After starting the season 9-0, the New York Liberty have lost two of their past three games. No need to panic, as the reigning champions are bound to get over this hump.
That being said, it won’t be easy on Sunday on the road against the Seattle Storm, who are 8-5 on the season.
The Liberty are 4.5-point favorites, and the game total is set at 164.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Here’s my prediction and pick for Sunday’s Liberty vs. Storm matchup.
Liberty vs. Storm prediction
Despite the recent blip in the Liberty’s season, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart are still hooping at an incredible rate. They’re both averaging north of 23 points per game in June and one of them has scored 34-plus in the past three games.
Ionescu scored back-to-back 34-point games before Stewart dropped 35 in the team’s most recent game. Now, these two will take their high-scoring styles into Seattle against a solid defense.
The Storm allow 78.4 points per game, which ranks sixth in the league. They’ll have their hands full against the top-scoring offense in the league (89.1 PPG). New York’s points per game has dipped to 85 over the past three matches, however.
Seattle’s defense has slightly improved over the past six games, in which it is 5-1. It allows 77.3 points per game, but has upped its scoring to 87.3 from 82.7. Take out the one loss in this stretch, and the Storm are averaging 90.8 PPG.
These aren’t just games against weak teams. Seattle is scoring 90-plus in wins against the Lynx, Aces, Sparks and nearly the Mercury (89 points).
Seattle may have caught New York at the right time, as the reigning champs are beginning a four-game road trip following two losses in its last three games.
Liberty vs. Storm pick, best bet
It would have been silly to bet against the Liberty a week and a half ago. They were cruising through the schedule with just three single-digit victories through nine games.
Now, they look beatable as the Fever and Mercury have defeated them. These are great teams, so it’s not like the Liberty have lost their footing. That also means another good team can come in and beat them too.
The Storm are catching the Liberty at the right time while at home. Seattle is 5-1 in its last six, and New York is beginning a four-game road trip having lost two of its last three.
Getting the Storm as 4.5-point underdogs is great value, and provides some cushion if the Liberty win. Seattle is +160 on the moneyline for those looking for extra juice.