Sunday 8/2/15 service plays chatter/comps/requests & other stuff...

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

MLB

Braves @ Phillies
Teheran is 0-2, 5.16 in his last four starts; his last four on road all went over.

Morgan is 2-0, 3.78 in his last three starts; over is 3-3 in all his starts.

Phillies won 12 of their last 14 games- three of last four went over. Braves lost last four series games; over is 6-3-1 in last ten. Braves lost nine of their last ten games overall (under 7-3).

Nationals @ Mets
Zimmerman is 0-2, 4.24 in his last three starts; three of his last four starts on road went over.

Syndergaard is 3-0, 0.90 in his last four home starts; under is 7-1-1 in his last nine starts overall.

Washington lost three of last four games with Mets; under is 5-2-1 in last eight series games. Nationals are 3-6 in last nine games overall; five of last six stayed under the total. Mets won five of their last seven games.

Pirates @ Reds
Morton is 0-3, 5.04 in his last five starts (under 3-1-1).

Sampson is making first MLB start; he threw a scoreless inning in relief in his MLB debut Thursday. He was 2-4, 5.08 in seven AAA starts this year.

Pittsburgh lost nine of last 12 games with Cincinnati; six of last seven series games went over total. Pirates won six of last nine games (over 7-2). Reds won four of last five games, allowing 13 runs (under 4-2 in last six).

Padres @ Marlins
Shields is 1-1, 2.12 in his last three starts; under is 5-3-1 in his last nine.

Fernandez is 4-0, 2.53 in his five '15 starts; six of his last eight went over.

San Diego won eight of last nine games with Miami; four of last six series tilts went under the total. Padres won seven of last eight games overall; their last four games went over total. Marlins lost seven of last eight games (under 9-3 in last 12 games).

Rockies @ Cardinals
Flande won his first '15 start, allowing one run in five IP (87 PT).

Garcia is 2-3, 1.54 in his last six starts; eight of his last ten stayed under.

Colorado lost seven of last ten games with St Louis; under is 3-3-1 in last seven series games. Rockies are 4-7 in last 11 games; over is 5-1-1 in their last seven. Cardinals are 3-4 in last seven games; under is 7-2-2 in their last 11.

Cubs @ Brewers
Richard is 1-0, 3.75 in his two starts this year (over 1-1).

Lohse is 0-3, 6.23 in his last four starts (under 3-1).

Cubs won last three games with Milwaukee; under is 8-2-1 in last 11 in series. Chicago won last four games; under is 3-0-1 in those four. Brewers lost nine of last eleven games; under is 7-0-2 in last nine.

American League
Tigers @ Orioles
Newly-acquired DNorris is making first start since April 30; he was 1-1, 4.24 in five starts for Toronto this year- last four stayed under.

Jiminez is 1-2, 10.29 in his last three starts- they all went over.

Detroit lost 13 of its last 19 games; over is 4-2-1 in last seven. Tigers lost seven of last nine games with Baltimore; over is 7-3 in last ten series games. Orioles won seven of last eight; three of their last five went over.

Rays @ Red Sox
Odorizzi is 2-1, 3.20 in his last five starts; seven of his last ten stayed under.

Miley is 0-2, 5.25 in his last four starts, three of which went over.

Red Sox won their last three games-- over is 11-3 in their last 14. Boston won four of last five games with Tampa Bay- six of last nine series games stayed under total. Rays are 4-8 in last 12 games; three of last four went over.

Royals @ Blue Jays
Volquez is 2-1, 2.70 in his last three starts; over is 7-2-1 in his last ten.

Dickey is 2-1, 2.15 in his last four starts (under 5-2-1 in last eight).

Royals lost three of last four games, allowing 30 runs (over 3-1 last four); KC is 4-4 in its last eight games with Toronto (under 3-3-1 in last seven). Blue Jays won three of last four games; six of their last eight games went over.

Bronx @ White Sox
Nova is 2-0, 3.27 in his last two starts; under is 4-0-1 in his last five.

Samardzija is 3-1, 2.27 in his last five starts; his last four home starts stayed under the total.

Bronx won 11 of last 16 games (eight of last ten went over); they won nine of last 12 games with Chicago. White Sox won eight of last ten games; seven of their last eight games went over.

Mariners @ Twins
Iwakuma is 2-1, 4.31 in his last five starts; three of his last four stayed under.

