SEATTLE (Interstat) — The New York Liberty, seeking to halt a two-game skid, visit the Seattle Storm on Thursday night at Key Arena in a WNBA matchup that pits the league’s elite against its cellar dweller. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PDT. New York (11-6) enters as a heavy favorite after dropping consecutive games by a combined four points: an 86-83 loss at home to Washington on Friday and a 98-97 defeat at Los Angeles on Sunday. The Liberty, who have won seven of their past 10, own the league’s third-best record and are projected by Interstat’s game simulator to win 99-94. Seattle (3-15) owns the WNBA’s worst mark, mired in a nine-game losing streak. The Storm’s most recent defeat came Monday in overtime, 112-110 at home against Dallas, despite a career-high 37 points and 12 rebounds from center Dominique Malonga. Malonga, the rookie from France, has emerged as Seattle’s most potent weapon. In her past seven games, she has averaged 25.3 points and 8.0 rebounds, including a 28-point, 11-rebound effort in a 94-89 loss to Portland on June 17. Still, the Storm have not won since May 27 and rank near the bottom of the league in scoring defense. For New York, forward Jonquel Jones remains the player to watch. The veteran center has posted double-doubles in four of her past five games, averaging 17.1 points and 10.3 rebounds over that span. She recorded a 22-point, 17-rebound performance against Toronto on June 3 and followed with a 20-point, 10-rebound outing against Washington on June 14. Jones’s versatility in the post and ability to stretch the floor will test Seattle’s interior defense, which allowed 57 points in the paint to Dallas. Liberty guard Breanna Stewart, who had 18 points and 10 rebounds against the Sparks, is also a consistent scoring threat. Guard Pauline Astier added 17 points and five assists in that loss. Thursday’s game marks the first of a two-game road trip for New York, which visits Golden State on Sunday. Seattle opens a five-game homestand Saturday against Atlanta, hoping to snap a losing streak that dates to late May. The Liberty swept last season’s series 2-0 and have won four of the past five meetings overall.