 18 points in four games. Even worse, No. 30 averaged 35.6 percent from the floor.

Chelsea Gray was the 2022 Finals MVP for a reason. In four games against New York, Gray averaged 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1.8 steals. It will be crucial for Gray to distribute the ball and make plays for her teammates. Shooting over 60 percent in last year's playoffs, look for the guard to find those notorious mid-range jumpers.

A'ja Wilson vs. Breanna Stewart

ACES. LIBERTY.

THE WNBA FINALS ARE SET pic.twitter.com/qJoFdeS5XX
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 1, 2023

There's no question all eyes will be on and Breanna Stewart. Stewart edged out Wilson and Alyssa Thomas for MVP, while Wilson was named defensive player of the year. Regardless of Stewarts struggles in the postseason, she's the best player in the world, along with A'ja Wilson. Both players underperformed in four regular season meetings. Stewart averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals and 2.5 blocks. Limited to 22 percent three-point shooting, No. 30 saw a significant decrease in her production on the road in Vegas. In two matchups on the road, the MVP averaged only 14 points a game, and 6.4 rebounds on 30 percent shooting. While Stewart didn't have the best outings against Vegas, she thrives in big moments. In the regular season, Stewart was second in points, fourth in blocks, and third in rebounds. When she struggles on offense, Stewart capitalizes on the defensive end.

A'ja Wilson had a historic season, along with Breanna Stewart. The 2023 Defensive Player of the Year averaged 17.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks against the Liberty this season. Her three consecutive 30-point games are the most in playoff history and had the most points through four playoff games. With Wilson held to 4-24, including the Commissioners Cup, look for her and Stewart to battle all series long.

Keys for the Liberty

Rebounding and inside scoring will be key for the Liberty this series. They are second in the playoffs in rebounding percentage, and second chance points. In four meetings, excluding the Commissioners Cup, New York outrebounded by only 8 boards, and dominated on the defensive boards. In games two and four, New York did an excellent job of controlling the rebounds, and well as scoring in the paint. This postseason, the Liberty average 38.3 points in the paint, and will face the top defense in the league, the Aces.

While Las Vegas are at the top defensively, New York led all teams in the regular season in assists per game. Loaded with talent, this Liberty team has excellent ball movement, and improved their shot selections. With Courtney Vandersloot as the floor general, fluid movement and looks will be key.

The Aces are elite when it comes to guarding the perimeter, and Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu thrives in the spotlight. Over four games, Ionescu shot 52.9 percent from three, and 52.6 percent from the field. With strong screens, No. 20 will pull, even with the slightest amount of room.

Overall, the Liberty thrive on momentum and confidence. Slowing down A'ja Wilson is necessary, and it will be essential to disrupt the flow of offense. It will be important to establish a lead early, and force the Aces to scramble, even on their home court.

Keys for the Aces

Much like the Liberty, rebounds and paint presence will be imperative in all games. In their two victories against the Liberty, they controlled the paint. The Aces play at a faster pace than the Liberty, and controlling the tempo will be extremely important. With rumors swirling Candace Parker was at practice, the Aces could have a bolster to their front court.

With Becky Hammon utlizing a six player rotation, the Aces are in shape, and used to playing a high number of minutes. In their third finals appearance, the Aces need to utilize their home court advantage, a place where they only lost one in the regular season.

There's one area the Aces dominate it, and that's experience as a team. The New York Liberty are headed into the finals with three new additions in their starting lineup. For the Aces, they need to take advantage of their already established presence and chemistry together.

Stay tuned for more WNBA related articles. Click here

The post WNBA Finals, Liberty vs. Aces: Key Players appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Liberty vs. Aces: Betting Odds and Schedule for 2023 WNBA Finals

Sara Jane Gamelli — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 15:47:22 +0000

With the WNBA Finals set to begin Sunday, the New York Liberty will matchup against the Las Vegas Aces. The Liberty look to bring home their first trophy to New York, while Las Vegas looks to defend their title. It's New York's first trip to the finals since 2002. Best of five games, the Aces will have home court advantage for games one and two.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

T-minus 2 days

The 2023 #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV tips off on Sunday, October 8th at 3pm/ET as the @LVAces host the @nyliberty in Game 1 on @ABC #MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/Kv2tOAQDk8
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 6, 2023

WNBA Championship Title Odds

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

2023 WNBA Finals Schedule

(2) New York Liberty vs. (1) Las Vegas Aces

^{August 15th, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Las Vegas Aces 82-63 in the third annual WNBA Commissioner’s Cup at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, NV (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

Game 1: Sun, Oct 8: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 3 p.m. EDT, ABC
Game 2: Wed, Oct 11: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 3: Sun, Oct 15: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 3 p.m. EDT, ABC
Game 4 *: Wed, Oct 18: Las Vegas Aces @ New York Liberty, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Game 5 *: Fri, Oct 20: New York Liberty @ Las Vegas Aces, 9 p.m. EDT, ESPN
*If necessary

Season Matchups: Liberty(32-8) vs. Aces (34-6)

*Season Series Split 2-2*

Game 1: Las Vegas 98, New York 81 (Las Vegas -6.5, Over 176)
Game 2: New York 99, Las Vegas 61(New York +4.5, Under 176.5)
Game 3: Las Vegas 88, New York 75 (Las Vegas -7.5, Under 175.5)
Game 4: New York 94, Las Vegas 85 (New York -2, Over 174.5)
*Commissioners Cup: New York 82, Las Vegas 63 (New York +7.5, Under 178)

Injuries

New York Liberty

Han Xu, Center: OUT (Overseas Committment)

Las Vegas Aces

Candace Parker, forward: OUT (Foot)

Series Preview

New York Liberty

Libs been lighting it UP pic.twitter.com/IKQ4JGmz2k
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 2, 2023

Playoffs First Round: Defeated the Washington Mystics 2-0

^{September 19, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Washington Mystics in overtime 90-85 during game two of round one in the 2023 Playoffs (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

Game 1: New York 90, Washington 75 (New York-9.5, Over 163)
Game 2: New York 80, Washington 85 OT ( Washington, Over)

Playoffs Semifinals: Defeated the Connecticut Sun 3-1

^{October 1, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Connecticut Sun 87-84 at Mohegan Sun to advance to the 2023 WNBA Finals (Brandon Todd/Live Nation)}

Game 1: Connecticut 78, New York 63 (CT +8.5 , Under 163)
Game 2: New York 84, Connecticut 77 (CT -9.5, Over 158.5)
Game 3: New York 92, Connecticut 81(New York -4, Over 158.5)
Game 4:New York 87, Connecticut 84 (Connecticut +5.5, Over 160)

Series Preview

For much of the season, fans predicted a Liberty vs. Aces Finals. Two elite teams, the Liberty will have the task of facing the Aces on the road for games one and two. Under second year head coach Sandy Brondello, New York finished a franchise best 32-8, and head to their first WNBA finals appearance since 2002. Yes, you heard that correctly, it's been 21 years since since New York made it to the NBA Finals. Post All-Star break, including the month of August, the Liberty had a league best 9-1 record. Having covered the New York Liberty, they were that good. 18-4 since the All-Star break, Brooklyn's team lead the league in offensive rating, net rating, assists, among several statistical categories.

Aside from their matchups with the Aces, New York was tested through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Several members of the Liberty stated the Mystics were viewed as a three seed rather than a seven. With Washington healthy, the team had the return of Elena Delle Donne and Ariel Atkins. Cruising to a game one victory in Brooklyn, the Liberty had a much tougher matchup in game two.

The Liberty were tested against the Mystics and the Sun

PAINT THE TOWN #SEAFOAM pic.twitter.com/73imX5EYMf
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) October 1, 2023

Sometimes being tested as a team isn't an entirely bad dilemma. For the Liberty, this game made a statement about their character, and chemistry as a whole. Once up by eleven, the Mystics sent the matchup into overtime. New York, the most efficient three-point shooting team in the league, couldn't get the shots to fall from long range. Shooting 17.4 percent from distance, New York was able to adjust to the opposing defense. In an exhilarating finish, Jonquel Jones ran the offense, and the Liberty dominated inside the paint. Overall, gathering the rebounds and paint dominance was key for the Liberty.

In game one of the semi-finals, the Connecticut Sun defeated New York on their home court, 78-63. Completely out of rhythm, New York's shooting woes continued. Breanna Stewarts offensive struggles repeated, and Betnijah Laney finished with three points. After the loss, New York was able to capture a game two victory at home, and two on the road. In four games against Connecticut, the Liberty averaged 81.5 points, 36 rebounds, 19.5 assists, and 4.5 steals. For the semifinals, Brondello's team shot 42.6 percent from the field, and 36.6 percent from three-point range.

Throughout six postseason games, New York is averaging 84.3 points, 38 rebounds, 19.5 assists, 5.3 steals, and 7 blocks. They are shooting only 33.5 percent from long range, and 42.7 percent from the field. They've been much more effective on the road, scoring 89.5 points, compared to 81.5 at home. In the playoffs, New York ranks second in offensive rating and net rating, third in defensive rating, and second in rebounding percentage.

Las Vegas Aces

Playoffs First-Round: Defeated the Chicago Sky 2-0

???????? ????

Semifinals bound!

https://t.co/52hcPYv2Vg #RaiseTheStakes // #WNBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/iyHP2mu8ON
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 17, 2023

Game 1: Las Vegas 87, Chicago 59 (Las Vegas -16, Under 172.5)
Game 2: Las Vegas 92, Chicago 70 (Las Vegas -17.5, Under 170)

Playoffs Semifinals: Defeated the Dallas Wings 3-0

LAS VEGAS SWEEP

The Aces eliminate the Wings and head back to the WNBA Finals pic.twitter.com/FPFkpiCpcc
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 30, 2023

Game 1: Las Vegas 97, Dallas 83 (Las Vegas -10, Over 174)
Game 2: Las Vegas 91, Dallas 84 (Dallas +10.5, Push 175)
Game 3: Las Vegas 64, Dallas 61 (Dallas +6.5, Under 174)

Series Preview

The Las Vegas Aces made WNBA history this year with a regular season 34-6 record. , was named defensive player of the year, as well as Alysha Clarke, sixth player of the year. The Aces were as dominant as you could think of, especially through the first half of the season. Although four of their six losses came in August, the Aces remained one of the most elite teams on both sides of the ball. They faced the Chicago Sky, who clinched the 8th and final playoff spot, over the Los Angeles Sparks. Led by Kahleah Copper, the Sky had a mid-season head coaching change, and lost several members of their championship roster.

The Aces, known for their prolific defense, shined in their 87-59 game one win against the Sky. Having home court advantage, Las Vegas swept the series, and had a 50-point differential over two matchups. Overall, Chicago couldn't compete in the paint, as well as fast break points. Game two, the Aces defeated the Sky 92-70, in which A'ja Wilson finished with 38 points and 16 rebounds. Primarily using a six-player rotation, the Aces averaged 89.5 points, 42.5 rebounds, 20 assists, 11 steals, and 5.5 blocks in two matchups against Chicago. Las Vegas, led by head coach Becky Hammon, shot 32.6 percent from the three-point range, and 42.4 percent from the field.

The Aces are undefeated in the post season

In elite company @_ajawilson22 averaged 25+ PTS, 10+ REB, and 3+ BLK per game in a 5-game playoffs stretch, joining Lisa Leslie as the only two players to average such a stat line in WNBA Playoffs history #WNBAPlayoffs | @Google | #MoreThanGame pic.twitter.com/ZShlq56n2T
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 30, 2023

Since their inaugural season in 2018, Vegas made their 5th straight appearance in the semifinals. Upon completing the 3-0 sweep against the Dallas Wings, Las Vegas had two dominant games at home. The Wings, who led the league in rebounds, couldn't keep up in pace on the rebounds. In two games, A'ja Wilson had a combined 64 points, 19 rebounds, 6 blocks, and three steals. Wilson became the first player in WNBA history to have three consecutive games with at least 30 plus points. Although the Aces are undefeated in the playoffs, they were presented some challenges on the road in game three. In a low scoring affair, Las Vegas went on an 11-0 run to secure a 64-61 victory.

In three wins against the Wings, the Aces averaged 84 points, 38 rebounds, 17 assists, 6.7 steals, and 5.7 blocks. They shot an efficient 47.2 percent from the field, and 37.9 percent from the three.

In five postseason games, Vegas averages 86.2 points, 39.8 rebounds, 8.4 steals, and 5.6 blocks. Their three-point percentage is 35.8, and their field goal percentage is 45.1.

Season Matchups

The season series split 2-2 between the New York Liberty and the Las Vegas Aces. Excluding the Commissioners Cup, each team has two wins on their respective home courts. New York held Las Vegas to under 65 points twice, which included their Commissioners Cup victory in August. The Aces took the first game of the series 98-81, in which they had Candace Parker on the floor. Although the playoffs are often viewed as 0-0, I thought of the Commissioners Cup as a definitive game five.

In four games excluding the cup, New York averaged 87.8 points, 37.5 rebounds, 24 assists, 5 steals, and 4.3 blocks. The Liberty shot nearly 40 percent from the three, and 45.7 percent from the field against the Aces.

For Las Vegas, Wilson and company averaged 83 points, 29.3 rebounds, 22 assists, 7.8 steals, and 3 blocks. They shot 35.9 percent from long range, and 45 percent from the field.

Cleary, both teams played significantly superior on their home courts. Best of five games, the Aces will have home court advantage for the first two matchups. Excluding the cup, they only dropped one game at home, against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Prediction

The talent-packed @nyliberty had some historic moments this szn and hope to keep the momentum going in the #WNBAFinals

Tune in on Oct. 8th at 3pm/ET on ABC to see if the Liberty have what it takes to continue making history#BestofWNBA presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/WvrSxDcWzg
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 6, 2023

The WNBA Finals are comprised of two elite teams, which will be historic and entertaining. The Aces will have home court advantage, in which they endured only one loss. With the series tied 2-2, the Liberty defeated the Aces on their home court for the Commissioners Cup title. This will be the most challenging task yet, for a group that had just a season to develop chemistry. The Aces are a well-established roster, who won the finals under coach Hammon in 2022.

This series is going to be an absolute dog fight and will come down to who can punch first. Controlling the pace and rebounds will be key for either team, as well as defense. In fact, Las Vegas has four starting All-Stars, while the Liberty starting five have all been selected as an all-star in their career. With two brilliant coaches in Brondello and Hammon, this series should go all the way to five games.

