Seattle Storm at Phoenix Mercury Game 4 Picks & Predictions 9/2/2018

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Talking Stick Resort Arena

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

The Seattle Storm head to Talking Stick Resort Arena to play the Phoenix Mercury in Game 4 of their series. Phoenix blew out Seattle in Game 3 by a score of 86-66 to cut the Storm's series lead to 2-1. The opening line for this matchup has Phoenix as 2 point favorites.

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. 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 Seattle Storm Betting Trends

The Seattle Storm are 22-15 against the spread

The Seattle Storm are 18-17-2 against the over/under

Important Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends

The Phoenix Mercury are 25-14 against the spread

The Phoenix Mercury are 22-16-1 against the over/under

Key Seattle Storm Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries

09/01/18 G Stephanie Talbot Concussion is doubtful Sunday vs Seattle Storm
08/23/18 F Sancho Lyttle ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Jewell Loyd comes into this contest averaging 15.5 points per game while playing 29.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Storm. She pulls down 4.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.7 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 42% while her free throw percentage is currently at 85%. Breanna Stewart averages 21.8 points per game in 31.6 minutes per contest this season. She averages 2.5 assists per contest and 8.4 rebounds per game for Seattle. Her field goal percentage is 53% for the year while her free throw percentage is 82%.

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

Seattle averages 87.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 2nd in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 7.6 and their shooting percentage is 47% as a team, which has them ranked 1st. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 35.4 rebounds per game and 21.2 assists per game, which ranks them 5th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 6th with 12.7 per game. The Storm allow 79.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 5th in the league. They also allow a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 4th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.0 rebounds a game which ranks 5th and they give up 18.1 assists per contest, which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 7th 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 Storm are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 101.5, and their offensive rating of 111.1 is ranked 11th. They are 6th in the WNBA in pace with 77.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 1st. 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 2nd in the WNBA. Seattle is 6th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 10th in the WNBA.

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?

Josh's Pick: Take Seattle -2

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