Pelfrey is 0-4, 7.11 in his last six starts; under is 3-1-1 in his last five at home.

Seattle lost seven of last nine games with Minnesota; seven of last ten in series stayed under. Mariners lost five of last six games overall, allowing 33 runs; over is 5-3-1 in their last nine. Twins lost five of their last seven games,, allowing 45 runs; six of their last eight games went over the total.

Indians @ A's
Bauer is 0-3, 6.16 in his last three starts; five of his last six stayed under.

Gray is 2-1, 2.03 in his last four starts; under is 4-0-1 in his last five.

Indians won three of last four games; er. Tribe lost six of last nine games with Oakland; last three in series stayed under total. Oakland lost seven of last ninegames (six of last seven stayed under).

Interleague
Giants @ Rangers
Leake is making first start for Giants; he is 4-0, 0.60 in his last four starts- four of his last five stayed under.

Perez allowed eight runs in 1+ IP in last start; he is 0-2, 11.25 in three starts so far this season- three of his last four starts went over.

Giants are 8-4 in last 12 games with Texas (under 8-4); SF won eight of its last ten games (under 4-2-1 in last six). Rangers won seven of last 11 games; six of their last eight games went over the total.

Diamondbacks @ Astros
Ray is 1-5, 4.71 in his last eight starts; over is 2-0-1 in last three.

McHugh is 3-0, 4.00 in his last three starts; five of his last six stayed under.

D'backs won six of last seven games; over is 4-0-1 in their last five. Astros won nine of last 12 games- four of last five went over. Arizona lost four of last six games with Houston, with last three going over total.

Angels @ Dodgers
Rasmus was 0-1, 2.31 in six starts LY, but lasted total of only 19 IP; chances are this is a bullpen game for Angels- this is his first '15 start.

Latos is making first LA start; he is 1-2, 1.80 in his last three starts, all of which stayed under the total- Marlins scored five runs in the three games.

Angels lost last five games with the Dodgers; seven of last nine games went under total. Halos lost eight of last nine games after a 17-3 run- five of their last seven stayed under total. Dodgers won their last three games.

Win-loss records this year for team with this starting pitcher:
Atl-Phil-- Teheran 11-10; Morgan 4-2
Wsh-NY-- Zimmerman 13-8; Syndergaard 7-7
Pitt-Cin-- Morton 8-4; Simpson 0-0
SD-Mia-- Shields 11-11 (2-8 last 10); Fernandez 4-1
Chi-Mil-- Richard 1-1; Lohse 7-14
Col-StL-- Flande 1-0; Garcia 3-5

KC-Tor-- Volquez 15-6; Dickey 9-12
Det-Balt-- Norris (2-3 w/Tor); Jimenez 10-10
TB-Bos-- Odorizzi 8-8; Miley 10-11 (0-4 last 4))
NY-Chi-- Nova 3-3; Samardzija 11-10
Sea-Min-- Iwakuma 3-5; Pelfrey 10-9
Clev-A's-- Bauer 9-11; Gray 13-8

SF-Tex-- Leake (11-10 w/Reds); Perez 1-2
Az-Hst-- Ray 4-7; McHugh 14-7
LA-LA-- Rasmus 0-0; Latos (6-10 w/Mia)

Times this starting pitcher allowed a run in first inning:
Atl-Phil-- Teheran 8-21; Morgan 1-6
Wsh-NY-- Zimmerman 7-21; Syndergaard 3-14
Pitt-Cin-- Morton 7-12; Simpson 0-0
SD-Mia-- Shields 5-22; Fernandez 1-5
Chi-Mil-- Richard 1-2; Lohse 10-21
Col-StL-- Flande 1-1; Garcia 2-8

KC-Tor-- Volquez 4-21; Dickey 4-21
Det-Balt-- Norris 3-5; Jimenez 5-20 (3 of last 3)
TB-Bos-- Odorizzi 4-16; Miley 6-21
NY-Chi-- Nova 1-6; Samardzija 10-21
Sea-Min-- Iwakuma 4-8; Pelfrey 3-19
Clev-A's-- Bauer 3-20; Gray 3-21

SF-Tex-- Leake 4-21; ; Perez 0-3
Az-Hst-- Ray 2-11; McHugh 7-21
LA-LA-- Rasmus 0-0; Latos 6-16

Umpires
Atl-Phil-- Six of last nine HGibson games went over.
Pitt-Cin-- Home side won last five Reyburn games.
Wsh-NY-- Seven of last ten Fletcher games stayed under.
Chi-Mil-- Over is 4-0-1 in last five Hoberg games.
SD-Mia-- Underdogs won three of last four Johnson games.
Col-StL-- Over is 9-4 in last thirteen Estabrook games.