The Aces two wins came on their home court and were not able to secure a victory in Brooklyn. If Jonquel Jones can stay out of foul trouble, New York has already won on the road. While the Aces play small ball with three guards, New York has more depth and size in the frontcourt. I'm picking the Liberty to take it all in five games, in what should be an intense, physical, close series. Either way, this is an incredible matchup for the fans, and the league overall.

We have now linked up with Prize Picks! Use the code LIFE to get a first deposit match up to $100 dollars on Prize Picks. Click here to get started.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut/NYC area with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

The post Liberty vs. Aces: Betting Odds and Schedule for 2023 WNBA Finals appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Lillard, Holiday reshape the Eastern Conference

Sara Jane Gamelli — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:50:40 +0000

Prior to NBA Media Day, the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks made blockbuster trades, each acquiring much needed pieces for their backcourts. The Milwaukee Bucks acquire 7x All-Star Damian Lillard from Portland, and the Boston Celtics land defensive specialist Jrue Holiday.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 02: Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks poses for portraits during media day on October 02, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)}

Damian Lillard spent his entire career with Portland

The saga between Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers finally came to an end this week. In July, Lillard, 33, had requested a trade from Portland, an organization he spent eleven seasons with. Throughout his tenure, Lillard led the Trail Blazers to the playoffs eight times, resulting in zero NBA Championships. In several playoffs runs, Portland made it to the Western Conference Semifinals three times and had one appearance in the Western Conference Finals against Golden State.

Loyal to Portland, Lillard had a career average of 25.5 points, 1 steal, 6.7 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. No. 0 is Portland's all-time leader in Points (19,376), Offensive Win Shares (86.8), Three-Point Field Goals (2,387), Three-Point Field Goal Attempts (6,410), Free-Throw Attempts (4,946), Free-Throws (4,427), and Player Efficiency Rating (22.5).

Lillard failed to win a Championship in Portland

After finishing 33-49, the Trail Blazers finished near last in the Western Conference. Since the hire of head coach Chauncey Billips, Portland hasn't made a trip to the playoffs since the 2020-2021 season. After a disappointing finish, the franchise earned the third overall pick in the NBA Draft Lottery. Despite Lillard vocalizing his preference to play with other stars on numerous occasions, the Trail Blazers opted to retain the third pick. With a crowded backcourt, consisting of Lillard, Anfernee Simons, and Shaedon Sharpe, the organization drafted guard Scoot Henderson, from G-League Ignite. It was apparent Henderson was selected as the heir to Damian Lillard.

No. 0 gave Portland and General Manager Joe Cronin every opportunity to improve and build a championship roster. Besides Henderson, Portland reached a contract with Jerami Grant for $160 Million over five years. Less than ten days later, Lillard requested a trade. In his time in Portland, Lillard was a 7x NBA All-Star, the 2012-2013 Rookie of the Year, and was named a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team. Last season, the point guard averaged a career-high in points per game (32.2).

Lillard to the Heat?

In an initial call regarding Damian Lillard, the Blazers asked the Heat for Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo, sources tell @ShamsCharania and @sam_amick.

Miami believed Portland had little to no interest in engaging in a deal with them.

More: https://t.co/SebivnL1IP pic.twitter.com/NFjpO4hsJ7
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) September 28, 2023

Damien Lillard had one destination in mind, and that was the Miami Heat. While that was his preference, Cronin made it known he would only trade Lillard for the right package, which included pursuing a Regardless of his wishes, the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks couldn't strike a deal. In fact, Lillard was on the brink of facing discipline after his agent warned several NBA teams about the star's preferable landing place. According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, Miami was inclined to make an offer this summer.

“For their part, league sources say the Heat were prepared in July and August to offer up to three first-round draft picks — with Tyler Herro going to a third team — and multiple second-rounders and swaps along with expiring contracts and 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovi?. But the Blazers were disinterested, with each side developing a level of contentiousness. (Shams Charania, the Athletic).

As the months went on, trade talks became more and more stagnant. At one point, Lillard considered a return back home. Per reports, Joe Cronin had every intention of moving Dame [Lillard]. Though we will never know the true story behind the negotiations, Damian Lillard made one aspect clear, his relationship with the Trail Blazers front office had tarnished. Once he was traded, No. 0 put out a bold statement via X:

"The casuals won't be addressed, but the Trail Blazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be... and they will be addressed truthfully. Stay tuned. Excited for my next chapter! " @Bucks

Milwaukee trades for Lillard

Milwaukee... IT'S DAME TIME! #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/xPR2uL6Q4n
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) September 28, 2023

With less than a week before the start of training camp, many wondered the status of Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers. With several rumors that swirled for months, the Bucks were the "secret" team to land the star in the East. On Wednesday, Damian Lillard was shipped to Milwaukee as part of a three-team trade with the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers. In return, Portland received Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara from the Suns, Jrue Holiday from the Bucks, and a 2029 first-round pick from Milwaukee. Additionally, they will receive two first-round pick swaps with the Bucks in 2028 and 2030.

Phoenix received Grayson Allen from Milwaukee, along with Keon Johnson, Nassir Little, and Jusuf Nurkic, all from the Blazers. Lillard now joins one of the best players in the league, Giannis Antetokounmpo who both welcome championship expectations. The guard joins an organization, who most recently won an NBA Championship in 2021.

Milwaukee welcomes Lillard with open arms

Welcome to the 4⃣1⃣4⃣#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/2lqAhA6u2J
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) October 1, 2023

On Monday, thousands of Bucks fans gathered outside the stadium for Lillards welcome rally. "It's Dame Time, Milwaukee!" was seen on billboards no less than three days after the trade news. The newest Bucks member was seen with his two children, sporting a green sports outfit.

Monday was Media Day, and Lillard expressed his thoughts on the trade, and becoming the newest addition in Milwaukee. He stated things are "new" with transition, and it "has been a great experience."

"The way that my family and I were embraced when we got here, to feel wanted, and to feel desired, and to feel something fresh and new-- it's definitely been a boost of energy and focus, and my excitement going into this season, " said Lillard.

Lillard expressed his excitement over the pairing with the 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks have arguably the greatest duo since the Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar days.

"I don't think its a secret how much I want to win," Lillard said in his presser. "That's how I got here today. They want to win equally as bad as I do. I couldn't be more excited, I couldn't be more thankful for this opportunity to be a part of this organization. "

Lillard mentioned the hospitality the Bucks showed his family was great, and the welcoming was something he "really appreciated." Lillard stated his arrival in Milwaukee has been chill, and could "tell it was a family environment right away." He mentioned being embraced made him feel wanted, and his family is getting "comfortable."

Bucks, Celtics are equally viewed as potential Champions

The Milwaukee Bucks became the immediate favorites to win the NBA title after the trade at +450. Then, there was a another twist in the story. The Portland Trail Blazers immediately flipped Jrue Holiday and struck a deal with the Boston Celtics. In a shocking move, the Celtics acquired Holiday in exchange for Robert Williams III, Malcom Brogdon, and two future first-round picks. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks are now equally favored at +400 odds to win a title. Prior to the acquisitions, Boston were the heavy favorites in the Eastern Conference.

The impact of Lillard on the Bucks Franchise

Milwaukee Bucks acquire seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA selection and NBA 75th Anniversary Team member Damian Lillard.

: https://t.co/UW5WDDCq0H pic.twitter.com/0DXHxd0E3q
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) September 28, 2023

The Milwaukee Bucks are two years removed from an NBA Championship, and were always considered a favorable team in the East. The addition of Lillard ascends them into a superteam, and immediately gives both sides a chance to win. After the elimination against Miami last season, Milwaukee finally found their missing chest piece. The pairing of the two super stars creates the opportunity to be one of the best pick and roll duos in the league.

"I'm a pick and roll player, I've played a lot of pick and roll in my career. When I think about playing with him [Giannis], I've just tried to figure out, how do you defend it," said Lillard. He pointed out that he's "excited" to play with Giannis, and "never had an opportunity like this before."

Besides Giannis, No. 0 joins a talented core, which consists of Khris Middletown, Brook Lopez, Malik Beasley, and Bobby Portis. "When I looked at the roster, it was very easy to make sense of what my job is going to be," said Lillard on Media Day.

Although there is substantial amount of talent on the floor, the point guard knows chemistry has to be established alongside the hype. Always the underdog throughout his career, Lillard admits he's done more "underachieving rather than overachieving." He's excited for this opportunity, and "at my age and this stage in my career, I think it came at the right time," said Dame. Despite the fact Giannis and Lillard look great on paper, he admits "the work has to get done."

Lillard implied his defense has improved over the years, and coming into a "defensive minded team," makes it that much easier.

Jrue Holiday bolsters the Celtics backcourt

The Holiday season came early this year

Welcome to Boston, @Jrue_Holiday11 pic.twitter.com/yxbR1cWmnA
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 1, 2023

Celtics executive Brad Stevens learned from the best, Danny Ainge. Once Jrue Holiday was traded from Milwaukee, several reports indicated the Blazers would move on from the guard. It's been a whirlwind of an offseason for Boston, who traded Marcus Smart in the exchange for Kristaps Porzingis. With Derrick White set as the teams starting point guard, questions lingered around Malcom Brogdon, and his relationship with the organization. Due to injury concerns, Boston was unable to trade Brogdon over the summer.

Holiday joins the Celtics organization as a 2x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA All-Defensive First Team, and an NBA champion. On Celtics Media Day, Brad Steven expressed the Celtics are trying to win a championship, and talked about paying a "real price" for pristine players.

Jaylen Brown describes Holiday as "as assassin," and will replace the defensive intensity that the C's lost with Marcus Smart. Known for his defensive prowess, Holiday will join White in a ferocious backcourt. Although Boston is thin at the front court, the addition of Jrue is vital to a potential championship run. No 4. joins a championship caliber team as a player who averaged almost eight assists last season, number's the Celtics haven't seen since the Rajon Rondo Days. Holiday joins a loaded roster, which includes Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Derrick White.

Defeated by the Miami Heat in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics made a much needed upgrade at the point guard position.

Both Milwaukee and Boston are the clear favorites in the East, after making individuals moves to improve their chances of winning the title. Unable to get over the hump, both teams feel their acquired players will help reach their championship goals.

Stay tuned for more NBA related articles. Click here

The post Lillard, Holiday reshape the Eastern Conference appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Aliyah Boston chosen as unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year

Sara Jane Gamelli — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 22:31:37 +0000

Drafted first overall by the Indiana Fever in 2023, Aliyah Boston becomes the third South Carolina Gamecock in history to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award. Prior to the start of the season, Boston was the favored to win the award with +150 odds.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Aliyah Boston #7 of Team Wilson addresses the media before the 2023 WNBA All-Star Game on July 15, 2023 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada(Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)}

Aliyah Boston was a star at the University of South Carolina

2023 #WNBADraft

No. 1: Aliyah Boston (IND)
No. 10: Zia Cooke (LA)
No. 24: Brea Beal (MIN) pic.twitter.com/EqFXK5zbXP
— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) April 11, 2023

Indiana Fever's Aliyah Boston was named the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year this week. She is the first player to win the award unanimously since former South Carolina Gamecock A'ja Wilson, in 2018. A four-year collegiate player, Boston was a 4x All-SEC First Team, 4x SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and 2x National Player of the Year. Under head coach Dawn Staley, Boston helped South Carolina capture their first NCAA Championship since 2017. At South Carolina, she won the Honda Cup Collegiate Athlete of the Year and leads the University in several statistical categories.

Throughout her illustrious collegiate career, Boston is the leader in career rebounds (1,493), both offensive (518) and defensive (975). Additionally, she holds the record for the most triple-doubles (2), double-doubles (82), games started (138), and consecutive games started (138). In her four-years at South Carolina, the fellow Gamecock broke several records in the SEC. She also retains the record for the most rebounds in career NCAA Tournament games (199) and has the most offensive rebounds in NCAA Career Tournament games (70). No. 4 was named the 2022 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player after defeating UConn 64-49 in the NCAA Women's Basketball National Championship Game. One of the greatest women to ever play at the collegiate level, Boston led the Gamecocks to a 129-9 record.

Aliyah becomes the third Gamecock to win the award, next to A'ja Wilson and Allisha Gray.

Boston was selected first overall by the Indiana Fever

the number one pick in the 2023 @WNBA Draft, high expectations followed Aliyah Boston the second she stepped foot in Indianapolis.

from day one, she delivered.

here are the moments that solidified Aliyah Boston as the 2023 @WNBA Rookie of the Year. pic.twitter.com/LhCeYNW9li
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 2, 2023

Aliyah Boston was the No. 1 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, selected by the Indiana Fever. Once Champions in 2012, the Fever haven't made a post season run since the 2016 season. In 2022, Indiana finished with a 5-31 win-loss record, and won the 2023 WNBA Draft Lottery. Next in line were the Minnesota Lynx, Atlanta Dream, and Washington Mystics. The selection of Aliyah Boston brought much anticipation and optimism to Indiana.

The Fever haven't had a sensational star since Tamika Catchings since her retirement in 2016. Indiana selected Aliyah Boston with high expectations that the franchise would get an immediate impact player. With that said, No. 4 certainly didn't' disappoint.

No. 4 was the favorite to win the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award

More WBB progress -- this is the first time in any season I have ever seen odds for WNBA Rookie of the Year pic.twitter.com/t9dX0kvg1J
— Calvin Wetzel (@cwetzel31) May 4, 2023

Prior to the start of the WNBA season in May, Aliyah Boston was favored to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year with +150 odds. Five South Carolina Gamecocks were selected on draft night, including No. 8 Laeticia Amihere, No. 10 Zia Cooke, No. 24 Brea Beal, and No. 25 Victoria Saxton.

South Carolina joins Notre Dame and Tennessee as the only three programs to have five picks selected in a draft night. She is the second player in Fever franchise history to win the award, next to Tamika Catchings.

Boston shines in her rookie season

There were high expectations for the forward heading into the 2023 season, and needless to say, she didn't disappoint. Through 40 games, Boston averaged 14.5 points per game, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals. The Fever sensation shot 74.5 percent from the free-throw line, and 57.8 percent from the field. Boston finished No. 8, tied with Jonquel Jones for total rebounds. Offensively, she was no. 2 in the WNBA in rebounds, and was slightly outside the top ten in defensive boards. As a rookie, Boston was seventh in efficiency, and again was tied with Jones for blocks. No 4. lead the entire league in field goal percentage at 57.8 percent.

