Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks WNBA Picks & Predictions 8/5/2018

Sunday, August 5, 2018

Staples Center

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

The Phoenix Mercury travel to Staples Center to play the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, August 5, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles as 6.5 point favorites.

The Mercury head into this matchup with a mark of 16-12. They are 4th in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 1.6 as they average 84.4 points per contest while giving up 82.8 per game. The Sparks have a record of 16-11. They are 3rd in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 2.7 as they average 79.4 points per game while giving up 76.8 per contest.

Valuable Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends

The Phoenix Mercury are 16-12 against the spread

The Phoenix Mercury are 15-13 against the over/under

Important Los Angeles Sparks Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Sparks are 13-12-2 against the spread

The Los Angeles Sparks are 11-16 against the over/under

Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries

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

Key Los Angeles Sparks Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Brittney Griner comes into this contest averaging 20.2 points per game while playing 32.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Mercury. She pulls down 7.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.0 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 54% while her free throw percentage is currently at 80%. Diana Taurasi averages 20.9 points per game in 29.8 minutes per contest this season. She averages 4.9 assists per contest and 3.3 rebounds per game for Phoenix. Her field goal percentage is 45% for the year while her free throw percentage is 93%.

Player Spotlight

Candace Parker averages 18.3 points per game while playing 30.1 minutes per contest this year for the Sparks. She grabs 7.6 rebounds per game and has 4.8 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 49% and her free throw percentage currently is at 83%. Chelsea Gray averages 14.6 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 32.4 minutes per contest. She also averages 3.3 rebounds per contest and 5.4 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 48% and her free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix averages 84.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 4th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.6 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 4th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 4th in the league. They average 32.1 rebounds per game and 20.0 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 6th with 13.0 per game. The Mercury allow 82.8 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 7th in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 12th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 35.2 rebounds a game which ranks 8th and they give up 17.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Los Angeles is 8th in the league with 79.4 points per game this year. They are 2nd in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 2.7. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 5th in the WNBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 30.6 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 18.9. The Sparks are 12th in turnovers per game with 11.4. The Sparks surrender 76.8 points per contest, which ranks them 1st in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 30% average from 3-point range, ranking them 9th and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 5th with 18.4 assists allowed per contest and 7th with 34.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Sparks are 12th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Mercury are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 105.8, and their offensive rating of 107.9 is ranked 5th. They are 6th in the WNBA in pace with 78.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the WNBA. Phoenix is 5th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.0 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 11th in the WNBA.

Advanced Statistics

Los Angeles is 11th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 8th in the league. The Sparks are 6th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 104.7, and their defensive rating of 101.2 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 75.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 3rd. As a team they are 5th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 25% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction? WNBA game against the spread?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Los Angeles -6.5 and under 160.5 points

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