KC-Tor-- Favorites won seven of last eight Wolf games.
TB-Bos-- Eight of last eleven GGibson games stayed nnder.
Det-Balt-- Last three Woodring games went over the total.
Sea-Min-- Under is 7-3 in last ten Muchlinski games.
NY-Chi-- Under is 8-2 in last ten Hamari games.
Clev-A's-- Eight of last ten Cuzzi games stayed under.

LA-LA-- Five of last seven Wolcott games stayed under
Az-Hst-- Six of last nine Scott games went over total
SF-Tex-- Five of last seven May games stayed under

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Diamond Trends - Sunday

VINCE AKINS

August 2, 2015


SU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Giants are 17-0 since Apr 05, 2014 after a win in which they left fewer than 10 men on base individually and it is not the first game of a series.

PITCHER TREND OF THE DAY:

-- When Jordan Zimmermann starts the Nationals are 11-0 SU on since Aug 02, 2014 coming off a quality start on the road.

OU TREND OF THE DAY:

-- The Red Sox are 10-0-1 OU since Jun 21, 2015 when it is the last game of the series.

CHOICE TREND:

-- The Mets are 16-0-1 since Aug 16, 2014 as a favorite after a one run win.

ACTIVE TRENDS:

-- The Royals are 11-0 since May 23, 2015 after a game in which they had multiple multi-run innings and and it is not the first game of a series.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Sparks-Stars Preview

It hasn't taken Candace Parker long to return to All-Star form for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Coming off her first 30-point effort since July 2014, Parker will try to help the Sparks turn things around as they go after rare back-to-back road wins Sunday against the San Antonio Stars.

Los Angeles (4-14) plummeted to the league's worst record at the All-Star break while Parker, a two-time WNBA MVP and three-time All-Star, sat out during a self-imposed rest.

With the veteran forward now back, the Sparks are hoping to make what once seemed like an improbable run to the playoffs. They're just 1 1/2 games behind San Antonio (6-13) for the fourth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference.

Parker has already found her groove, delivering her highest-scoring game since July 15, 2014. She had 31 points and nine rebounds in Friday's 88-77 win at Chicago after finishing with 12 points, nine assists and seven boards in her season debut, Wednesday's 82-76 road loss at league-best Minnesota.

The Sparks had averaged 64.3 points over the six games before Parker's return. San Antonio hasn't been sharp defensively, allowing 85 points or more in its last three.

"I know they have Candace Parker back, along with a lot of other All-Stars, so I think they're going to come in with a vengeance," Stars guard Kayla McBride said. "They think the second half of the season is their time to make a push for the playoffs, so we have to be ready for that intensity."

Los Angeles will try to notch consecutive victories for only the second time this season. It hasn't won back-to-back games on the road since running off four in a row in July 2014.

Without Parker, Nneka Ogwumike had 27 points and eight rebounds and Jantel Lavender added 21 and 10 as the Sparks picked up their first win - 86-81 over San Antonio on July 2.

The Stars, who have won four of the last five meetings, returned the favor in a 70-63 home victory July 8. Danielle Robinson had 22 points after she dished out 13 assists in the first matchup.

Ogwumike and Lavender gave San Antonio trouble again, teaming for 35 points and 23 rebounds.

That's certainly an area of concern for the Stars heading into Round 3 of the season series. They were outrebounded 42-25 in Friday's 88-53 loss to Washington that snapped their six-game home winning streak.

"They play a pretty big lineup so we just have to be ready for that," guard Samantha Logic said. "They rebound the ball really well and play people some big minutes so we just have to be ready for a physical game."

Sophia Young-Malcolm had 17 points and McBride scored 11 against the Mystics as San Antonio put up its second-fewest points of the season. Robinson struggled with just four points after reaching double figures in her previous five games.

Danielle Adams will serve the last of a three-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug program.

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mystics (11-6) at Sky (11-8)

Date: August 02, 2015 6:00 PM EDT

When the Washington Mystics left Allstate Arena in the early afternoon of July 15, it was fair to question if they'd overslept prior to a late-morning drubbing that was their most lopsided loss in three years.

