Phoenix Mercury at Seattle Storm WNBA Game 2 Picks & Predictions 8/28/2018

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Key Arena

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

The Phoenix Mercury travel to Key Arena to play the Seattle Storm on Tuesday in Game 2 of the WNBA semifinals. Seattle took a 1-0 series lead on Sunday with a 91-87 win. The opening line for this matchup has Seattle as 6.5 point favorites.

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. The Storm head into this matchup with a mark of 26-8. They are 2nd in the Western Conference. They have a point differential of 7.6 as they average 87.2 points per contest while giving up 79.7 per game.

Valuable Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends

The Phoenix Mercury are 23-14 against the spread

The Phoenix Mercury are 22-15 against the over/under

Important Seattle Storm Betting Trends

The Seattle Storm are 22-13 against the spread

The Seattle Storm are 18-16-1 against the over/under

Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries

08/23/18 F Sancho Lyttle ACL is out for season

Key Seattle Storm Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Diana Taurasi comes into this contest averaging 20.7 points per game while playing 30.0 minutes per night so far this season for the Mercury. She pulls down 3.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.3 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 45% while her free throw percentage is currently at 93%. Brittney Griner averages 20.5 points per game in 32.6 minutes per contest this season. She averages 2.1 assists per contest and 7.7 rebounds per game for Phoenix. Her field goal percentage is 54% for the year while her free throw percentage is 80%.

Player Spotlight

Breanna Stewart averages 21.8 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per contest this year for the Storm. She grabs 8.4 rebounds per game and has 2.5 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 53% and her free throw percentage currently is at 82%. Jewell Loyd averages 15.5 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 29.7 minutes per contest. She also averages 4.6 rebounds per contest and 3.7 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 42% and her free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix averages 85.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 4th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.5 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 4th in the league. They average 32.6 rebounds per game and 20.6 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 7th with 12.7 per game. The Mercury allow 83.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 7th in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 11th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.5 rebounds a game which ranks 7th and they give up 17.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 3rd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Seattle is 2nd in the league with 87.2 points per game this year. They are 1st in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 7.6. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 1st in the WNBA. They are 5th in the league in rebounding with 35.4 boards per game, and 2nd in assists per contest with 21.2. The Storm are 6th in turnovers per game with 12.7. The Storm surrender 79.7 points per contest, which ranks them 5th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 3rd and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 18.1 assists allowed per contest and 5th with 34.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Storm are 7th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 12.6 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Mercury are 4th in the league in defensive rating with 106.8, and their offensive rating of 110.1 is ranked 6th. They are 7th in the WNBA in pace with 77.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 2nd. As a unit they are 1st in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the WNBA. Phoenix is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.0 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 11th in the WNBA.

Advanced Statistics

Seattle is 6th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 10th in the league. The Storm are 1st in the WNBA in offensive rating with 111.1, and their defensive rating of 101.5 is ranked 11th. In terms of pace they are 6th in the league with 77.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 1st. As a team they are 2nd in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 2nd in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Phoenix -6.5

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