Dallas Wings at Phoenix Mercury WNBA Playoffs Picks & Predictions 8/21/2018

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Wells Fargo Arena

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

The Dallas Wings travel to Wells Fargo Arena to play the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Phoenix as 6.5 point favorites.

The Wings head into this matchup with a mark of 15-19. They are 6th in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 1.3 as they average 86.6 points per contest while giving up 85.4 per game. The Mercury have a record of 20-14. They are 3rd in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 2.5 as they average 85.8 points per game while giving up 83.2 per contest.

Valuable Dallas Wings Betting Trends

The Dallas Wings are 17-16-1 against the spread

The Dallas Wings are 19-14-1 against the over/under

Important Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends

The Phoenix Mercury are 20-14 against the spread

The Phoenix Mercury are 19-15 against the over/under

Key Dallas Wings Injuries

08/20/18 G Kaela Davis Ankle is doubtful Tuesday vs Phoenix Mercury
08/20/18 G Tayler Hill Ankle is "?" Tuesday vs Phoenix Mercury
08/19/18 G Karima Christmas-Kelly Knee is out for season

Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries

08/20/18 G Stephanie Talbot Nose is probable Tuesday vs Dallas Wings
08/19/18 F Sancho Lyttle ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Skylar Diggins-Smith comes into this contest averaging 17.9 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Wings. She pulls down 3.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.2 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 40% while her free throw percentage is currently at 84%. Liz Cambage averages 23.0 points per game in 29.5 minutes per contest this season. She averages 2.3 assists per contest and 9.7 rebounds per game for Dallas. Her field goal percentage is 59% for the year while her free throw percentage is 74%.

Player Spotlight

Brittney Griner averages 20.5 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She grabs 7.7 rebounds per game and has 2.1 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 54% and her free throw percentage currently is at 80%. Diana Taurasi averages 20.7 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 5.3 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 45% and her free throw percentage is 93%.

Useful Team Statistics

Dallas averages 86.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.3 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 9th. Behind the arc they shoot 31% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 36.6 rebounds per game and 18.1 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 10th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 4th with 13.6 per game. The Wings allow 85.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 10th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 8th and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 32.2 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd and they give up 19.6 assists per contest, which puts them in 9th place in the league. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix is 4th in the league with 85.8 points per game this year. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 2.5. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the WNBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 32.6 boards per game, and 3rd in assists per contest with 20.6. The Mercury are 7th in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Mercury surrender 83.2 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 11th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 17.1 assists allowed per contest and 7th with 34.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mercury are 3rd in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 11.9 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Wings are 5th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 109.1, and their defensive rating of 107.5 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 3rd in the league with 79.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 8th. As a team they are 6th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league. Dallas is 5th 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 50%, which is 5th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Phoenix is 4th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.0 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 110.1, and their defensive rating of 106.8 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 7th in the league with 77.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 2nd. As a team they are 1st in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 58% 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 -6.5

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