As they get ready to return to suburban Chicago, it's pretty clear they've woken up.

The WNBA's hottest team tries to extend its longest win streak in five years to six Sunday while avenging its blowout loss to a Sky club coming off a rare home loss.

Washington fell to .500 and its losing streak was three after an 85-57 rout at Chicago's hands last month, a disaster of a defeat that saw the Mystics shoot 32.9 percent while getting outrebounded 46-32.

"They outplayed us in every phase of the game. We didn't make shots, they did," coach Mike Thibault said. "Chicago played great. They were ready."

Thibault's team quickly did a 180, beating Indiana by 18 two days later, and it hasn't looked back. Washington (11-6) has won five straight for the first time since August 2010, and it's coming off an absolute thrashing of San Antonio - an 88-53 win Friday that was the franchise's first by that many points since the 2006 season opener.

Kia Vaughn led the way with 15 points in just 19 minutes in her second game back from a concussion, while Stefanie Dolson added 14 and Emma Meesseman 12 with 11 rebounds. All 12 Mystics scored at least two points as Washington assisted on 30 of its 36 field goals.

The Mystics' 1.63 assist-to-turnover ratio is by far the best in the league.

They had 14 of each last month in Rosemont, where the Sky were 7-1 heading into Friday's matchup with Los Angeles. Chicago (11-8) led by a point after three quarters before giving up 28 in the fourth and losing 88-77 despite Courtney Vandersloot tying her team record with 13 assists.

"If our defense isn't aggressive, our offense lacks and that's what you saw, especially in the fourth quarter," Elena Delle Donne said. "We need to pick up our defense by being much more aggressive and taking teams out of their comfort zone."

Sunday's game matches the WNBA's top-scoring team (Chicago, 85.4 points per game) with its second-stingiest (Washington, 70.7), though it was the Mystics who looked like the offensive juggernaut when the teams met June 28 in the nation's capital. Meesseman had 20 points and Dolson provided 19 and 10 boards in an 86-71 victory.

Delle Donne was the only Sky player with more than 10, finishing with 26.

After a three-game stretch in which the league's leading scorer never scored more than 14 points, Delle Donne's been on fire. The three-time All-Star has averaged 27.3 points in her last four.

It's been a different story for Chicago's already porous defense. The Sky have surrendered 87 points per game since their rare defensive gem against Washington - 5.6 more than their league-high average.


WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Jul 15, 2015 Score ATS Results
WAS 57 Under: 142
CHI « 85 Cover: 22.5
Tools: Recaps

Jun 28, 2015 Score ATS Results
CHI 71 Over: 157
WAS « 86 Cover: 14
Tools: Recaps

Aug 13, 2014 Score ATS Results
CHI « 72 Under: 141
WAS 69 Cover: 0
Tools: Recaps

Aug 3, 2014 Score ATS Results
WAS 65 Under: 141
CHI « 76 Cover: 6.5
Tools: Recaps

Jul 9, 2014 Score ATS Results
WAS « 72 Cover: 10.5
CHI 65 Under: 137
Tools: Recaps

Jun 13, 2014 Score ATS Results
CHI 68 Under: 147
WAS « 79 Cover: 4
Tools: Recaps

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Sun (9-8) at Fever (10-8)

Date: August 02, 2015 6:00 PM EDT

Tamika Catchings' late heroics earlier this week gave the Connecticut Sun their only blemish in three games since ending a lengthy losing streak.

Now the All-Star forward will try to continue her strong play against the Sun on Sunday when the Indiana Fever go after their longest home winning streak in four years.

The Eastern Conference rivals meet for the second time in six days after Catchings hit a fadeaway jumper with six seconds left to give the Fever a 75-73 overtime win Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Indiana (10-8) then moved within two games of East-leading New York on Wednesday with an 84-72 home win over the Liberty. Shenise Johnson led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Briann January had 12 and Catchings and Shavonte Zellous added 11 apiece.

"It just really shows the character of our team," coach Stephanie White told the team's official website. "We came out after All-Star break and we set the bar at where we want to compete every day, where we want to compete every possession. As a coaching staff, we're holding them accountable to that."

Catchings, who has passed Diana Taurasi as the No. 2 scorer in WNBA history, hopes to continue her solid play against the Sun (9-8). She's averaged 20.7 points and 8.3 rebounds in the last three meetings after scoring 15 to go with eight boards and five steals Tuesday.

