A two-game Thursday features Golden State closing out a back-to-back in New York, plus Washington looking to build on a road win in a rematch with Phoenix. Valkyries at Liberty tips at 8:00, followed by Mystics at Mercury at 10:00.

Golden State Valkyries @ New York Liberty | 8:00 PM ET | ESPN

Golden State enters the second half of a back-to-back after Wednesday's win in Connecticut, and the Valkyries' offense has genuinely cooled, going under the total in six straight games while shooting just 39.7% with 29.5% from three over the last two weeks. The defense has remained excellent in that stretch, holding opponents to 42% shooting. New York, second in the East at 23-15, is dealing with real absences of its own: Elizabeth Balogun, Anneli Maley, and Satou Sabally are all out.

New York has also trended toward the under recently, going under in three of its last four behind strong home three-point defense, hitting just 33% from deep as a team in that stretch. Two teams both trending toward lower-scoring, defensively oriented basketball, with Golden State playing its second game in two nights, sets up a genuine grind.

DraftKings has New York -1.5 at home, with the total at 162.5. Given the back-to-back for Golden State and New York's recent home defensive form, the Liberty are worth backing, and the under is the sharper side of this pick given both teams' recent shooting trends. Lean New York -1.5, and lean the under.

Golden State wins if their defense continues to travel well even on the second night of a back-to-back, and the offense snaps out of its six-game shooting slump at exactly the right time.

New York wins if their home three-point defense continues suffocating an already-cold Golden State offense, and the Liberty's rest advantage shows up in the fourth quarter.

Washington Mystics @ Phoenix Mercury | 10:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass

Washington enters riding real momentum, having just beaten this same Phoenix team 94-84 on the road Tuesday behind elite shooting, 51.5% from the field and 42.9% from three. The Mystics, seventh at 23-15, get a rematch just two days later, and Phoenix, dealing with its own absences in Shay Ciezki, Kara Dunn, and Marta Suarez, has to find a way to slow down a team that just carved them up.

Washington's season shooting numbers, 44.7% from the field and 30.8% from three, suggest Tuesday's outburst was above their normal level, but the Mystics have generally been the more complete team in this specific matchup, and a short turnaround rematch tends to favor whichever team won the last meeting.

DraftKings has Washington -2.5, with the total at 166.5. Given Tuesday's result and Phoenix's compounding absences, the Mystics are worth another look even with some shooting regression expected. Lean Washington -2.5.

Phoenix wins if they respond to Tuesday's loss with real defensive adjustments, and Washington's shooting comes back down to earth after an outlier performance.

Washington wins if their recent hot shooting carries even partially into the rematch, and the Mystics take advantage of a Phoenix team missing three rotation pieces.

Golden State's offensive cold streak, six straight games under the total despite elite defense, faces a real test against a New York team that's been trending the same direction defensively, all on the back end of a back-to-back. Washington's quick-turnaround rematch with Phoenix, just two days after a 94-84 road win, gives the Mystics real momentum heading into a Mercury team dealing with its own absences.