Published May 24, 7:58pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated May 24, 7:58pm ET
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Updated May 24, 7:58pm ET
One of Monday's intriguing WNBA matchups features the New York Liberty hosting the Portland Fire. Who has the edge in our Liberty vs Fire pick?
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| New York Liberty | -13 (-115) |
| Portland Fire | +13 (-105) |
New York opened the season with three wins in its first four games. Two of which were by double-digit margins. However, they have dropped each of their last two games, including a 91-76 loss to the Dallas Wings on Sunday.
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The Liberty held a narrow one-point lead at the break. But the second half was a different story, as Dallas outscored the home team 48-32, including a game-changing 28-17 burst in the third quarter.
Satou Sabally was one of three double-digit scorers. She led the charge with 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting. Breanna Stewart posted a double-double of 14 points and 11 boards. Jonquel Jones added 14 points and seven rebounds for a New York squad that shot just 39 percent from the field and 31 percent from deep.
The Fire have alternated losses and wins during their first season in the WNBA. In the team's recent outing, it upended the Toronto Tempo — the league's other expansion franchise — by a 99-80 margin.
The teams battled to a 44-44 tie at intermission. Portland led by five after three before outscoring the Tempo 33-19 in the final frame on its way to a convincing win.
Five players reached double figures for the road team. Emily Engstler scored a team-high 16 points and snagged seven rebounds. Bridget Carleton and Carla Leite added 15 points apiece, and Portland got 42 points from its bench.
New York enters this showdown as a 13-point favorite. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of Sunday's matchup.
The teams have split the first two meetings between the franchises, with New York winning the recent tilt in dominant fashion. The Liberty have the league's top offense, while Portland ranks 13th in scoring defense and 14th in defensive rating. Despite back-to-back losses, look for the Liberty to get the win here.
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Pick
New York Liberty (-13)
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