The Fever, who are 10-5 in her 15 games, seek their first six-game home winning streak since early in the 2011 season. They've won four in a row at Bankers Life Fieldhouse versus Connecticut.

Catchings had 21 points in a 72-68 victory in the most recent meeting there July 10, 2014.

The Sun snapped a six-game losing streak with a 78-77 overtime win at league-best Minnesota on July 22 before falling to Indiana. They then ended a four-game home skid by scoring the final seven points in Friday's 67-66 victory over Seattle.

Shekinna Stricklen had 15 points, including the winner off a rebound with 8.2 seconds left. All-Star Kelsey Bone added 12 and Elizabeth Williams chipped in 10 and a career-high six boards.

Alex Bentley, though, hopes to bounce back after totaling five points on 2-of-13 shooting while battling an illness in the last two games. The All-Star had scored 18.2 per game over her previous 10.

Bentley had 18 points as Connecticut cut a 23-point deficit to three with 1:05 remaining before falling 92-84 at home to Indiana on June 30. Bone has scored a combined 35 in the two meetings.

After missing the first matchup with a back injury, Zellous played a key role in Indiana's win Tuesday by scoring a season-high 19 off the bench. The Fever have averaged 84.5 points in their last four home games while the Sun have given up 81.5 in their past four on the road.

Indiana hopes to have Layshia Clarendon after the guard sat out Wednesday with a sore back.



WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Jul 28, 2015 Score ATS Results
IND « 75 Cover: 2
CONN 73 Under: 148
Tools:

Jul 18, 2015 Score ATS Results
IND 0 Cover: 2.5
CONN « 0 Under: 0
Tools:

Jun 30, 2015 Score ATS Results
IND « 92 Cover: 12.5
CONN 84 Over: 176
Tools: Recaps

Jul 10, 2014 Score ATS Results
CONN 68 Cover: 1.5
IND « 72 Under: 140
Tools: Recaps

Jun 17, 2014 Score ATS Results
IND 67 Over: 156
CONN « 89 Cover: 18.5
Tools: Recaps

Jun 7, 2014 Score ATS Results
IND 71 Over: 159
CONN « 88 Cover: 13
Tools: Recaps

May 29, 2014 Score ATS Results
CONN 65 Over: 144
IND « 79 Cover: 9
Tools: Recaps

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Storm (5-15) at Liberty (12-6)

Date: August 02, 2015 3:00 PM EDT

The New York Liberty's ascension to the top of the Eastern Conference has plenty to do with their stifling defense and ability to win the rebounding battle more often than not.

It certainly isn't because they're lighting up the scoreboard.

New York looks to bounce back from a disappointing performance by dealing the Seattle Storm a ninth straight road loss Sunday.

The Liberty (12-6) are clinging to a half-game lead over Washington in the East while leading the league in rebounding margin at 6.61 per game and defensive field-goal percentage at 37.9.

They struggled in both phases Wednesday, though, allowing Indiana to shoot 47.6 percent while being outrebounded 32-27 in an 84-72 loss that snapped a five-game winning streak.

Tina Charles scored 18 points and Epiphanny Prince added 13 for New York, which committed 21 turnovers.

"We got outrebounded, and that doesn't happen very often," coach Bill Laimbeer said. "We gave them way too many second shots. They had 19 points on second shots. That doesn't happen against us.

"We didn't play our game, and hopefully it's a good learning experience for us."

Another disappointing aspect of that defeat is the fact that New York shot an uncharacteristic 48.3 percent from the field. The Liberty rank 10th in the league in shooting at 41.0 percent - last in 3-point percentage at 27.8 - and ninth in scoring with 72.9 points per game.

They weren't at their best in the first meeting with the Storm either in an 81-77 win July 21, as Seattle shot 48.4 percent and evened the rebounding battle at 32.

Seattle is last in the league in scoring (69.7 per game) and rebounding margin (minus-4.35). Charles' 30 points helped New York overcome the Storm's rare solid efforts in those aspects as the Liberty won a fifth straight meeting.

The Storm (5-15) looked more like themselves Friday, shooting just 39.3 percent in a 67-66 loss to Connecticut to drop their third straight. Seattle is 1-10 on the road and has dropped the first two of a six-game road stretch.