This season, Aliyah Boston led all rookies in field goal percentage, minutes, all defensive categories, steals, blocks, efficiency, and total points. Additionally, the rookie was first in field goals attempted and made, along with free-throw attempts and made.

Poised to be a bona fide star in the WNBA, Boston was selected to her first All-Star game, and become the sixth rookie in history to start. At the end of the season, Boston was named to the WNBA's all-rookie team, including Dorka Juhász Diamond Miller, Li Meng, and Jordan Horston. Standing at 6 foot 5, 220 pounds, she has the size and strength to be dominate continuously. Not one rookie came close to competing with Boston statistically and through playstyle. Although the Indiana Fever finished 13-26, sixth in the Eastern Conference, Boston continued to have a historical rookie season. She was named Rookie of the Month three times and was named Player of the Week in June.

Aliyah Boston is full of gratitude after being named the 2023 @WNBA Rookie of the Year.

"It is really a blessing to have won Rookie of the Year." pic.twitter.com/0mGw17tVEP
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) October 2, 2023

The future is bright for the Indiana Fever

The Fever may have had another losing season; however, they hold a top lottery pick in the 2024 WNBA draft. The extraordinary level of talent, which includes Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Cameron Brink, and Angel Reese brings a level of excitement to the league. In addition to the top four, there is an array of talent through twelve draft slots. Boston is the first rookie in history to have over 500 points and 300 rebounds. She received 60 unanimous votes, all from national broadcasters and writers.

"It is so special, and it is really a blessing to have won Rookie of the Year," said Boston in a clip featured on twitter. It is one of the goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the season, and to be able to accomplish it with God's help was amazing. [I am] So thankful for my teammates, because they are really able to put me in the position. Thank you to my coaches because they motivate me, but this is honestly such a blessing. I'm super excited."

Tamika Catchings has passed the torch on to Aliyah Boston, who will continue to thrive and grow in the WNBA. She is just the fifth player in history to win the award unanimously.

Stay tuned for more WNBA related articles. Click here

The post Aliyah Boston chosen as unanimous WNBA Rookie of the Year appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Liberty vs. Sun Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Semis Game 3

Sara Jane Gamelli — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 13:29:12 +0000

With the series tied 1-1, the New York Liberty will matchup with the Connecticut Sun on the road for Game three of the Semifinals. After dropping the first game to the Sun 78-63, New York captured a 84-77 victory in game two. Here, you will find the WNBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Friday, Sept. 29.

Written and edited by:

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{(Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

The series will be a close one

Tonight, is game three of the WNBA Semifinals between the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun. Best of five games, New York clutched a game two 84-77 victory over Connecticut. Favored by -9.5, New York made adjustments on offense, and defensively to zone coverage.

After the win, Liberty forward Jonquel Jones describe the game as a "do or die situation," With Breanna Stewart winning the MVP hours before tip, the Liberty knew it would be a special night, backed by fans. In a fairly close game, New York stepped up their game play in the second half, and attacked inside the basket. Sabrina Ionescu finished with 21 points, one block, one steal, and five assists. Her ten free throws attempted and made were a playoff career high. Betnijah Laney, held to just three points in game one, was a crucial factor on both ends of the court. Laney finished on 5-7 three point shooting with 20 points.

For the Connecticut Sun, Natisha Hiedeman was limited to just 14 minutes due to an undisclosed illness. Rebecca Allen, a vital factor in game one, was held to 20 minutes due to personal fouls. In their absence, Tiffany Hayes finished with a game high 30 points, and DeWanna Bonner with 19. Alyssa Thomas, who had an incredible season, finished just 2-13 from the field and ten points.

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, at Mohegan Sun Arena, located in Uncasville, Connecticut. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN2. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

WNBA Odds Game 3: New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

WNBA Semifinals Series Odds: New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

New York Liberty -3.5 (-115)

The New York Liberty didn't have a great first game, and were far from perfect in game two. New York limited the shots of Alyssa Thomas, despite a 30 point performance from Tiffany Hayes. Once down by 12 points, New York made the adjustments, especially with zone defense. A deadly three-point shooting team, New York adapted their offensive scheme based off pressure on the perimeter.

Jonquel Jones has been a crucial x-factor in the sense of setting the tempo in the first two games. Often held in the second half, Jones is excellent in using her size and strength down low. Last matchup, we saw Jones have several inside buckets over DeWanna Bonner. No. 35 had nine points in the first half, finishing with a double-double by the end of regulation.

New York swept Connecticut 4-0 in the regular season series

For Connecticut, they will have home court advantage the next two matchups. With a 4-0 regular season sweep, New York is no stranger to their home arena. With the Liberty experimenting with zone and man defense, they must find a way to cover DeWanna Bonner on the wide open perimeter.

The New York Liberty are coming off three days of rest, in which they had a record of 2-0 in the regular season. On those days rest, New York averaged 92 points per game, 43.5 rebounds, and 24 assists. In the playoffs, the Liberty are 1-0 with three days rest, in which they average 90 points a game and 41 rebounds.

Why New York will cover the spread

New York has improved their play in the third quarter, which has been their downfall this postseason. In game one, the Liberty were limited to zero fast break points, and were out rebounded by the Sun. Prior to Tuesday's game, Jonquel Jones briefly talked about the preparation for game two, and their adjustments. "The preparation, it was just humbling in a lot of areas because we watched the film. The film doesn't like obviously, " said Jones. " [Connecticut] exposed us in a lot of ways, and ultimately just watching the game, us as a team, we just saw that we didn't play the style of basketball that we played all year."

New York was able to outscore Connecticut 46-35 in the second half and made adjustments as a team. If Betnijah Laney can get some looks on both sides of the ball, that will be imperative for New York. Several New York players have expressed their urgency to "punch first" while playing at their own pace and style. With Breanna Stewart winning the MVP, it's hard to fade New York here, who's headed into Connecticut with all that momentum.

The Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty are two elite teams

The Connecticut Sun covered the spread in three of the four regular season matchups. Tonight, the spread is lesser at +/- 3.5. New York's 95-90 overtime win was the smallest spread these two teams have seen all season.

Overall, the Connecticut Sun and the New York Liberty are two elite teams. For me, it comes down to momentum, coaching, and experience. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner are incredible athletes, who are surrounded by a defensive juggernaut team. New York is harder to guard on both the weak and strong side of the ball, as well as the interior. If they continue to make adjustments and not force shots, New York has the upper hand in terms of talent and strength. Tonight will be either a blow out or an extremely close game. I will take my chances on New York to cover the -3.5 spread tonight.

Sabrina Ionescu O 20.5 Points and Assists (-137)

Sab lit it up in game 2 pic.twitter.com/MQ3WxBBY63
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

Season Stats: PPG: 17 | FG: 42.3 % | 3 PT: 44.8 % | FT: 87.2 % | REB: 5.6 | AST: 5.4 |STL: 1 | BLK:

Playoff Stats: PPG: 18.3 | FG: 41.8 % | 3 PT: 42.4 % | FT: 86.7 % | REB: 4.8 | AST: 3.3 |STL: 1

Season Stats vs CT: PPG: 16.5 | FG: 34.5 % | 3 PT: 35.7 % | FT: 100 % | REB: 2 | AST: 3 | STL: 0.5

Sabrina Ionescu may not have won MVP, however, she's been a constant force for the Liberty all season and into the playoffs. In the postseason, Ionescu is averaging over 18 points a game. One of the bright spots on this struggling offense, No. 20 is shooting over 42 percent from long range this postseason.

In two games against Connecticut in the Semifinals, the Liberty guard is averaging over 16 points and two assists per game. 1-6 from the three, Ionescu has learned how to adapt to the opposing defenses. Driving to the basket and drawing the fouls will be the key for the next matchup. After all, Ionescu made a playoff career high ten free-throw shots on Tuesday.

Why this prop will hit

If you're betting on this prop, Sabrina Ionescu hit over 20.5 points and assists seven of the last ten games, and three of the last five. Time after time, No. 20 has stated she thrives in pressure situations. Look for the Liberty guard to fight around screens, drive to the basketball, and find off ball opportunities. In their 95-90 win over the Sun in overtime, Ionescu finished with 18 points, four assists, on 2-7 three-point shooting. With Bonner matched up with Jones, and Thomas on Stewart, I fully expect Sabrina Ionescu to take charge in some form on Friday.

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

New York Liberty

New York Liberty: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
8-2 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 19-21-0
O/U Record: 23-17-0
2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 7-3 in the last 10 games.
2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
4th in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (104.5)
3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (100)
2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
5th in Pace: 96.56
Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 30.9 % (6th)
Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 37.8 (3rd)
New York ATS won last 10 games: Phoenix (-12.5), Minnesota (-9), Las Vegas (-2), Connecticut (-7.5), Chicago (-9), Washington (-9.5).

Game 2. What a day, what a day. #SEAFOAMSZN pic.twitter.com/bZUDTwXVf1
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 28, 2023

Connecticut Sun

CT Sun: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
6-4 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 21-17-2
O/U Record: 22-18-0
4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 2-3 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 5-5 in the last 10 games.
4th in Offensive Rating (103.2)
2nd in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (109)
2nd in Defensive Rating (98.8)
2nd in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (97.1)
4th in Points Per Game (82.7)
10th in Pace: 95.14
Opponent Points Per Game: 79 (1st)
Three-Point Percentage: 36% (4th)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 41.9 % (2nd)
Rebounds Per Game: 33.4 (6th)
Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 34 (6th)
Connecticut ATS won last 10 games: Chicago (-5.5), New York (+6), LA (-6.5, -10.5), Indiana (-10), Minnesota (-8.5, -5.5), New York (+8.5, +9.5).

The @ConnecticutSun get their first win vs. the Liberty this season to take Game 1 #WNBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4eR5L0lgQn
— ESPN (@espn) September 24, 2023

Head-to-head stats: Liberty vs. Sun

Season Matchups:

Game 1: New York 81, Connecticut 65 (New York -6.5, under 164.5)
Game 2: New York 89, Connecticut 81 (New York -4.5, over 168.5)
Game 3: New York 95, Connecticut 90 OT (Connecticut +6, over 166.5)
Game 4: New York 89, Connecticut 58 (New York +7.5, under 160)

Playoffs

Game 1: Connecticut 78, New York 63 (Connecticut +85, under 163)
Game 2: New York 84, Connecticut 77, (Connecticut +9.5, over 158)

Connecticut won the regular season series 4-0
The Liberty were 3-1 ATS vs. the Sun this season.
Game Points (AVG) last 10 matchups: 154
New York average points last 10 games: 87
Connecticut average points last 10 games: 81

The fight was ON See y’all in CT Friday!

LIBS WIN LIBS WIN LIBS WIN pic.twitter.com/kIW6g3CxUY
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

^{(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)}

The post Liberty vs. Sun Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Semis Game 3 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu defeat the Sun 84-77, even up the series 1-1

Sara Jane Gamelli — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 16:28:16 +0000

The New York Liberty defeated the Connecticut Sun 84-77 in game two of the Semifinals. Down 0-1, the Liberty found a way to secure a crucial victory in front of a sellout crowd at the Barclays Center. Best of five games, the series is tied 1-1.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

_{(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)}

Hours before tip off, the league learned about Breanna Stewart winning the league MVP. In an emotional day, the Liberty knew what was at stake. Down 0-1, New York responded with resilience and determination. Once down by 12 points, the Liberty managed to change their game play and adapt to Connecticut's defensive strategy.

Prior to the start of the matchup, Breanna Stewart commented on juggling the MVP news along with preparing for a significant matchup. Despite winning the award, Stewart make it clear she was locked in for game two.

"Yeah, it's a juggling act today, " Stewart told the press. "[I am] happy to have my family here, but the moment I step off this podium, it's time to lock in for the game." "I expect to respond really well. Connecticut played well on Sunday, and we're ready to bounce back tonight. It comes down to the way we play-- we want to be the aggressors, we want to play fast."

Despite an early lead, Connecticut went on a 13-2 run in the first quarter. Tiffany Hayes, who finished with a team high 30 points, scored 12 in the first quarter. The Sun held the Liberty to 16.7 percent from the three-point, in which Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas were held scoreless. Similar to game one, New York created four turnovers, in which Connecticut scored six unanswered points.

Jonquel Jones sets the tone early

^{September 27, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Connecticut Sun 84-77 during game two of the Semi-Finals in the 2023 Playoffs at Barclays Center Arena. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

WE SEE YOU 3⃣5⃣ @jus242 leading the Libs with 11 PTS | 9 REB pic.twitter.com/zNiHIQgZ3M
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

Heading into this series, coach Sandy Brondello learned to adapt her teams strategy outside the three point shot. Jonquel Jones, acquired in the offseason in a three-team trade, has been vital for New York on both sides of the ball. In a must win victory over Washington in the first round, Jones used her size in the paint, when the shots weren't falling. Similarly, the Liberty looked for Jones to utilize her strength and use the mismatches in the post. In the first ten minutes, No. 35 had nine points and three rebounds. Much like the first matchup, Jones was limited to zero points in the second half. The Liberty forward was an integral part of the defense, especially in her matchups with Bonner and Thomas. Jones finished with another double-double, 11 points and 13 rebounds.

In Tuesday's victory, the crowd at the Barclays Center was electric and paramount to the team's success.

"For us, it kind of felt like a do or die situation," said Jones. "We allowed them to come in and you know, basically win on our home court obviously. We felt like we needed to give the fans something to cheer about. "

The Liberty adapted their offensive game plan

^{Photo Credit: Brandon Todd/New York?Liberty}

It's no secret the New York Liberty have struggled shooting the deep ball in the playoffs. Similar to game one, the Liberty found themselves down by twelve points in the second quarter. Determined to secure a win, New York changed their game plan 7:37 minutes before halftime. Betnijah Laney played stiffling defense on Bonner, in addition to hitting her first shots of the game. Sabrina Ionescu, finished with 21 points, one block, one steal, five assists, and two rebounds. 1-5 from long range, Ionescu, continously attacked the rim, drawing fouls on multiple defenders. By halftime, Ty Harris and Rebecca Allen tallied two personal fouls each. Ionescu, 25, had a playoff high of ten free throw attempts made by the end of regulation. The Liberty, a 87.3 percent free-throw shooting team, shot 16-16 from the line Tuesday night.

