New York Liberty at Phoenix Mercury WNBA Picks & Predictions 8/19/2018

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Talking Stick Resort Arena

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

Talking Stick Resort Arena is the site of the matchup between the New York Liberty and the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, August 19, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Phoenix as 9 point favorites.

The Liberty have a record of 7-26. They are 5th in the Eastern Conference. They have a point differential of -7.0 as they average 77.5 points per game while giving up 84.5 per contest. The Mercury head into this matchup with a mark of 19-14. They are 4th in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 2.3 as they average 85.5 points per contest while giving up 83.2 per game.

Valuable New York Liberty Betting Trends

The New York Liberty are 14-19 against the spread

The New York Liberty are 18-15 against the over/under

Important Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends

The Phoenix Mercury are 20-13 against the spread

The Phoenix Mercury are 18-15 against the over/under

Key New York Liberty Injuries

08/18/18 G Epiphanny Prince Knee is "?" Sunday vs Phoenix Mercury
08/18/18 G Shavonte Zellous Ankle is "?" Sunday vs Phoenix Mercury

Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries

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

Player Spotlight

Tina Charles comes into this contest averaging 20.1 points per game while playing 33.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Liberty. She pulls down 7.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.7 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 48% while her free throw percentage is currently at 77%. Bria Hartley averages 8.6 points per game in 23.8 minutes per contest this season. She averages 3.6 assists per contest and 3.0 rebounds per game for New York. Her field goal percentage is 39% for the year while her free throw percentage is 71%.

Player Spotlight

Brittney Griner averages 20.8 points per game while playing 32.9 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She grabs 7.8 rebounds per game and has 2.0 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 55% and her free throw percentage currently is at 80%. Diana Taurasi averages 20.8 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 30.2 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 92%.

Useful Team Statistics

New York averages 77.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 11th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is -7.0 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 10th. Behind the arc they shoot 32% which is good for 11th in the league. They average 34.2 rebounds per game and 19.5 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 2nd with 14.2 per game. The Liberty allow 84.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.2 rebounds a game which ranks 9th and they give up 19.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 9th place in the league. They force 11.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix is 4th in the league with 85.5 points per game this year. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 2.3. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the WNBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 32.5 boards per game, and 3rd in assists per contest with 20.5. 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 12th 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 4th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 12.0 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Liberty are 11th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 98.7, and their defensive rating of 107.7 is ranked 3rd. In terms of pace they are 8th in the league with 77.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 48% is 9th. As a team they are 10th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league. New York is 2nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 7th in the league.

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 13.1 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 5th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 109.5, and their defensive rating of 106.6 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 7th in the league with 78 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 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 New York -9

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