Minnesota Lynx at Connecticut Sun (-5, 159.5)
The Lynx are tumbling out of the Western Conference playoff race.
Coming out of the All-Star break, Minnesota was 10-7 and within striking distance of first place as it targeted its first playoff berth. The Lynx have lost seven of eight games overall and against the spread.
One thing the Lynx have been able to count on is offense. Even without injured star Simeone Augustus, Minnesota has been second in the WNBA in scoring virtually all season.
But in their current four-game slide, the Lynx have scored fewer points each time out, dropping from 87 to 63 and falling to third in the league in offense.
Minnesota has not won in Connecticut since July 22, 2004.
Pick: Connecticut -5
Detroit Shock at Chicago Sky (-3, 148)
The Sky are getting healthy at the right time. They expect to have All-Star center Sylvia Fowles back, which may be why they are favored vs. the Shock for the first time since entering the league in 2006.
Fowles, who missed five games in July (all losses) with a knee injury earlier this season, sat out Wednesday's 106-99 home loss to Phoenix with a sprained left ankle.
Shyra Ely started for Fowles and scored a career-high 26 points. After the game, Sky coach Steven Key said Fowles should play in the next game.
Chicago also got back reserve forward Brooke Wyckoff, who missed two games with an illness. And the Sky signed forward Mistie Bass, who was cut in preseason but re-signed to replace center Chen Nan, who was diagnosed with a back injury and was waived.
Pick: Chicago -3