Sab lit it up in game 2 pic.twitter.com/MQ3WxBBY63
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

Ionescu admits that being a three-point threat can be used to her advantage at times, even when the shots aren't falling. Post game, the guard emphasized the importance of applying pressure to Connecticut's defense by attacking inside the paint. Rebecca Allen, a vital player for the Sun in game one, tallied five personal fouls. Instead of forcing tough shots, New York was excellent on finding patience, and attacking in the right areas.

By the end of regulation, New York outscored Connecticut 32-24 in the paint, which was improbable considering the Sun are the top team against paint points in the playoffs. With zone defense, the Liberty were able to capitalize on the rebounds, along with fast break points. With created turnovers, New York was able to score 11 points, and had effective offense in transition post second half.

"Getting into the paint either to score at the rim or getting to the foul line, " Ionescu commented post game. "For me, it was continuing to read and how they are gonna play me, but not settling. Not settling for jump shots, and understanding what I'm able to do if I'm you know, getting on two feet into the paint and being strong with the ball."

The Liberty heat up in the third quarter

In game one, New York was outscored 28-15 in the third quarter. Down four point at the half, the Liberty executed on their pregame plan. They came out punching first, and were dialed in. The momentum quickly shifted after a Jonquel Jones rebound, which led to a layin by Courtney Vandersloot. With Alyssa Thomas creating a turnover, Betnijah Laney set the tone early with a three-point shot. From there, the home crowd went into a frenzy with a 43-42 Liberty lead.

BIG B AND THE B STANDS FOR BANDS CAUSE THAT WAS MON3YYY @BetnijahLaney pic.twitter.com/JyXyiRKiPM
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

Poised to defeat the Sun, Sandy Brondello's team played New York basketball. In collaboration, New York shot over 42 percent from the three, and 47 percent from the field in that third quarter. With DeWanna Bonner and Tiffany Hayes having honorable performances, New York switched to zone defense, which doesn't happen often.

"We knew we had to win on our home court," Brondello told the media post game. "You could see a very connected team today. We went to the zone, but there's still a lot of communication. The zone was effective for us tonight, but we didn't want to lose. We weren't happy with our last game." That was a big thing for us because we haven't been coming out really strong in that third quarter."

With the effective zone scheme on defense, New York held Connecticut to just 25 percent field goal shooting in the third quarter. Both Tiffany Hayes and DeWanner Bonner were held to four points each. MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas finished with 10 points, on just 2-13 shooting.

Betnijah Laney is the ultimate X-Factor

^{(Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

Betnijah Laney has been a crucial member on both sides of the ball all season long, despite the volume of talent that surrounds her. No. 44 was held to just three points in New York's game one casualty against Connecticut. Often times, Laney is the one to set the tone, which creates momentum and opportunities for her teammates.

Named All-Defensive Second team, Laney is often matched up with some of the leagues most elite. Defending Bonner most of the night, Betnijah was able to defend both the perimeter and Alyssa Thomas on the inside. With Hayes having a impactful night, Laney had some defensive matchups on No. 15.

WE LOVE THIS SONG pic.twitter.com/X4CZcYTMjm
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

Offensively, Laney was able to get some open looks, in addition to fast break opportunities. She finished with 20 points, one steal, three assists, and four rebounds. In 37 minutes, No. 44 shot 5-7 from long range, and 7-11 from the field. Her toughness and resiliency is a crucial part of this team, in which she contributes in various ways the box score doesn't always show.

In a tight 75-70 game, the crowd erupted after Laney banked a three-point shot in transition from Sabrina Ionescu. After DeWanna Bonners four point play, Benijah sunk another three point, extending the the lead 80-70.

"It says a lot of B [Laney], its all about winning," said Brondello. " I think she's improved her three point shooting, and she loves the moment. B [Laney] has been great for us. She scores in multiple ways."

Coach Sandy Brondello expressed how proud she was of Laney, especially embracing a role amongst a talented roster.

Stew York City

^{September 27, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Connecticut Sun 84-77 during game two of the Semi-Finals in the 2023 Playoffs at Barclays Center Arena. (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

Often the MVP is not the player who scores the most every night. On Tuesday evening, Breanna Stewart finished with just 11 points. Her contributions on defense were immense, and set up the Liberty for offensive opportunities. In 39 minutes, the MVP finished with 11 points, five blocks, two steals, five assists and 11 rebounds. Towards the end of the matchup, she found her stride with a three-pointer pick and pop with Courtney Vandersloot.

Things we love to see: IT @breannastewart pic.twitter.com/53sVVi6uwx
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

With four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Breanna Stewart had a monumental block on Olivia Nelson-Ododa, in which you could feel the energy from fans in Brooklyn. Stewart also had critical blocks over Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner.

MVP WITH THE REJECTION pic.twitter.com/FtRWaeICHk
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023

Breanna Stewart continues to make history. Her five blocks is a postseason single-game franchise record.

"We wanted to win for Stewie [Stewart], we wanted to win for ourselves. I think it was the hardest for [Stewart] because that's a big day--- handling all the emotions and all the interviews. She [Breanna Stewart] came out and she competed. It wasn't about scoring here, but just her effort and her leadership, and her overall just running and doing the little things well certainly helped us get the W," said Brondello.

In combination of zone defensive, it was a collaborative effort on offense for New York. All five starters were positive +/- on the floor, and each had points in double figures. Not rushing shots, New York had fluid ball movement, and efficient floor spacing.

The New York Liberty (1-1) will face the Connecticut Sun (1-1) on the road for game three of the Semifinals on Friday, Sept. 28. The best of five games, game three will certainly be a tone setter with the next two matchups on the road.

The post Liberty, Sabrina Ionescu defeat the Sun 84-77, even up the series 1-1 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Aces vs. Wings Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Semis Game 2

Sara Jane Gamelli — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 14:55:34 +0000

The Las Vegas Aces will matchup against the Dallas Wings at home for Game two of the Semifinals. After defeating the Wings 97-83, they will look to take a two-game lead. Here, you will find the WNBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Sara Jane Gamelli

That's a dub. @_ajawilson22: 34 PTS // 8 REB // 2 STL // 4 BLK // 15-21 FG@kelseyplum10: 25 PTS // 5 REB // 4 AST // 53% FG // 5 3PM@JackieYoung3: 19 PTS // 10 REB // 7 AST // 60% FG // 5 3PM@cgray209: 13 PTS // 4 REB // 4 AST // 2 STL // 2 BLK#RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/xoeMMhMYy5
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 25, 2023

^{LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 24: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts to a play in the third quarter of Game One of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs semifinals against the Dallas Wings at Michelob ULTRA Arena on September 24, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)}

Can the Wings even up the series?

Tonight, is game two of the WNBA Semifinals between the Las Vegas Aces (1-0, 1-0 Home) and the Dallas Wings (0-1, 0-1 Away). Best of five games, the Aces will have home court advantage, and the Dallas Wings will look to even up the series. With Las Vegas favored by ten points in game one, the Aces defeated the Wings 97-83. With 34 points, four blocks, and eight rebounds, A'ja Wilson is the The Aces had four players finish with points in double figures, including Jackie Young with a double-double.

Both the Dallas Wings and the Las Vegas Aces have multiple star players that averaged points in double figures throughout the season. Offensively, Dallas was able to keep up with the Aces 43.5 percent three point shooting. Las Vegas dominated the Wings on the rebounds, 26-19, and Dallas was outscored in the paint, 46-40. For the Wings, they had six players with points in double digits. Becky Hammon's Aces finished the night shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line.

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 10 p.m. ET, at Michelob ULTRA Arena, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

WNBA Odds Game 2: Las Vegas Aces vs. Dallas Wings

_{Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook}

Aces vs. Wings over 175.5

Both the Las Vegas Aces and the Dallas Wings remained two of the top three teams in terms of offensive rating this season. Going into the postseason, Aces remain No. 1, and the Wings at No. 3. They remain the top rebounding teams in the postseason. Contrary to their shooting woes this year, Dallas is shooting 39 percent from three in playoff games. Through the first round, and in the last matchup, Dallas and Las Vegas average over 90 points a game, and average 182 points combined in their last three games.

Las Vegas and Dallas are two teams have a least four players that averaged points in double figures. In Vegas, Jackie Young, A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Chelsea Gray are the core. For Dallas, Natasha Howard, Satou Sabally, Teaira McCowan, and Arike Ogunbowale are the foundation. There is too much talent on both sides, I can't fade the over here.

Why the over will hit tonight

For totals, the Wings and Aces finished 24-16-0 during the season, and three of their five matchups, including the playoffs, totaled the over in points. Since the end of July, the Aces average 101.6 points in three matchups against Dallas. The Wings, who averaged nearly 88 points a game this year, are putting up 86 points a game against the Aces since July 30.

While Las Vegas runs a smaller three guard lineup, the Wings have the size to be physical in the paint. Both the Aces and Wings were top teams in pace, and remain among the top in the playoffs. With a higher pace, comes faster game play, and more scoring. Given their high rebounding percentage, Dallas ranks first in second chance scoring, and points in the paint. If the Wings can continue their improbably shooting from long range, combined with their inside play, I fully expect the over to hit tonight.

Arike Ogunbowale under 20.5 points

ALL DAY ARIKE pic.twitter.com/aD2MY96Wby
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) September 24, 2023

Season Stats: PPG: 21.2 | FG: 39.8 % | 3 PT: 34.3 % | FT: 87.6 % | REB: 3.4 | AST: 4.5 |STL: 1.7

Playoff Stats: PPG: 18.7 | FG: 40.4 % | 3 PT: 31.3 % | FT: 64.3 % | REB: 4.7 | AST: 6.7 | STL:1.7

Season Stats vs LV: PPG: 14.8 | FG: 33 % | 3 PT: 27.6 % | FT: 25 % | REB: 3.8 | AST: 4.5 | STL: 3

Arike Ogunbowale is one of the most talented guards in the WNBA. Averaging over 21 points a game during the regular season, Ogunbowale has been a key piece of this Wings team, including the playoffs. In four regular season matchups against the Aces, No. 24s numbers dipped drastically. She averaged 14.8 points, on 33 percent from the field, and 27.6 percent from the three. In game one of the semifinals against Las Vegas, Ogunbowale was held to 12 points on 28.6 percent field goal shooting.

If you're betting tonight, this prop hit once in four games against the Aces. Although Ogunbowale has been known for her drives in the paint, Vegas guards will have a heavy defense presence on her. We've seen her pull from the three over Alysha Clarke, however I am going to fade over 20.5 points against the best defensive team in the playoffs.

The shot volume has been there for Ogunbowale, along with her quickness. I see her scoring tonight, but with the amount of talent on this team, I believe it will be more balanced amongst the starters and bench players. Through three playoff games, Dallas leads in bench points. Guard Odyssey Sims and Center Kalani Brown combined for 20 points off the Wings bench.

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

Las Vegas Aces

LV Aces: 5-0 in their last 5 games.
8-2 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 21-19-0
O/U Record: 24-16-0
4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 6-4 in the last 10 games.
1st in Offensive Rating (113)
1st in Offensive Rating in the Playoffs (113.1)
1st in Defensive Rating (97.7)
1st in Defensive Rating in the Playoffs (87.2)
1st in Points Per Game (92.8)
2nd in Pace: 98.58
Opponent Points Per Game: 80.3 (2nd)
Three-Point Percentage: 37.2 % (2nd)
Three-Point Percentage in the Playoffs: 36.4 % (4th)
Rebounds Per Game: 34.8 (5th)
Rebounds Per Game in the Playoffs: 40.3 (1st)
LV ATS won last 10 games: New York (-7.5), Seattle (-20), Phoenix (-19), Chicago (-16, -17.5), Dallas (-10)

The only player in @wnba playoff history with back-to-back games with
30+ PTS / 5+ REB / 3+ BLK

34 PTS / 8 REB / 4 BLK
38 PTS / 16 REB / 4 BLK@_ajawilson22 // #RaiseTheStakes

[h/t: @WBBTimeline] https://t.co/VZzadUjH5F pic.twitter.com/6enXcCFS3q
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 25, 2023

Dallas Wings

Dallas Wings: 4-1 in their last 5 games.
6-4 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 20-19-1
O/U Record: 24-16-0
4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 2-3 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 8-2 in the last 10 games.
3rd in Offensive Rating (106.9)
3rd in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (108.6)
8th in Defensive Rating (103.5)
3rd in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (98.8)
3rd in Points Per Game (87.9)
3rd in Pace: 98.21
Opponent Points Per Game: 84.9 (9th)
Three-Point Percentage: 31.7 % (12th)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 39 % (3rd)
Rebounds Per Game: 38.7 (1st)
Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 38 (2nd)
Dallas ATS won last 10 games: Indiana (-4.5, -9), New York (+6), Seattle (-11.5), Atlanta (+1.5, -6).

Onward & Upward pic.twitter.com/we1C7KyKLU
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) September 25, 2023

Head-to-head stats: Aces vs. Wings

Season Matchups:

Game 1: Las Vegas 89, Dallas 82 (Dallas +9.5m under 176)
Game 2: Dallas 80, Las Vegas 78 (Dallas +9.6, under 176)
Game 3: Las Vegas 104, Dallas, 91 (Las Vegas -11, over 176)
Game 4: Las Vegas 104, Dallas 84 (Las Vegas -8.5, over 178)

Playoffs

Game 1: Las Vegas 97, Dallas 83 (Las Vegas -10, over 174)

Las Vegas won the regular season series 3-1
The spread was split 2-2
Game Points (AVG) last 10 matchups: 166
Las Vegas average points last 10 games:?90
Dallas average points last 10 games:?92

???????????????? ?????? ?????????? #RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/m9LxqsD3gl
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 24, 2023

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

The post Aces vs. Wings Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Semis Game 2 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Sun, Rebecca Allen stun the Liberty in Game one of the WNBA Semis, 78-63

Sara Jane Gamelli — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 18:53:30 +0000

The Connecticut Sun handed the New York Liberty an unlikely loss in Game one of the Semifinals on the road. Their prolific defense held the Liberty to a season low 63 points in front of their home fans at the Barclays Center

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{Photo Credit: Brandon Todd/New York Liberty}

"What we did in the [pre] season doesn't matter," Sabrina Ionescu told reporters. "Now it's zero-zero, and we have to make sure that, you know, we take that into consideration-- It's anyone's game and we have to go out there and take it, it's not going to be handed to us." "We know how Connecticut is going to play, and obviously they're going to take it to another level, and so we have to as well," Ionescu told reporters pregame.

