Published Jun 2, 4:17pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 2, 4:17pm ET
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Updated Jun 2, 4:17pm ET
One of Wednesday's WNBA matchups features the New York Liberty hosting the Toronto Tempo. Who has the edge in our Liberty vs Tempo pick?
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| New York Liberty | -10.5 (-110) |
| Toronto Tempo | +10.5 (-110) |
New York hit a minor rough patch, losing three straight times, with two of those defeats coming by double-digit margins. However, the team has responded with two consecutive wins, including a 75-68 victory against the Phoenix Mercury on May 29.
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The Liberty led by two with a minute left in the third before going on a 13-5 burst, giving the host team a 67-57 advantage. Phoenix trimmed the deficit to six and had a chance to tie the game in the waning moments. However, DeWanna Bonner's long-range attempt was off the mark. Pauline Astier secured the win by knocking down a pair of free throws.
Astier scored a team-high 16 points, collected six rebounds, and handed out six assists. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton led the bench unit with 13 points, with a pair of 3-pointers. New York's defense held the Mercury to 34 percent shooting overall and 25 percent from 3.
After back-to-back losses against Minnesota and Portland, the Tempo enter this battle amid a two-game win streak. This includes a blowout 93-72 win against the Seattle Storm on May 30.
The game was tied at 51 with 3:50 left in the third before Toronto responded with a game-changing 19-5 run over the next three minutes to seize control of the game for good. All in all, the Tempo outscored Seattle by a decisive 56-36 edge in the second half en route to an easy win.
Toronto's balanced attack included five double-digit scorers. Marina Mabrey powered the offense with 18 points and four assists. Kiki Rice finished with 17 points and six boards, while Maria Conde added 13 points and six rebounds off the bench.
The Tempo scored 23 points off 18 Seattle turnovers. The home team also set a league record, making their first 31 free throws before finishing 31-for-33.
New York enters this tilt as a 10.5-point favorite. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
Both ball clubs are top-10 teams in terms of scoring. However, the Liberty are a top-five defensive team as well, while Toronto does not excel at that end of the court. Simply put, the edge goes to New York.
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Pick
New York Liberty
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