Connecticut Sun at Phoenix Mercury WNBA Picks & Predictions 7/5/2018

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Talking Stick Resort Arena

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

The Connecticut Sun travel to Talking Stick Resort Arena to play the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday, July 5, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Phoenix as 2 point favorites.

The Sun head into this matchup with a mark of 10-7. They are 2nd in the Eastern Conference. They have a point differential of 5.3 as they average 87.8 points per contest while giving up 82.5 per game. The Mercury have an overall mark of 13-5. They are 3rd in the Western Conference. They total 83.8 points per contest and give up 79.4, which is a point differential of 4.4.

Valuable Connecticut Sun Betting Trends

The Connecticut Sun are 4-2 against the spread

The Connecticut Sun are 1-4 against the over/under

Important Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends

The Phoenix Mercury are 3-4 against the spread

The Phoenix Mercury are 6-1 against the over/under

Key Connecticut Sun Injuries

07/03/18 F Alyssa Thomas Shoulder is "?" Thursday vs Phoenix Mercury
07/03/18 G Courtney Williams Personal is "?" Thursday vs Phoenix Mercury

Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries

07/04/18 F Camille Little Rest left last game, is "?" Thursday vs Connecticut Sun
07/03/18 F Sancho Lyttle Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Jasmine Thomas comes into this contest averaging 13.4 points per game while playing 26.3 minutes per night so far this season for the Sun. She pulls down 3.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.6 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 37% while her free throw percentage is currently at 85%. Chiney Ogwumike averages 15.2 points per game in 27.9 minutes per contest this season. She averages 1.1 assists per contest and 8.0 rebounds per game for Connecticut. Her field goal percentage is 62% for the year while her free throw percentage is 82%.

Player Spotlight

Brittney Griner averages 19.9 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She grabs 7.6 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 55% and her free throw percentage currently is at 82%. Diana Taurasi averages 20.1 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per contest. She also averages 3.0 rebounds per contest and 5.0 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 44% and her free throw percentage is 96%.

Useful Team Statistics

Connecticut averages 87.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 1st in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.3 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 37.3 rebounds per game and 19.0 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 4th with 13.9 per game. The Sun allow 82.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 8th in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.3 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd and they give up 17.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 13.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix is 5th in the league with 83.8 points per game this year. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 4.4. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 2nd in the WNBA. They are 11th in the league in rebounding with 31.5 boards per game, and 1st in assists per contest with 20.8. The Mercury are 11th in turnovers per game with 12.8. The Mercury surrender 79.4 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 42% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 9th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 16.3 assists allowed per contest and 8th with 34.1 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mercury are 8th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Sun are 2nd in the WNBA in offensive rating with 110.1, and their defensive rating of 103.5 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 4th in the league with 79.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 5th. As a team they are 6th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league. Connecticut is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 8th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Phoenix is 5th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.0 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 10th in the WNBA. The Mercury are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 102.7, and their offensive rating of 108.4 is ranked 7th. They are 11th in the WNBA in pace with 77.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 2nd in the WNBA.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Phoenix -2

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink