Atlanta Dream at Phoenix Mercury WNBA Picks & Predictions 8/17/2018

Friday, August 17, 2018

Talking Stick Resort Arena

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

The Atlanta Dream travel to Talking Stick Resort Arena to play the Phoenix Mercury on Friday, August 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Phoenix as 4 point favorites.

The Dream have a record of 22-10. They are 1st in the Eastern Conference. They have a point differential of 2.3 as they average 81.1 points per game while giving up 78.8 per contest. The Mercury head into this matchup with a mark of 18-14. They are 4th in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 2.1 as they average 84.9 points per contest while giving up 82.8 per game.

Valuable Atlanta Dream Betting Trends

The Atlanta Dream are 21-10-1 against the spread

The Atlanta Dream are 13-19 against the over/under

Important Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends

The Phoenix Mercury are 19-13 against the spread

The Phoenix Mercury are 17-15 against the over/under

Key Atlanta Dream Injuries

08/09/18 F Angel McCoughtry Knee is out for season

Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries

07/03/18 F Sancho Lyttle ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Tiffany Hayes comes into this contest averaging 17.3 points per game while playing 28.9 minutes per night so far this season for the Dream. She pulls down 3.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.7 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 45% while her free throw percentage is currently at 84%. Renee Montgomery averages 10.2 points per game in 27.2 minutes per contest this season. She averages 3.6 assists per contest and 1.7 rebounds per game for Atlanta. Her field goal percentage is 39% for the year while her free throw percentage is 88%.

Player Spotlight

Brittney Griner averages 20.5 points per game while playing 32.8 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She grabs 7.5 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 54% and her free throw percentage currently is at 81%. Diana Taurasi averages 20.6 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 30.0 minutes per contest. She also averages 3.5 rebounds per contest and 5.1 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 45% and her free throw percentage is 92%.

Useful Team Statistics

Atlanta averages 81.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 8th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.3 and their shooting percentage is 42% as a team, which has them ranked 11th. Behind the arc they shoot 31% which is good for 11th in the league. They average 36.0 rebounds per game and 18.2 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 6th with 12.7 per game. The Dream allow 78.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd in the league. They also allow a 42% shooting percentage and a 32% average from behind the arc, ranking them 1st and 2nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.1 rebounds a game which ranks 10th and they give up 18.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 7th place in the league. They force 14.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 11th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix is 4th in the league with 84.9 points per game this year. They are 4th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 2.1. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the WNBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 32.2 boards per game, and 3rd in assists per contest with 20.2. The Mercury are 7th in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Mercury surrender 82.8 points per contest, which ranks them 7th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 12th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 17.2 assists allowed per contest and 7th with 34.7 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mercury are 4th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 12.0 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Dream are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 99.3, and their offensive rating of 102.1 is ranked 12th. They are 3rd in the WNBA in pace with 79.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 46% is 11th. As a unit they are 11th in the league in true shooting percentage with 51% and they shoot 3-pointers on 26% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the WNBA. Atlanta is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 12th in the WNBA.

Advanced Statistics

Phoenix is 5th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 11th in the league. The Mercury are 4th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 109, and their defensive rating of 106.4 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 7th in the league with 77.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league.

Who will win tonight's WNBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Phoenix -4

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