As we get ready for the crucial Game 3 of the WNBA Finals between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty, let's take a look at the last "WNBA Buckets" podcast and our experts' best picks for the game.
Dano Mataya and Michael Fiddle break down some of their best bets for Game 3 below, so be sure to listen to the podcast and read their "WNBA Buckets" best bets for Wednesday, October 16.
Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
---|---|---|
8 P.M. | Liberty -3 | |
8 P.M. | 1st Quarter Over 40.5 |
Liberty -3 at Lynx
8 P.M. ET ⋅ ESPN
By Dano Mataya
The Liberty should really be 2-0 in this series, but they let Game 1 slip away from them. I really like how they responded in Game 2 however, and I expect them to keep this up. In the 85 minutes of gameplay in this series so far, the Liberty have led for all but three minutes and 14 seconds.
While they have had some lapses here and there, I do think they are the better team, and after letting Game 1 slip away, a sense of urgency seems established and I see them taking Game 3 and covering at -3.
From a numbers perspective, there has been a clear miss-pricing of home court advantage in these playoffs. The Liberty are a veteran team who know how to win in on the road with a hostile crowd. They showed just that winning Game 4 against the Aces in the semi-finals after getting punched in the face in Game 3. This make betting the Ace at -3 even more attractive.
1st Quarter Over 40.5
8 P.M. ET ⋅ ESPN
By Dano Mataya
The Liberty are 8-0 on the 1st quarter over in these playoffs and that's good enough for me to bet the over in the first quarter of Game 3. I think Minnesota will come out firing and the Liberty will keep doing what they've done all season.
I also have a feeling the refs will play a bigger role in this game, and wouldn't mind seeing some 1st quarter free throws.
We had 51 and 52 points in the 1st quarters of Game 1 and 2 respectively, so I feel very comfortable betting the 1st quarter over at 40.5.