New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello described game one as the "worst game of the season." "We [The Liberty] will be better next game. I'm 100 percent sure of that. We've got great players, and we will have to respond in the right way. It's a great challenge for us," Brondello told the media post-game.

Despite sweeping the Sun, the Liberty were held to a season low 63 points, on 33.8 percent field goal and 29.6 three-point percentage. Contrary to their dominant performance in the paint against the Washington Mystics, they were outrebounded by the Sun 35-30, and were held to 22 points in the paint. With the presence on of Jonquel Jones, the Liberty were held to just four points down low in the second half.

Rebecca Allen impresses against her former team

A signature @becallen8 reverse lay to get us going.#CTSun | #ForgedByFire pic.twitter.com/mLDElHoPDZ
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 24, 2023

After a 25-21 first quarter lead, the Liberty commanded a 40-37 halftime edge over the Sun. Despite keeping the score adjacent, New York fell completely fell apart in the second half. It was at this time where the Connecticut Sun "took their game to another level." Despite losing Jonquel Jones in the offseason, and Brionna Jones to injury, Connecticut found a way to break through the Liberty. Rebecca Allen, in her first WNBA semifinals, had her best playoff game of her career, with 18 points, two blocks, two steals, seven rebounds. The former Liberty forward shot 77.8 percent from the field, and 66.7 percent from the three-point line. The Sun, with who had a top defense all year, certainly did not disappoint in game one.

The Sun set the tone after their 11-3 run in the first quarter, led by Rebecca Allen. In the offseason, Allen, along with the 2023 No. 6 pick were acquired by the Connecticut Sun in the Jonquel Jones trade. In the acquisition, Kayla Thornton was shipped to New York, and Tyasha Harris to Connecticut. Poised with confidence, Allen set the tone with a reverse layup over Sabrina Ionescu. She later pulled a contested 26 three-point jumper over Breanna Stewart, with the help of Alyssa Thomas's screen.

With 6:44 left to go in the first quarter, it was clear the Connecticut Sun were prepared for this moment. With Allen on Sabrina, her steal turned into bold faced three-pointer in the hand of Ionescu. Feeling her stride, No. 9 pulled a contested three-pointer in front of Marine Johannès during the third quarter.

Rebecca Allen is ON ONE@becallen8 has started off the 1Q with 8 PTS (3-3, 2-2 from 3)

ESPN | 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/b2mi2AJPJZ
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023

The Connecticut Sun have trust in their entire team

Despite a 10-2 run by the New York Liberty in the second, the Connecticut Sun outscored the New York Liberty 28-15 in the third quarter. They shot an incredible 44 percent from the three and held the Liberty to 33 percent field goal shooting. The creating of mismatches, especially with Bonner and Vandersloot down below, opened up three-point opportunities for the Sun.

The Sun, led by head coach Stephanie White, utilized other players besides Thomas, who scored zero points in the third. Prior to getting into foul trouble, Tiffany Hayes finished with six points, along with Allen and Hiedeman. Connecticut, a team that often relies too heavily on DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas, turned to their starters and role players for production. Ultimately, this matchup game down to confidence, the Sun were able to hit tough shots as a team.

The backcourt tandem between Tiffany Hayes and Natisha Hiedeman combined for 24 points, six assists, and nine rebounds. Between Hayes, Heideman and Allen, all three players set the tone for Connecticut to thrive down the stretch. All five Connecticut Sun starters finished positive on the court, contrary to their last matchup against New York.

.@NatishaHiedeman knocks down ANOTHER triple

The @connecticutsun are on a 11-2 run over the last 2:37

ESPN | 2023 @WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/QYzZKzUwwL
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023

The Sun had a colossal third quarter

It's clear the Connecticut Sun capitalized on their defensive stops. Allen continued her dominant three point shooting this quarter, along with Hiedeman in the corner over Ionescu. From there, Connecticut went on a 12-3 run. The defensive pressure from White's squad forced New York to turn the ball over four times in this quarter, and 14 as a team. As a result, the Sun capitalized with 7 fast break points, and held New York to zero throughout the entire matchup.

DEWANNA BONNER

With that bucket, DeWanna Bonner passes Taj McWilliams-Franklin for 3rd on the Sun All-Time Playoffs points list with 383

ESPN | 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/MTsfvU4n5i
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023

"We came out really slow in the first quarter and then the third quarter. It's been happening in the last few games, and I think it's mindset. Frustration sets in, we don't execute, and we all know we are better than that," said coach Brondello.

New York cut the deficit to five points, followed by Kayla Thorntons three-pointer. Even with the slightest momentum, the Liberty couldn't get stops on defense. With DeWanna Bonner doubled by Vandersloot and Thornton, Rebecca Allen was ready to strike beyond distance again, this time in the corner over Jonquel Jones. Alyssa Thomas the point forward position, was able to find teammates in the low post with back door cuts. With one second remaining in the third, Bonner hit a buzzer beating mid-range shot over Breanna Stewart. From there on out, the Sun remained poised with confidence and determination. Bonner finished the game with 20 points, three blocks, one steal, and seven rebounds.

The Liberty couldn't find their stride on offense

Throughout the month of August, the Liberty ranked first in both offensive rating and net rating. Multiple Liberty players have stated the playoffs are a different time, and this matchup proved just that. Jonquel Jones finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and two blocks. With New York scoring 18 points in the paint first half, the Connecticut Sun were able to adjust to that defensively. With ten first half points, the Sun limited Jones to four second half of the game. Though the Liberty defeated the Mystics with paint presence, the Sun figured out a way to negate that.

Even with Jones's strength and size, you could visibly see multiple orange jerseys that surrounded her the second half the game.

New York is confident they will play better

The Liberty offense overall looked stale and out of rhythm. Though Breanna Stewart finished with a team high 19 points and six rebounds, Stewart shot 7-25, and 0-8 from the three. With the perimeter heavily guarded, Connecticut forced New York to take unwanted shots. Betnijah Laney, an incredible x-factor in their starting lineup, finished with just three points on 1-9 shooting. Laney saw some looks in the paint and couldn't finish in several of them. In the fourth quarter, the Liberty struggled to score on turnovers, especially with Hiedeman's block over Breanna Stewart with eight minutes to go.

"That's what makes it tough is her [Alyssa Thomas] ability to guard multiple positions, and you know, they knew where I was all night. Credit to them, but we'll be back," said Stewart post-game.

.@NatishaHiedeman with the BIG TIME REJECTION

The @connecticutsun lead by 15 in the 4Q on @ESPN

2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/R2TtRKCYLd
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023

With Ty Harris sent to the Suns bench with five personal fouls, New York still couldn't take advantage. Ionescu, who finished with 12 points, was 4-14 from the field, and was guarded heavily with her every move.

Breanna Stewart expresses frustration

"They were being aggressive, you know, blowing things up for us, but I don't think we handled it well," Stewart told the press. " We didn't stay poised or composed. We had the ability to the second and third side, and we just didn't do that today. So, it's a little bit frustrating to drop this one at home."

Their offensive seemed uncharacteristic, as they shot just 13.6 percent, and 10 percent from the three in the final quarter. New York was held to just eight points in the final ten minutes. This game was a struggle, not just by Stewart, but along with the entire team.

After a sloppy game one, the New York Liberty (0-1, 0-1 Home) will matchup against the Connecticut Sun (1-0, 1-0 Away) for game two of the WNBA semifinals. With one more home matchup, the two teams will play on Tuesday, at the Barclays Center.

Stay tuned for more WNBA related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

The post Sun, Rebecca Allen stun the Liberty in Game one of the WNBA Semis, 78-63 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Connecticut Sun defeat Minnesota Lynx in WNBA Playoffs First-Round

Sara Jane Gamelli — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 03:06:28 +0000

The Connecticut Sun sealed a must win game three victory on the road against the Minnesota Lynx, 90-75. With the loss, the Minnesota Lynx have been eliminated from the playoffs. Connecticut advances to the Semifinals where they will play the New York Liberty.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 20: Napheesa Collier #24 of the Minnesota Lynx and Alyssa Thomas #25 of the Connecticut Sun look on during round one game three of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs on September 20, 2023 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)}

DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas are an elite duo

What a duo @athomas_25:
28 PTS, 6 REB, 12 AST
Set WNBA playoff game record for points created with 58 PTS

DeWanna Bonner:
25 PTS, 10 REB, 6 AST
5th player in WNBA History to record 1,000 Playoff PTS
7th All-Time in Playoff 3PM

2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/cVKu6IGHy9
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 21, 2023

No Brionna Jones? No problem. Heading into Wednesday's matchup, the Connecticut Sun knew they were possibly facing elimination on a tough road matchup at the Target Center. 14-6 on the road, the Sun faced a Minnesota Lynx team who were under .500 at home and were plagued with injuries. Without Jessica Shepard, Lindsay Allen, and Aerial Powers, Minnesota was able to secure the 82-75 game two victory over the Connecticut Sun.

With the stardom of Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, the Sun overcame Napheesa Colliers 31 points, and defeated the Lynx 90-75. Thomas and Bonner combined for 53 points, 18 assists, 16 rebounds, three blocks, and shot 21-33. The duo made up nearly 60 percent of the team's entire offense. The Connecticut Sun, led by Stephanie White, are in their seventh straight playoff appearance, and will head to their fifth straight semifinals. The Sun lost Jones to a season ending achilles injury early in the season.

The @ConnecticutSun advance to their fifth straight WNBA semifinals pic.twitter.com/P7ieDw0GG1
— ESPN (@espn) September 21, 2023

In a critical game three, Connecticut was able to capitalize on the rebounds, along with scoring domination in the paint. Alyssa Thomas set the early tone with a push back mid-range shot over rookie Diamond Miller. With eight points in the first quarter, No. 25 tied a career high with 28 points, one steal, 12 assists, and six rebounds. Through three games against the Lynx, Thomas averaged 23 points, 9.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 5.7 rebounds.

Much like we projected, Thomas played an entire 40 minutes of basketball. While getting an early lead was important, Thomas created points off turnovers, which included assists on the outside. Her ability to distribute to her teammates was impeccable, along with her strength offensively down in the post. With a commanding 17-6 lead, DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas showed their chemistry on the court, creating opportunities for each other off the pick and roll. Below is a prime example of Alyssa Thomas strength, taking on three defenders in the paint.

The dimes were dropped last night as the @ConnecticutSun secured their 5th consecutive Semi-Finals appearance

Check out the best #StatefarmAssistsoftheNight | @StateFarm pic.twitter.com/bCMRvkRE4c
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 21, 2023

DeWanna Bonner, a fourteen-year WNBA veteran, pulled a 24 foot three-point jumper with zero hesitation over Rachel Banham. Her ability to create her own shot and drain from downtown over Dorka Juhasz certainly made a statement. Similar to Thomas, Bonner finished with 25 points, three blocks, one steal, six assists, and ten rebounds. She shot 50 percent from three and had multiple key blocks. No. 24 became the third player in WNBA history to have 1,000 playoff points 500 rebounds and joins Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker on the all-time list.

Brilliant so far in the postseason, Bonner averaged 22 points, ten rebounds, 4.7 assists, and one block in three games vs. the Lynx. Bonner's athleticism was highlighted all night, as she made fadeaway jumpers, and capitalized on the fast break points off turnovers. The momentum started to shift after Bonner drained an 11-foot jump shot over Bridget Carleton at the Buzzer.

DeWanna Bonner at the buzzer

The @ConnecticutSun are one half away from advancing to the semis pic.twitter.com/6hWGGpPpzC
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 21, 2023

The Connecticut Sun take over early

The Minnesota Lynx had the early tempo in game two, in which they outscored the Connecticut Sun in the first half. With Lynx fans buzzing at the Target Center, it was vital for the Sun to catch an early lead. The Sun had a monster first quarter, tallying 26 points and started on a 20-6 run. By the half, Connecticut outscored Minnesota 49-34, in which they made their first three field goals, and five of their first six shots. With Collier missing her first two shots, and Minnesota missed four straight field goals, from 6:48 to 2:34 in the first quarter. Once Diamond Miller made a driving layup, Minnesota didn't make a field goal until Carleton's three-point shot around the 8-minute mark. From there, the Lynx were held to 30 points through the next two quarters.

Tyasha Harris shines as the ultimate x-factor

Tyasha Harris showed why she can be such an x-factor for this team, after being acquired by the Connecticut Sun this offseason in the Jonquel Jones trade. Struggling in game two, Harris finished with 19 points, one rebound, and one assists off the bench for Connecticut. In a vital role, the guard shot 7-11 from the field, and 4-6 from the three-point line. Through 40 games played, Harris led the WNBA in three-point percentage, which was a career-high (46.4 percent). She was excellent around screens set by Alyssa Thomas and was able to drop in the shots and layups. Her confidence was at an all-time high, as she ripped a long three-point shot over Rachel Banham.

a SILENCER from three by @TyHarris_52 #CTSun | #ForgedByFire pic.twitter.com/uqeIjkSf4w
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 21, 2023

Minnesota struggled offensively

Forward Napheesa Collier had an impressive performance, delivering 31 points on 11-19 field goal shooting. The Lynx starting four combined for only 26 points, in which they finished 43.3 percent from the field. Although the Lynx cut the deficit to one point in the third quarter, they were shutout mainly until the final quarter of the game.

Kayla McBride was a large factor in Minnesota's game two win over Connecticut. In game three, McBride struggled from the field, adding only ten points in 40 minutes. With the season on the line, Minnesota was unable to get the stops defensively, and offensively come up with a plan outside of Collier. After a first-round exit, the Lynx have a promising young team, comprised of Dorka Juhasz and Diamond Miller around Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier.

The Connecticut Sun will face the New York Liberty in the WNBA Playoffs Semifinals. The best of five games, the Liberty will have home court advantage for the first two games. Connecticut will play New York on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. ET, at the Barclays Center.