Sue Bird scored 15 points and is six short of becoming the first player in WNBA history with at least 5,000 points and 2,000 assists.

"Throughout a WNBA season every team is going to have ups and downs, and we just want to make sure that if we take one step back, we want to take two steps forward," Bird told the team's official website. "For us this is a process, this whole season. We are just trying to get better every day. It's more about learning from our mistakes and improving and trying to get better."

Bird and Ramu Tokashiki had 14 points apiece and Crystal Langhorne added 13 in the first meeting with New York, which has won the last four home meetings with the Storm.

WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Jul 21, 2015 Score ATS Results
NEW « 81 Over: 158
SEA 77 Cover: 0.5
Tools: Recaps

Jul 24, 2014 Score ATS Results
NEW « 84 Cover: 8
SEA 80 Over: 164
Tools: Recaps

May 27, 2014 Score ATS Results
SEA 64 Cover: 0
NEW « 70 Under: 134
Tools: Recaps

 

[Can'tPickaWinner2]

Preview: Mercury (11-7) at Dream (7-12)

Date: August 02, 2015 3:00 PM EDT

Brittney Griner's suspension contributed to Phoenix's slow start, but her return - along with DeWanna Bonner's offensive surge - has sparked the Mercury over the last month.

Now they're focused on putting together a strong effort for an entire contest.

Phoenix, which is coming off back-to-back double-digit rallies, looks to deal the host Atlanta Dream a fifth consecutive defeat Sunday.

Griner was suspended for the first seven games after a domestic violence incident involving then-fiance Glory Johnson of Tulsa. The Mercury (11-7) struggled without their star center, dropping five of those contests while ranking last in the league in field-goal percentage.

Phoenix has gone 9-2 since and has shot up to third in the WNBA in shooting at 43.9 percent with Griner averaging 16.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.4 blocks while hitting 57.1 percent from the floor.

Bonner averaged a career-low 10.4 points last season but is scoring 18.3 per game in 2015. She had a career-high 34 in Tuesday's 89-87 overtime win over Chicago - including the tying free throws at the end of regulation - before netting 24 in Thursday's 78-66 victory at Tulsa.

Candice Dupree finished with 20 points and Griner added 13, 10 rebounds and seven blocks. The Mercury, though, had to rally from double digits after coming back from 19 down to beat Chicago.

Phoenix is shooting 42.3 percent on the road compared to 41.6 at home.

"I just don't think we brought the appropriate effort level where we needed to," said coach Sandy Brondello, whose club finished on a 19-5 run to beat the Shock. "But we're a pretty good defensive team, and I think we showed that to keep a team with so many offensive weapons to 26 points in the second half."

Phoenix ranks second in the league in defensive field-goal percentage, holding opponents to 39.6 percent from the floor. That doesn't bode well for an Atlanta team that ranks 11th in the 12-team league in shooting at 40.4 percent.

The Dream (7-12) shot 42.2 percent Friday but fell 86-70 to Minnesota. They trailed 26-9 after the first quarter before dropping their fourth straight.

Angel McCoughtry is the league's third-leading scorer at 19.5 points per game, but she's averaging 12.3 over her last three. Tiffany Hayes was the only Dream player in double figures Friday with 15 points, but she shot just 5 of 16.

Atlanta is allowing an average of 92.8 points during its skid and ranks 11th in the league in scoring defense at 80.1 points allowed per game.

"(The Lynx) execute their offense well," coach Michael Cooper said. "We just didn't make it difficult for them."

The Dream had similar trouble in an 80-71 loss to the Mercury in the first meeting July 14. Griner and Dupree scored 22 points apiece, while Bonner added 18.

That defeat began Atlanta's 1-5 trip that concluded in Minnesota. McCoughtry shot 3 of 20 from the field and finished with 11 points in that contest. Hayes scored 19 for the Dream, who shot 36.6 percent.

Atlanta hopes for a better result at home, where it has won three of four.


WNBA HEAD TO HEAD

Jul 14, 2015 Score ATS Results
ATL 71 Cover: 1
PHO « 80 Under: 151
Tools: Recaps

Aug 13, 2014 Score ATS Results
PHO 82 Over: 178
ATL « 96 Cover: 15.5
Tools: Recaps

Aug 5, 2014 Score ATS Results
ATL 67 Cover: 2
PHO « 75 Under: 142
Tools: Recaps