WNBA Monday Best Bets: Dream, Wings and Mercury

The WNBA is winding down a season that doesn’t have much suspense down the stretch. All eight playoff spots were wrapped up before the recent 2 ½-week break for the FIBA World Cup so all that’s left is jockeying for playoff seeds.

There are just two games on Monday and the fourth-place Atlanta Dream can move closer to securing a first-round home game if they can win at the Liberty in the first of two straight matchups in New York. The other contest involves the Dallas Wings visiting Phoenix with the Mercury being the lone team in action that has been eliminated.

New York and Dallas are part of a three-way tie for sixth place with the Washington Mystics. The goal of both teams should be winning so they don’t end up facing the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round.

ATLANTA DREAM AT NEW YORK LIBERTY

The Dream (28-14) have won three straight games and Angel Reese has excelled in each of them – including 23 points and 10 rebounds in Saturday’s 106-81 win over the Chicago Sky — and has put together nine straight double-doubles. Reese has set WNBA records of 505 rebounds and 31 double-doubles and has been a good fit for Atlanta since acquired from the Sky.

The Liberty (26-16) rolled to a 106-69 road victory over the Toronto Tempo on Sunday behind Breanna Stewart’s 27 points. The win was the third in a row for New York. Sabrina Ionescu is struggling and is averaging just 8.0 points on 20% shooting (9 of 45) over her last four games.

The Liberty need to come up with some tactics to deal with Reese, who had 25 points and nine rebounds when New York beat Atlanta 104-90 win on June 11. If she breaks out like that again and either Allisha Gray (19.0 points per game) or Rhyne Howard (18.0) is hot, the Dream could notch a crucial victory.

Dream to win minus 1.5 points, -110 (DraftKings)

DALLAS WINGS AT PHOENIX MERCURY

The Wings (26-16) have won six straight games, including two wins since the resumption of play. Dallas recorded an 87-82 home win over Phoenix on Saturday in the front end of a back-to-back. Paige Bueckers poured in 26 points.

The Wings finish the regular season against the WNBA-worst Seattle Storm so the schedule has set them up well. Meanwhile, the Mercury (15-27) are tied for the second worst record in the league after reaching the WNBA finals last season.

Mercury star Kahleah Copper (groin) has missed both games since returning from playing for the United States in the World Cup but might be in action Monday. Alyssa Thomas had a triple-double on Saturday with 19 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds and she always shows up.

Thomas to notch 9 or more assists, +135 (DraftKings)