Stay tuned for more WNBA related articles. Click here

The post Connecticut Sun defeat Minnesota Lynx in WNBA Playoffs First-Round appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

New York Liberty, Jonquel Jones survive OT, sweep the Washington Mystics

Sara Jane Gamelli — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 20:16:27 +0000

The New York Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics 90-85 in overtime on Tuesday evening. In one of the most exhilarating games of the postseason, New York sent Washington packing their bags. The Liberty will move onto the Semifinals against the Connecticut Sun. It's their first playoff series win since 2015.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 19: Breanna Stewart #30 and Jonquel Jones #35 of the New York Liberty celebrate a block against the Washington Mystics during Game Two of Round One of the 2023 Playoffs at the Barclays Center on September 19, 2023 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)}

Prior to Tuesday's matchup, Washington Mystics guard Natasha Cloud knew this was a must win for the Mystics. Prior to game three, Cloud stated, "she will be guarding Sabrina Ionescu for 40 minutes," and the Mystics defense was "lazy." Throughout one of the most intense games of the year, Natasha Cloud backed up her talk with a career night, and the Liberty remained poised throughout a chaotic second half. Cloud finished with 33 points, four steals, and nine rebounds, on 5-7 three-point shooting. Sabrina Ionescu added 11 points, two steals, five assists, and nine rebounds, on 4-11 shot attempts.

Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones took charge

No. 30 is a true professional, and keeping their emotions in check was more vital than ever. Not her best shooting performance, Breanna Stewart finished with a team high 27 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals. Up by one point, with 1:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, Stewart had the two biggest plays of the game, next to Jonquel Jones. No. 30 got up for a block, and with 45 seconds to go, the forward drilled an 11-foot turnaround shot. Her big time shot put the Liberty up 74-71, until Brittney Sykes responded with a 24 foot three-point jump shot.

_{September 19, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Washington Mystics in overtime 90-85 during game two of round one in the 2023 Playoffs (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

Shortly after Stewart made the 11-foot jumper to extend the lead to three, Jonquel Jones had a momentous block on Natasha Cloud's driving layup attempt. It was then, Jones turned the ball over, and racked up her fourth personal foul of the game, sending Cloud to the free-throw line. Tied 74 all, Cloud made both free-throws, despite the electric crowd at the Barclays. With 27.3 seconds remaining, Sandy Brondello formulated a plan of attack, around both players. Given New York finished 4-23 from the three-point line, and 0-7 in the third quarter, the game plan was to attack inside. After a missed driving layup by Breanna Stewart, Natasha Cloud fouled, which sent Sabrina Ionescu to the line in the bonus.

"Like I said, you sometimes, you have to find a way, what's the best way the win. They are [Stewart and Jones] the easy ones at the rim, and JJ did a few reps from high, you know a little iso at the top, that's all JJ," coach Brondello told the media post-game. Jones finished with six points in the third, and Stewart with six in overtime. New York bullied Washington in the paint, 52-42, and monopolized on the rebounds, 41-38. Out of the six shots taken in the paint during the final quarter, Jones and Stewart accounted for four of them.

Jonquel Jones is a former MVP for a reason. Down 76-74, No. 35 grabbed an essential rebound, after Ionescu missed both free throws. From there, Jones was sent to the line, after being fouled by Myisha Hines-Allen. With 11.4 seconds to go, Jones made two necessary rebounds, which tied the game. With the season on the line, Washington had a chance to win the game. Due to miscommunication, Cloud overthrew the ball to Sykes on the inbound. The fans went into frenzy, and the ballgame went into overtime at the Barclays.

"I had to redeem myself after turning the ball over," Jones said after the victory. "Honestly, there was no other option but to make the free throws. Just going into my free-throw routine, just saying what I normally say to myself when I shoot free-throws." Laughing it off, Jones stated "I say one, two, spin, bend, shoot, every time."

"The free throw, the free throw rebound from JJ-- that was a missed shot we knew we had to miss to get that, and her to knock down two really big shots, that was big for us, " said Brondello after the game.

The New York Liberty and Washington Mystics meet again in overtime

^{September 19, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Washington Mystics in overtime 90-85 during game two of round one in the 2023 Playoffs (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

Multiple players of the New York liberty have insisted that the Washington Mystics play much better than a No. 7 seed. With the regular season series split 2-2, the Mystics defeated the Liberty 90-88 in the final matchup of the season, thanks to Brittney Sykes buzzer beater. Tied 76-76, Washington had five minutes in overtime to keep their season alive. With a champion winning coach, the Liberty were able to adjust to their opponent's defense, which ultimately secured the victory.

Natasha Cloud wasn't playing around when she said she would play a full 40 minutes on Sabrina Ionescu. In sudden death overtime, both teams battled, and the score remained close up until the four second mark. Guards Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu were bottled up a majority of the night, which forced Brondello to put the ball in the hands of Breanna Stewart.

"Because the guards, I mean they just made Sloot [Vandersloot] and Sabrina [Ionescu]---it was a tough night, so we just put the ball back in Stewies [Stewart] hands, " Brondello told the press after the win.

JJ put on a SHOW at @barclayscenter pic.twitter.com/lJz6gcZSWb
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 20, 2023

Jonquel Jones was able to dominate in the paint the entire night, especially with the mismatch on Hines-Allen. Given the perimeter was locked up, Stewart was able to bring Delle Donne out of the paint, and Jonquel Jones was able to iso her way to the basket. With her six-foot six frame, Jones had the size and strength to attack Washington's weakness, which was defense in the high and low post. Through four quarters and overtime, the Liberty had 23 made shots in the paint, which was uncharacteristic for New York, who led the league in three-point percentage. New York was able to show how impactful this team can be. They are very much as much of a threat outside, as they are inside.

REAL SIMPLE. @jus242 pic.twitter.com/J1TdiIO8cj
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 19, 2023

Several plays were run with Stewart running the point, with both her and Jones at the top of the key. With Stewart as the primary ball handler, strong screens made by Jonquel Jones, opened up opportunities and back door cuts for her teammates. Four of Courtney Vandersloot's eight points erupted in overtime, which included a vital back door cut, and 20-foot jumper. with 18 seconds remaining, Jonquel Jones redeemed herself with a steal, after turning the ball over. Breanna Stewart's six made free-throws led the Liberty to a 90-85 overtime victory over the Mystics.

Betnijah Laney is the definition of New York "grit"

^{September 19, 2023; The New York Liberty defeat the Washington Mystics in overtime 90-85 during game two of round one in the 2023 Playoffs (Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

With the abundance of talent on this New York roster, there's Betnijah Laney. Proven a true x-factor on both sides of the ball, Laney has established herself as a tough, physical player, that gives her all, night in and night out, regardless of the matchup. In two post season matchups against Washington, No. 44 averaged 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists. In Tuesday's victory, the forward finished with 19 points, one steal, three assists, and two rebounds. She hit a pivotal three point shot with 2:18 to go in the fourth, to keep the Liberty alive.

What the box score often doesn't indicate is her tough defensive matchups against star players. Laney was often matched with Natasha Cloud, who had a career night with 33 points. At times, she had to guard the mismatch on Delle Donne. Passing up the three-point shot, Laney had several drives to the basket, showing full physicality and toughness. Her acrobatic back door reverse lay ins have become a staple of her game, and really emphasize her multidimensional game play.

Bucket B was in full effect tonight pic.twitter.com/ZNEXuaSnSi
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 20, 2023

The turning point in the matchup started with Betnijah Laney. Knowing the perimeter was heavily guarded by Ariel Atkins, No. 44 furiously barged into the paint, and knocked down a nine-foot fadeaway shot on Atkins. With zero hesitation, Laney set the tone again in the first quarter, and played forcefully until the end of regulation. When Ionescu, or other players are locked up, look for Laney to always play a factor.

"Doing what we need to do and in the right way. If someone's having a tough night, we always say, how can you still impact the game," Brondello said following the win. With Sabrina Ionescu held the 11 points, the guard was impactful in several key areas, including the rebounds. Ionescu had two steals, nine rebounds, and five assists. With Vandersloot guarded heavily, she finished with ten assists.

Coach Brondello discussed those final plays, and her decision to keep the ball away from Courtney Vandersloot and Sabrina Ionescu. "It's not all about scoring, in some times with Sabrina, it was more like just keep her off the ball. In the end, don't even come near the ball, you're [Ionescu] a decoy right now, and sloot [ Vandersloot]. "

^{(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)}

"I thought B [Betnijah Laney], JJ [Jonquel Jones] and Stewie [Breanna Stewart] really just stayed composed and they made really big shots-- great players making great plays," said Brondello. "Hats off to Washington. They've had a tough year with all [of] their injuries. This is a three seed in my opinion, you know, the way that they competed tonight, when's the last time you've seen someone play that hard?"

Post game, Breanna Stewart said the game definitely "got spicy." Along with a physical matchup, the Liberty had several shooting woes and costly turnovers. Overall, New York shot 17.4 percent from the three-point, and 42 percent from the field. Not always pretty, they found a way to sweep the Washington Mystics. With the original story line focused on Cloud and Ionescu, we can't forget Cloud's unbelievable performance. However, New York proves they can win in multiple ways.

The New York Liberty will face the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA Playoffs Semifinals. The best of five games, the Liberty will have home court advantage for the first two games. New York will play Connecticut on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. ET, at the Barclays Center.

Stay tuned for more WNBA related articles. Click here

The post New York Liberty, Jonquel Jones survive OT, sweep the Washington Mystics appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Sun vs. Lynx Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Playoffs Game 3

Sara Jane Gamelli — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 20:09:58 +0000

The Connecticut Sun will matchup against the Minnesota Lynx on the road for game 3. After tonight's matchup, one of these teams will be eliminated from the playoffs. Here, you will find the WNBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Wednesday, Sept. 20.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

GAME 3

It's win or go home as the @minnesotalynx host the @ConnecticutSun in Game 3, Round 1 of the 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google

Tune in and find out who advances to the Semi-finals pic.twitter.com/MnlT3TEwRq
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2023

One team will be eliminated from the playoffs tonight

Tonight, is game three of the first-round WNBA playoffs between the Connecticut Sun (1-1, 1-1 Home)?and the?Minnesota Lynx (1-1, 1-1 Away).? After sealing a game one victory, the Lynx defeated the Sun 82-75 on the road. In a low scoring affair, Minnesota had 54 combined points from Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride. For the Sun, DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas collectively scored 50 points. Once down by sixteen points in the third quarter, Connecticut was able to capitalize off turnovers and narrow the deficit to two points in the fourth. Through 40 minutes, the Lynx dominated on the rebounds, and scoring in the paint.

Connecticut couldn't get the stops they needed in the third quarter, which gave Minnesota a majority of the momentum. Kayla McBride had seven points alone, including two looks in the paint. Collier made a statement in the first ten minutes, with 10 points. As the Sun chipped away, Collier drained a two-point shot with 2:12 to go in final regulation. Under two minutes, Connecticut was unable to exploit the opposing defense, and missed a key three-point jumper and a driving layup. In a playoff format like the first round, there's zero room for error, and we saw that with the Sun.

?In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 8 p.m. ET, at Target Center, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ?If you're Betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on?ESPN.?For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

WNBA Odds Game 3: Connecticut Sun vs. Minnesota Lynx

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

Alyssa Thomas O 24.5 Points & Assists

Alyssa Thomas O 14.5 Field Goal Attempts

through the whole defense for ! @athomas_25 #CTSun | #ForgedByFire pic.twitter.com/5J2On0dP6k
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 17, 2023

Season Stats: PPG: 15.5 | FG: 47.4 % | 3 PT: 0 % | FT: 71.5 % | REB: 9.9 | AST: 7.9 |STL: 1.8 | BLK: 0.5

Playoff Stats:?PPG:?20.5?| FG:?51.5 %?| 3 PT:?0 %?| FT:?63.6 %?| REB:?5.5?| AST:?8?|STL:?3?| BLK:?1

If there's one player prop bet I'm confident in, it's Alyssa Thomas over points and assists. A current MVP candidate, Thomas had 26 points, and 6 assists, on 10-18 shooting, in Game two against Minnesota. Over the course of the playoffs, the Suns point forward averages over 20 points a game, and nearly six assists per game. In game one, No. 25 put up an impressive stat line, with another double-double. Through 37 minutes, Thomas added 15 points, and 10 assists on 7-15 field goal shooting. The Sun will now face the Lynx on the road, in a critical game three.

Over 24.5 points and assists hit in the first two playoff games for Thomas, and three of the last five matchups. In the month of August, Thomas hit this prop seven of eleven games. In four regular season matchups against the Lynx, the prop hit three of the four games. Thomas averaged 17.3 points, 36.6 minutes, and 10.3 assists in four games against the Lynx this year. On the road against Minnesota, No. 25 averaged 15.5 points, 34.2 minutes, and 9 assists. It's important to note, Alyssa Thomas shot 48 percent from the field, which is three percent more on the road. Last matchup, Thomas played a full 40 minutes, in which she had 18 field goal attempts. I expect her to be on the court until the very last second tonight, win or lose.

Why over points and assists will hit

In a possible elimination game, Alyssa Thomas will have the ball in her hands tonight. Last game, we saw her take control when the Sun were down points, in which the forward trekked to the free-throw line seven times. Over the course of the season, Thomas has performed consistently well against Minnesota. She had back-to-back triple doubles, a first in WNBA history, and will face a Lynx team who ranked 10th in defensive rating. Given Thomas loves driving to the hoop, the Lynx allowed the 8th most points in the paint this year (36.7).

In 40 regular season games, the All-Star averaged 15.6 points and 7.4 assists on the road. Her field goal percentage is higher on the road, along with free-throw attempts. With eight teams in the playoffs, Minnesota has the 5th worst defensive rating (107.8) and is allowing the Sun to shoot 45 percent through two matchups. She will most likely be matchup up with Napheesa Collier, who ranked in the bottom 113 in defensive rating (103.7). With Jessica Shepard out with an injury, Dorka Juhasz will have the task of guarding both Thomas and Bonner as a rookie.

In a critical game such as tonight's matchup, the ball will absolutely be in the hands of Alyssa Thomas. Not a stranger to elimination games, No. 25 thrives for these types of moments. I can't think of another player to trust in a must win game, who has several skill sets. Hiedeman, Allen, and Hayes all must step up besides Thomas and Bonner.

