New York Liberty, losers of two straight, head to Las Vegas to take on the surging Aces for the first time this season at 10 p.m. ET.
Las Vegas, which won its third WNBA title in the past four years last October, has won two straight and eight of nine to move within a half game of the league-leading Minnesota Lynx.
Jackie Young had 21 points on 9 of 12 shooting and added five assists, while A'ja Wilson added 19 points and nine rebounds,and Chelsea Gray had 15 points and nine assists as Las Vegas triumphed over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday, 92-73.
NaLyssa Smith and Jewell Lloyd added 14 points apiece for the Aces, who shot 62% (36-for-58) from the field and 46% (11-for-24) from 3-point range.
The Liberty have now lost two in a row following an eight-game win streak that put them back near the top of the WNBA standings.
Breanna Stewart had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Jonquel Jones added 18 points and nine rebounds, but Nneka Ogwumike's three-pointer at the buzzer gave the host Los Angeles Sparks a 98-97 victory on Sunday.
Pauline Astier chipped in with 17 points and five assists off the bench, while Satou Sabally contributed 14 points, five assists and five rebounds.
The loss ended New York's four-game road winning streak and was not a pleasant start to a four-game road trip that continues in Las Vegas.
The teams meet again next Tuesday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in the Commissioner's Cup championship game.
Read below for our experts' picks and predictions for this matchup.
New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces betting picks and predictions
Las Vegas Aces -2.5 (-110)
The Aces' Big Three of Wilson (WNBA-leading 25.7 ppg, 9.1 REB), Young (15.4 ppg, 6.8 AST), and Gray (12.1 ppg, 7.3 AST) is humming and healthy.
All three have played in every game this season and they have just as good a shot as anyone to hoist the WNBA championship trophy again this fall.
Las Vegas has won four straight at home, where it is 4-2 this season. The team began a run of seven of nine at home with the win over Golden State on Sunday.
They are just 2-4 against the spread at Michelob Ultra Arena, but New York, which is 5-2 straight up on the road, is just 2-5 against the spread, so those two cancel each other out.
Although the Liberty's Sabrina Ionscu has struggled since her return, Astier has been a find. The French International is averaging 10.9 points and 3.8 assists as a rookie.
Leonie Fiebich, who had 13 points on Sunday, and Marine Johannes, who had 10, provide proper support.
New York has every reason to think it can win this game, especially with Stewart (19.4 ppg, 8.9 REB) and Jones (14.2 ppg, 9.2 REB) controlling the glass, but Las Vegas' stars are shining just a bit brighter at the moment.
Take the Aces to win and cover the 2.5-point spread as favorites.
Over 177.5 points (-110)
Two of the league's top seven scoring offenses should outpace two of the league’s top seven scoring defenses.
New York has played to the Over in five of six. With this matchup being the only one on the league slate, look for all the stars to come out and produce, so take the Over.
Read more betting picks and predictions for the NBA on site.
New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces odds
New York Liberty | +110 |
Las Vegas Aces | -130 |
Spread | LV Aces -2.5 |
Total Points | O/U 177.5 |
New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces player props
Player points
Breanna Stewart (NY Liberty) | O/U 18.5 |
Satou Sabally (NY Liberty) | O/U 14.5 |
Jonquel Jones (NY Liberty) | O/U 13.5 |
A'ja Wilson (LV Aces) | O/U 26.5 |
Satou Sabally (LV Aces) | O/U 17.5 |
Chelsea Gray (LV Aces) | O/U 12.5 |
New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces team news
New York Liberty
The Liberty appear to have an Ionescu problem. The four-time All-Star guard missed the first five games of the season with a foot injury.
Then, after an 11-point debut in a 91-76 loss to Dallas on May 24th, she missed the next seven games with back soreness.
Her return has been muted at best, with a single-game high of just 10 points. She is averaging just 7.4 points, 3.2 assists, and three rebounds in six games, including two points on one of three shooting in 22 minutes in the loss to the Sparks on Sunday.
Astier was superb as the Liberty went 6-1 during Ionescu's second absence, and the time may soon come for the latter to work her way back in off the bench if she cannot produce to her normal standards.
Las Vegas Aces
Guard Chennedy Carter, third on the team in scoring at 14.4 points per game, has been ruled out for her fourth straight contest with an illness.
Read the latest WNBA news on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
