Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces Expert Pick – September 17, 2023

CHICAGO SKY VS. LAS VEGAS ACES EXPERT PICK – SEPTEMBER 17, 2023 – Happy Sunday basketball fans. Welcome back to our weekend WNBA playoffs coverage here at Godzilla Wins. After our earlier look at the Lynx vs Sun, our second game of the day features the No. 8 Chicago Sky (0-1) taking on the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces (1-0).

Will the Sky bounce back from a lopsided 87-59 loss in Game 1? Will the Aces close out the series on the strength of another solid performance?

Here is a look at which team has the edge going into this matchup and why.

The Odds

Tipoff

When: Wednesday, September 17, 2023 at 3:00 PM ET

Where: Michelob ULTRA Arena, Las Vegas, NV

TV: ESPN

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

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Chicago Sky vs. Las Vegas Aces – Series Recap And Betting Trends

Can The Sky Bounce Back From An Uninspired Effort In Game 1?

The Sky have had such a turbulent season that the playoffs seemed like a pipe dream rather than a reality. But in the second to last game of the season, they clinched the final postseason berth. The reward for their effort is a first-round matchup against a Las Vegas squad that has been clicking on all cylinders for most of the season.

To be brutally honest, Chicago played like a No. 8 seed in the opener. They went into the break trailing 53-36 and managed to produce only 23 points in the second half. The Sky shot a forgettable 33.3 percent from the field (24-for-72) while connecting on five of their 22 attempts from distance. It also didn’t help that Chicago committed 14 turnovers. Chicago has dropped its last six matchups against Las Vegas. And as much as it pains me to say this, the Aces are going to extend that streak to seven.

Aces Continue To Show Why They Are The Favorites To Win It All

The Aces defeated Chicago in each of their four regular-season matchups. That dominance continued in Game 1. Las Vegas had four players that scored in double figures compared to just one for Chicago. Chelsey Gray led the way with 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

As a result of their dominant win over Chicago in the opener, the Aces are ranked first in opponent field goal shooting at 33.3 percent. And they are limiting their opposition to 22.7 percent shooting from beyond that arc. That is the second-lowest percentage in the WNBA.

Although the Sky probably exceeded expectations after former head coach/general manager, James Wade, vacated his position, their season is about to end.

The Picks

The Spread

The Aces are favored to win this game by 17.5 points. Although Las Vegas won Game 1 by a comfortable 28 points, here is a look at why I’m going with Chicago to cover.

• The Sky are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games.
• Chicago is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games overall.
• In their last 22 games against Western Conference teams, the Sky are 17-5 against the spread.
• The Aces are 5-11 ATS in the last 16 games when they have played on three or more days of rest.
• Las Vegas is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games overall.

In addition to the trends above, I believe that we will see a much better effort from the Sky with their season on the line.

Prediction: Chicago Sky (+17.5)

Over/Under

The projected over/under total for this contest is 170.5 points. These teams combined for just 146 points in Game 1. Here are a few trends that suggest why going with the OVER is the smart play.

• The OVER total has hit for Chicago in six of its last nine games.
• In the Sky’s last 11 games against Las Vegas, the OVER total is 8-3.
• The OVER total has hit for Chicago in 11 of its last 15 road games against Las Vegas.
• The OVER is 14-5 for the Aces in their last 19 games against teams with a losing record.
• In the Aces’ last six games, the OVER total has prevailed four times.
• The OVER total is 22-7-1 in the last 30 games between these two ball clubs.

Prediction: OVER 170.5 points

Player Prop Bet

My key player to watch in this contest is Chicago Sky guard Kahleah Copper. She currently has -120 odds of scoring more than 18.5 points and -110 odds of scoring less than 18.5 points.

Copper averaged 18.7 points per contest during the regular season. Furthermore, she has scored 18 or more points five times across her last six outings.

Prediction: Kahleah Copper OVER 18.5 points