Why over field goal attempts will hit

With Connecticut's offensive primarily flowing through Alyssa Thomas at the point forward position, No. 25 is averaging 38.4 minutes and 16.5 field goal attempts through two playoff matchups against Minnesota. On the road, Thomas averaged only 12.5 field goal attempts on the road. That's been a different story against the Minnesota Lynx. Thomas averaged 14.5 field goal attempts in four matchups, and with elimination on the line, I expect Thomas to hit this prop, especially with the high volume of minutes played. Given she isn't a three-point threat, I expect her to find her way to the basket, especially given Minnesota was the 8th worst team against points in the paint.

We have now linked up with Prize Picks! Use the code LIFE to get a first deposit match up to $100 dollars on Prize Picks.?Click here?to get started.

Connecticut Money Line (-235)

The Minnesota Lynx forced a game three after their defeat over the Sun. Overall, Connecticut is 14-6 on the road, and the Lynx are under .500 at 9-11 at home. Even though the Sun performed inferior on the road, they had stronger numbers at the Target Center.

Despite dropping game two against Minnesota, Connecticut won the regular season series 3-1, and two of those victories came in Minneapolis. In two away games against the Lynx, the Sun averaged 89 points, 34.5 rebounds, 20.5 assists, and 39.6 percent from three. In matchups at home against Minnesota, the Sun only averaged 81 points, 33 rebounds, and 18.9 percent from the three. Yes, you read that correctly, Connecticut shot over 20 percent more efficiently from the three on Minnesota's home court.

Despite the injury to Brionna Jones, Connecticut formulated a plan and were the No. 3 seed in the WNBA. Coach of the year, Stephanie White led the Sun to 27 wins, in which they finished a top defensive team. The playoffs are completely different, and the Sun will have a tough matchup on the road, regardless of their statistics. Minnesota has key pieces around Collier and McBride, including Diamond Miller and Dorka Juhasz.

With the Connecticut Sun one year removed from the WNBA finals, I have full confidence they will win this game outright. With the season on the line, the offensive and defense will flow through Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner tonight. Connecticut was the 5th best in terms of clutch rating this season. The playoffs are all about who's peaking at the right time, and this should be a competitive matchup tonight. If Connecticut can defeat the Lynx on the rebounds, Minnesota was ranked the worst team against opponent second chance points per game (12.3).

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

Connecticut Sun

CT Sun: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
6-4?in their last?10 games.
ATS Record: 21-17-2
O/U Record: 22-18-0
3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
5-4-1 ATS?in their last?10 games.
O/U?is?1-4 in the last?5 games.
O/U: 4-6 in the last 10 games.
4th in Offensive Rating (103.2)
4th?in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (107.8)
2nd in Defensive Rating (98.8)
3rd in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (92.8)
4th in Points Per Game (82.7)
10th in Pace: 95.14
Opponent Points Per Game: 79 (1st)
Three-Point Percentage: 36% (4th)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs:?46% (1st)
Rebounds Per Game: 33.6 (8th)
Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 33 (7th)
Connecticut ATS won last 10 games: Chicago (-5.5), New York (+6), LA (-6.5, -10.5), Indiana (-10), Minnesota (-8.5)

GAME THREE

Sun at Lynx
8 PM ET
Target Center
@espn pic.twitter.com/E4WZTuuTNa
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 20, 2023

Minnesota Lynx

Minnesota Lynx: 2-3 in their last 5 games.
5-5?in their last?10 games.
ATS Record: 21-18-1
O/U Record: 23-17-0
2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
5-5 ATS?in their last?10 games.
O/U?is?2-3 in the last?5 games.
O/U:6-4?in the last?10 games.
8th in Offensive Rating (99.8)
6th?in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (92.8)
10th in Defensive Rating (105.7)
6th?in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (95)
8th in Points Per Game (80.2)
5th?in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (107.8)
9th in Pace: 95.84
Opponent Points Per Game: 85 (11th)
Three-Point Percentage: 32.5 (11th)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs:?28.6 (5th)
Rebounds Per Game: 34.3 (6th)
Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 33.5 (6th)
Minnesota: ATS?won last 10 games:? Seattle (-2), Dallas (+6, +6.5), Atlanta (-1.5), Phoenix (-8.5), New York (+9)

1-1. pic.twitter.com/AW3CJ86XTn
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 18, 2023

Head-to-head stats: Sun vs. Lynx

Season Matchups:

Game 1:?Connecticut 89,?Minnesota 84 (Minnesota +6, over 159.5)
Game 2:?Connecticut 89,?Minnesota 68 (Connecticut -4, under 158)
Game 3:?Minnesota 87,?Connecticut 83 (Minnesota +12.5, over 161)
Game 4:?Connecticut 79,?Minnesota 69 (Minnesota +11.5, under 164)

Playoffs

Game 1: Connecticut 90, Minnesota 60 (Connecticut -8.5, under 159.5)
Game 2: Minnesota 82, Connecticut 75 (Minnesota +9, under 159)

Connecticut won the series 3-1
The Lynx are 3-1 ATS vs. the Sun this season.
Game Points (AVG) last 10 matchups:?157
Connecticut average points last 10 games:?80.5
Minnesota average points last 10 games:?80

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles.?Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

The post Sun vs. Lynx Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Playoffs Game 3 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Liberty vs. Mystics Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Playoffs Game 2

Sara Jane Gamelli — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:49:39 +0000

The New York Liberty will matchup against the Washington Mystics at home for game 2. Here, you will find the WNBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Tuesday, Sept. 19th.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{BROOKLYN, NY - SEPTEMBER 15: Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty celebrates during the game against the Washington Mystics during round one game one of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs on September 15, 2023 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)}

Tonight, is Game 2 of the first-round WNBA playoffs between the New York Liberty (1-0, 1-0 Home) and the Washington Mystics (0-1, 0-1 Away). The second of three games, New York hasn't won a playoff series since 2015 against Washington, and will look to bring the first WNBA Championship to New York. With four starters with points in double-figures, the Liberty sealed a Game 1 90-75 victory over the Washington Mystics.

Scoring 29 points and seven three pointers, Sabrina Ionescu drilled a final three with less than 25 seconds to go in regulation. It was an overall physical game between the two teams, and Jonquel Jones finished with her 11th career postseason double-double (20 points, 12 rebounds). Washington struggled in the second half, shooting 22 percent from the three. Myisha Hines-Allen had playoff career high 21 points, and eight rebounds.

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 7 p.m. ET, at the Barclays Center, located in Brooklyn, New York. If you're Betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

It’s time to put on for NY

Don’t miss game 2 of Liberty vs. Mystics

https://t.co/6UhApw12XX #SEAFOAMSZN pic.twitter.com/lASDJgi8wK
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 18, 2023

WNBA Game 2 Odds:

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics O 162.5 Points (-115)

Game 2⃣ Injury Report: pic.twitter.com/UU3lxhgSnV
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 18, 2023

The New York Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics 90-75 in game one of the WNBA playoffs first-round. Best of three games, the Liberty will look to move on to the semi-finals and take advantage of home court. In Game 1, the over hit with a total of 165 points, and the Liberty covered the -9.5-point spread.

I am reluctant to bet on the spread, as Washington covered in all of the regular season matchups. Given this is a possible elimination game for the Mystics, this game will either be a defensive showdown, or a shootout. We saw Washington have a great first quarter against the Liberty and were ultimately shut down in the second half of the game. Out of eight teams in the playoffs, both the Mystics and the Liberty are tied for last place in terms of pace (91.2).

In Friday's game against New York, Washington finished the night shooting 22.7 percent from three-point, and 41.3 percent from the field. With each team attempting 75 field goal attempts, New York shot 35 percent from three, and 44 percent from the field. For Washington, Natasha Cloud struggled from the field, shooting 1-8 with four points. For New York, MVP candidate Breanna Stewart shot just 3-16 with 10 points. The Washington Mystics shutdown New York's passing lane and held Courtney Vandersloot and company to 18 total assists.

Why the over will hit

Game one hit over 163 points, which included struggles on both sides. With limited assists, and Breanna Stewart ceased, New York managed to score 90 points. In the past ten games, the Liberty are averaging 93 points, and the Mystics 79. Natasha Cloud, guard for the Mystics, stated she "will be guarding Sabrina Ionescu for 40 minutes," and that the Mystics defense was "lazy." (Kareem Copeland, Washington post). Through the month of August and post all-star break, New York ranked first in offensive rating, and have a multitude of scoring options alongside Ionescu. What makes New York so elite are their options on the weak and strong side of the ball, in addition to strong screens by Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart.

The Mystics are former 2019 WNBA Champions, and still retain several pieces of their championship roster. Still without Toliver and Austin due to injuries, they will continue to have less depth. Both sides didn't shoot their best, and the Liberty placed until the last seconds, when Ionescu chucked her seventh three pointer of the game. The Washington Mystics have hit two straight overs, and New York four straight games over 161 points. Five of their six matchups, including the regular and post season hit the over. The only game that hit the under was on May 19.

Both the Washington Mystics and the New York Liberty ranked top five in defensive rating, and perimeter defense. Look for New York to create several screens, to get open looks on the perimeter. In four regular season games against the Mystics, the Liberty averaged 84.3 points, and shot 31.3 percent from the perimeter. For the Mystics, they averaged 80.5 points, and shot 33.6 percent from downtown.

Season Statistics & Betting Trends

New York Liberty

New York Liberty: 4-1 in their last 5 games.
9-1 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 19-21-0
O/U Record: 23-17-0
2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 7-3 in the last 10 games.
2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
1st in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (118.4)
3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (98.7)
2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
5th in Pace: 96.56
Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 35.3 % (4th)
Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
New York ATS won last 10 games: Phoenix (-12.5), Minnesota (-9), Las Vegas (-2), Connecticut (-7.5), Chicago (-9), Washington (-9.5)

1 down. See y’all Tuesday #LIGHTITUPNYL pic.twitter.com/NAZCzRleRz
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023

Washington Mystics

Washington Mystics: 2-3 in their last 5 games.
4-6 in their last 10 games.
ATS Record: 18-21-1
O/U Record: 15-24-0
2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 games.
O/U is 3-2 in the last 5 games.
O/U: 4-6 in the last 10 games.
7th in Offensive Rating (99.9)
5th in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (98.7)
5th in Defensive Rating (100.3)
8th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (118.4)
8th in Points Per Game (80.5)
6th in Pace: 96.40
Opponent Points Per Game: 80.9 (5th)
Three-Point Percentage: 33.6 (7th)
Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 22.7 % (8th)
Rebounds Per Game: 32.3 (10th)
Washington: ATS won last 10 games: Las Vegas (+10, +10), Minnesota (-7.5), Phoenix (-7), New York (+10.5).

Give her 20

Myisha Hines-Allen has a new playoff career high #BallOnOurTerms | @Mooks_22 pic.twitter.com/RlPZddQAkP
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 16, 2023

Head-to-head stats: Liberty vs. Mystics

Season Matchups:

Game 1: Washington 80, New York 64 (Washington +2.5, under 163.5)
Game 2: New York 89, Washington 88 OT (Washington +7, over 161.5)
Game 3: New York 96, Washington 87 (Washington +10, over 163.5)
Game 4: Washington 90, New York 88 (Washington +10.5, over 162.5)

Playoffs:
Game 1: New York 90, Washington 75 (New York -9.5, over 163)

New York and Washington split the series 2-2
The Mystics are 3-0 ATS vs. the Liberty this season.
Game Points (AVG) last 10 matchups: 158
New York average points last 10 games: 93
Washington average points last 10 games: 79

FINISH THEMMMM @sabrina_i20 pic.twitter.com/FyFIya7ClB
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

The post Liberty vs. Mystics Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Playoffs Game 2 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Wings vs. Dream: Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Playoffs Game 2

Sara Jane Gamelli — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 19:49:05 +0000

The Dallas Wings will matchup against the Atlanta Dream at home for game 2. Here, you will find the WNBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Written and Edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{ARLINGTON, TX -SEPTEMBER 15: Teaira McCowan #7 of the Dallas Wings plays defense during the game against the Atlanta Dream during round one game one of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs on September 15, 2023 at the College Park Center in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images)}

Tonight, is Game two of the first-round WNBA Playoffs between the Dallas Wings (1-0, 1-0 Home) and the Atlanta Dream (0-1, 0-1 Away). The Dallas Wings, originally the Detroit Shock, are in their third straight playoff appearance, in which they lost in the first round the last two years. Led by head coach Latricia Trammell, Dallas will look to advance to the semifinals with a victory against Atlanta. In the last matchup, Dallas overcame a 20-point deficit, and defeated the Dream 94-82. Both Dallas and Atlanta shot over 40 percent from the three-point range. With tonight possibly an elimination game for Atlanta, can they force a game three?

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 9 p.m. ET, at College Park Center, located in Arlington, Texas. If you're Betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

WNBA Game 2 Odds: Wings vs. Dream

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

Dallas Wings -6.5 (-110)

The Dallas Wings swept the Atlanta dream in four regular season games, in which they covered the spread in each. Down by 20 points in game one, the Wings rallied back to take the victory over Atlanta. Dallas outscored Atlanta 28-13 in the second quarter, and 27-12 in the final quarter.

Dallas, the top rebounding team in the league, dominated on the rebounds, 44-32, and capitalized off inside scoring, and fast break points. Even down points, Dallas managed to seal the victory, and covered the spread by 12 points. Forward Satou Sabally erupted for 32 points, 4 steals, and 5 rebounds, on 11-20 and 3-5 three-point shooting. Dallas guard, Arike Ogunbowale, who's been sensational all season, added 24 points, 4 steals, and 9 rebounds on 10-23 field goal shooting. She had 11 points in the second quarter, and 15 in the first. Center Teaira McCowan scored 17 points, along with 14 rebounds.

For Atlanta, Rhyne Howard led the way with 36 points, 3 steals, and 4 assists. Allisha Gray was a force on the defensive end, with 3 steals, 7 rebounds, and 21 points. Atlanta Dream finished the matchup shooting close to 50 percent from three-point shooting.

Why the Dallas Wings will cover

Dallas was able to secure the victory and cover, despite Atlanta shooting lights out from downtown. Overall, the Wings are the superior team. Their prolific rebounding skills creates second chance opportunities, which was a key factor in paint domination. Never a strong shooting team beyond the perimeter, Dallas shot 41.2 percent from three. With Satou Sabally playing as well as she's playing, along with Ogunbowale, it's hard to fade Dallas here. This season, Dallas finished 20-19-1 against the spread, and has covered in four straight games.

Over the past ten games, the Wings are averaging 92 points, and the Storm 93. With home court advantage, Dallas finished the season 11-9 at home, and 10-10 against the spread in front of their home fans.

In three games against the Dream this season, the Wings averaged 88 points, 43.3 rebounds, 19.2 assists, 7.3 steals, and shot 42 percent from the field. With three-point shooting as their weakness, they make up for it on the rebounds. The Atlanta Dream ranked 8th in the WNBA in three-point shooting (33.6), and I don't see them repeating their last performance. In three matchups against Dallas, Atlanta averaged 76 points, and shot less than 30 percent from downtown. In a must win game, I do think Atlanta will keep things fairly close. However, they are 8-11 against the spread in road games. The closest Atlanta came to covering the spread in all matchups against Dallas was seven points back on May 20.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.

Follow the movement on Socials!

NATIONAL PROBLEM GAMBLING HELPLINE
1-800-522-4700

The post Wings vs. Dream: Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Playoffs Game 2 appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

New York Liberty defeat Washington Mystics, 90-75 in Game 1 of WNBA Playoffs

Sara Jane Gamelli — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 21:46:15 +0000

In front of an electric crowd, Sabrina Ionescu helped lift the New York Liberty over the Washington Mystics in Game 1 of the playoffs.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

^{(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)}

On Friday night, the New York Liberty defeated the Washington Mystics in dominant fashion after a sluggish start. The No. 1 Seed was awarded home court advantage for the first two games, in a best of three playoff matchups. The Washington Mystics, led by Coach Eric Thibault, finished as the seven-seed, and were plagued by several injuries throughout the season.

Prior to the matchup, Sabrina Ionescu appeared at the podium with teammate Courtney Vandersloot. The guard shed light on the importance of staying locked in during the playoffs. " We all understand that we have to play Liberty basketball for 40 minutes," Ionescu told the media. " We're playing against a great team. We don't view [the Mystics] as a seventh seed. They're a great basketball team that have battled us all year long. We have to take these games as seriously as we can, and I know that we will."

The Washington Mystics won the WNBA title in 2019 and retain several players from that championship roster. Vandersloot, who signed with the Liberty this offseason, described their tough matchup with the Mystics, and why this series won't be a walk in the park. " Washington is a really good team and they kind of struggled with injuries. I think that's the only reason they are the seventh seed," said Vandersloot. " They have great players, they've played together for a long time. This is really similar to their 2019 championship roster."

^{New York Liberty guards Sabrina Ionescu (left) and Courtney Vandersloot (right). Sara Jane Gamelli/Ballislife}

Washington took the early lead in the first quarter

Ionescu and Vandersloot couldn't have said it any better. In ten first quarter minutes, the Mystics attacked the Liberty's weaknesses on defense. Guard Brittney Sykes finished the quarter with seven points, including mid-range shots, and looks off screens. In an all-around team effort, Washington finished shooting 40 percent from three, and over 57 percent from the field. Natasha Cloud grabbed six rebounds, and the Mystics outrebounded the Liberty, 10-7. Towards the end of the first, Cloud nearly threw the ball across court, and found Delle Donne for the bucket. Washington took advantage of the mismatch and finished with 14 points in the paint.

We'll take that @arielatkinssvn with the theft, @Mooks_22 with the bucket #BallOnOurTerms pic.twitter.com/BERzlKhWaV
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 15, 2023

Betnijah Laney sets the tone for New York

^{(Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

New York Liberty's Betnijah Laney is the definition of "New York grit." With Breanna Stewart off to a slow start, Laney kept the Liberty in contention with eight first quarter points, which included multiple three pointers. With the help of Jonquel Jones, Betnijah was able to utilize screens and create her own shot. At times, we saw Laney take charge, and had several acrobatic lay ins at the basket. On the defensive side, No. 44 played tough perimeter defense on Sykes, including occasional mismatches down below against Elena Delle Donne. Laney finished with 19 points, and playoff career-high eight rebounds.

’s just that girl pic.twitter.com/XxaoGCS2mF
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023

Post game, Breanna Stewart spoke with the media, and the importance of having Betnijah Laney as a teammate. "We've been preparing all week, and really since Sunday. When [Betnijah] sets the tone like that offensively and defensively, the rest of us kind of followed." said Stewart. " B [Betnijah] was here before me. The fact that she never stops playing, obviously being aggressive on both ends, taking pride in things defensively. Her grit and her toughness is one of a kind."

The Liberty find their stride in the second half

^{(Brandon Todd/New York Liberty)}

For the month of August, the New York Liberty led the WNBA in both offensive and defensive rating. New York also led in total assist percentage and assists to turnover ratio per game. The Liberty, who averaged a league leading 24.1 assists per game, were held to two assists in the first quarter, and only seven by the half.

New York was much more efficient in the second quarter, despite some defensive breakdowns in the paint, and troubles against the pick and roll. Hines-Allen saw several looks in the lane, especially, with weak pick and roll coverage by the Liberty. Myisha Hines-Allen, of the Mystics, had a career-high 21 playoff points.

At the half. pic.twitter.com/zJ72PxREL6
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023

Collectively, New York held Washington to 13 points in the second quarter on 5-20 field goal, and 1-4 three-point shooting. Offensively, Brondello's team struggled, finishing just 2-10 from the three, and 9-22 from the field in the second quarter. A majority of their points came in the paint, including mismatches with Jonquel Jones over Ariel Atkins. Jones totaled 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, which marked her 11th career postseason double double.

The turning point for New York

For a moment, it looked like a game of volleyball. Betnijah Laney somehow, found herself in the low post, putting up a last second bucket with the tipped assist by Breanna Stewart. With the buzzer beater, the eruption could be felt by fans and personnel inside the Barclays Center. From here on out, the momentum began to shift, and the Liberty headed into the halftime locker room. New York only continued to shine from this point forward.

"Yeah, I mean, plays like that there was momentum. It just gives us some good energy, something to feed off of, and being able to have that play go into the half, knowing we did something well, and feel good coming out, you know, it just fuels us. "said Laney post-game.

Buzzer beater B pic.twitter.com/9g075tIMts
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023

Momentum strikes for the New York Liberty

Some would argue that momentum doesn't exists. In this case, New York gained momentum, and their shots started to fall. Much like the second quarter, the Liberty held the Mystics to 15.4 three-point percentage in the second half and Elena Delle Donne, to three points. Jonquel Jones continued to attack inside and found the mismatches. With Delle Donne on Ionescu, Breanna Stewart found her game with 10 points in the back half of the matchup. New York then went on a 21-9 run in the third, and 8-0 in the fourth.

New York showed toughness and physicality a majority of the game. Laney continued to battle amongst multiple defenders in the paint, while Jones and Stewart racked up trips to the free-throw line. Defensively, New York was all over the entire court, fighting for each and every possession. Kayla Thornton, Courtney Vandersloot, Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu---all of these players battled for possessions on the ground, even when up by points. By the end of regulation, New York finished with a 35.3 three-point percentage, including hitting 5-10 in the third quarter. The Liberty were able to capitalize on second chance points, as well as rebounds.

Breanna Stewart with an off game, and the Liberty limited to 18 assists, New York still held on for the victory. That in itself is a clear statement about this squad-- they play hard and play team ball. With the Washington Mystics shutting down a majority of New York's passing lanes, the Liberty learned how to adjust, and that's what championship contenders do.

Sabrina Ionescu makes history

HER. pic.twitter.com/yTxe9VHSWX
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023

Notoriously known for giving up big leads in the past, up by 12 by the end of the third, New York didn't take their foot off the gas. Sabrina Ionescu, with 9 points at the half, finished with 12th points in the final quarter, and 29 by the end of regulation. Finishing 10-18, and 7-13 from the three, Ionescu finished with a career-high 29 points in the playoffs. No. 20 showed zero hesitation, both driving to the basket, and hitting shots from downtown. With 1.7 seconds left to go in the third, up by ten points, Ionescu fiercely drove to the basket, and put up a buzzer beating layup.

SAB BEING LIKE THAT @sabrina_i20 pic.twitter.com/bsxrcgmGaG
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023

Ionescu hit seven three-pointers, including back-to-back shots in the final quarter. The crowd exploded each and every time No. 20 hit a bucket. Several celebrities attended the event, including Billie Jean, King, Sue Bird, Malala Yousafzai, along with others. With less than 25 seconds remaining, Ionescu drilled her seven and final three, which sent fans into a frenzy, securing the 90-75 victory. Her seventh three-pointer broke the record for the three-point field goals made by a New York Liberty single player in the playoffs. The guard passed Vickie Johnson and Cappie Pondexter on the all-time list.

FINISH THEMMMM @sabrina_i20 pic.twitter.com/FyFIya7ClB
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 16, 2023

No. 20 wasn't happy with the referees

Scoring the final three points for the Liberty, the guard chimed in post-game. "Let me not get fined, " said Ionescu. "I would say some of those threes were for the refs."

In the last regular season matchup against the Washington Mystics, the New York liberty lost to a buzzer beater, which was scored by Brittney Sykes.

"Understanding what that felt like last game, losing on a buzzer at our home court and understanding what we had to do adjustment wise, to not allow that to happen and playoff basketball is different," Ionescu told reporters." "It's 0-0 for everyone and we had to take care of business and not let these opportunities pass by us when we do have home court advantage. "

The New York Liberty will take on the Washington Mystics for Game 2 on Sept 19. With one more Victory, the Liberty could move onto the semifinals.

The post New York Liberty defeat Washington Mystics, 90-75 in Game 1 of WNBA Playoffs appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

Aces vs. Sky Betting Odds & Predictions: WNBA Playoffs Game 2

Sara Jane Gamelli — Sun, 17 Sep 2023 17:03:48 +0000

The Las Vegas Aces will matchup against the Chicago Sky at home for game 2. Here, you will find the WNBA betting odds, stats, trends, player prop bets, and predictions for Sunday, Sept. 17.

Written and edited by

Sara Jane Gamelli

Today, is Game 2 of the first-round WNBA playoffs between the Las Vegas Aces (1-0, 1-0 Home) and the Chicago Sky (0-1, 0-1 Away). The first of three games, Las Vegas, the reigning 2022 WNBA Champions, will look to eliminate the Chicago Sky this afternoon. The Aces defeated the Chicago Sky 87-59 and will get the matchup at home in game 2. With 10 steals as a team, the Aces collectively held Chicago to 33.3 percent field goal and 22.7 percent three-point shooting. For the Sky, Kahleah Copper was the only player to finish with points in double-figures. Not their best shooting night, Las Vegas relied on their defense to secure the victory.

In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 3p.m. ET, at Michelob ULTRA Arena, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. If you're Betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ABC. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.

Tune in as the quest to win the 2023 WNBA Championship continues

#3 @connecticutsun vs #6 @minnesotalynx
1pm/ET
ESPN

#1 @lvaces vs #8 @chicagosky
3pm/ET
ABC

2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/4ViA96QjyX
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 17, 2023

WNBA Game 2 Odds:

^{Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook}

Chelsea Gray O 24 Points and Assists

#POINTGAWDDDDD in Playoff Mode

20 PTS // 4 REB // 7 AST // 2 STL // 2 BLK // 47% FG@cgray209 // #RaiseTheStakes pic.twitter.com/uH3dhzaDqO
— Las Vegas Aces (@LVAces) September 14, 2023

Season Stats: PPG: 15.5 | FG: 47.4 % | 3 PT: 0 % | FT: 71.5 % | REB: 9.9 | AST: 7.9 | STL: 1.8 | BLK: 0.5

Playoff Stats: PPG: 20 | FG: 46.6 % | 3 PT: 0 % | FT: 100 % | REB: 4 | AST: 7 | STL: 2 | BLK: 2

Chelsea Gray, nicknamed the "point gawd," was sensation in the game 1 victory against the Chicago Sky. In 23 minutes, the guard finished with 20 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals on 7-15 field goal shooting. Along with Gray, the Aces had four additional players with points in double-figures, Wilson, Plum, Young, and Clark. This prop hit six out of the last ten games, and three of the last five.

Why this prop will hit

In three regular season matchups against the Chicago Sky, Gray averaged 20 points, 7 assists, on 57 percent three-point shooting. Over 23.5 points and assists hit two of the three matchups against Chicago, including twice on the road. In home games this season, Gray averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 assists. No. 12 shoots more effectively at home, by a large margin. Through 20 games in Las Vegas, the guard shot 51.5 percent from the field, five points higher than away games, and 46.5 percent from three, nearly 10 percentage points higher than road games. With an elimination game on the line for Chicago, the Aces face the Sky who allowed the second-best field goal percentage (45.1)

With the Las Vegas Aces, their abundance of talent makes it difficult to guard both the weak and strong side of the basketball. Chelsea Gray has a history of playing exceptional in the playoffs, averaging 21.7 points and 7 assists in 2022. With Gray averaging the second most field goal attempts in game 1 (15), I fully expect Chicago to put up a fight, and for No. 12 to play a hefty number of minutes. This prop was hit last matchup, on a night where Vegas could have shot more efficiently. With the Chicago Sky comprised of a three-guard lineup, look for Gray to utilize the screens, the pick and roll, and to use her IQ to make plays.

Las Vegas Aces Money Line

With the Aces money line at -4000, I wouldn't recommend wagering on this unless you have a substantial bank roll. I'm going with this pick, and it's a confident one. With an elimination game at stake, it's difficult to gauge how this game will go as far as the spread. I originally picked the Las Vegas Aces to sweep the Chicago Sky in two, and I am sticking to that today. Unable to find their stride, Chicago shot under 35 percent from both the field and three-point, and several of their starting lineup struggled. Outside of Kahleah Copper, not one start scored points in double-figures, and Marina Mabrey was held to just 7 points.

The Aces won the regular season matchup 3-0, in which the Sky kept the final scores fairly close. However, with the playoffs on the line, the Aces are the superior team, both offensively and defensively. In front of their home fans for the second game in a row, the Aces will matchup today in an arena where they had just one loss, excluding the Commissioner's Cup. Finishing the season strong with four straight wins, Vegas looks to sweep and defeat the Sky this afternoon in front of their home fans.

In three games against Chicago, Vegas averaged 98 points, and shot close to 52 percent from the field. In one regular season home game, the Aces averaged 93 points, and shot 58.5 percent from the field. Through 20 home matchups, this team averaged an incredible 94.4 points per game, 21.9 assists, 8.7 steals, and shot 37.8 percent from the three.

Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here

Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.