Atlanta Dream vs Phoenix Mercury WNBA Point Spread Picks 8/16/2019
Friday, August 16, 2019
Talking Stick Resort Arena
Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.
Talking Stick Resort Arena is the site where Leilani Mitchell and the Phoenix Mercury (11-13, 5th in the Western Conference) will take on the Atlanta Dream (5-20, 6th in the Eastern Conference) on Friday.
The Dream have been excellent for Vegas, having gone 11-14 ATS. The Mercury are covering the spread 47.8% of the time, going 11-12 against the spread.
Valuable Atlanta Dream Betting Trends
The Dream have been an inconsistent Over pick for O/U WNBA bettors, having gone 11-13.
Atlanta is covering the spread 58.3% of the time as the away team, having gone 7-5 ATS.
Important Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends
Phoenix is covering the spread 50.0% of the time at Talking Stick Resort Arena, going 6-6 against the spread.
The Mercury have been a very good Under pick for O/U WNBA bettors, having gone 10-14.
Key Atlanta Dream Injuries
08/14/19 F Monique Billings Ankle is questionable Friday vs Phoenix Mercury
05/10/19 F Angel McCoughtry Knee is out indefinitely
Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries
08/13/19 C Brittney Griner Suspension is out next 3 games
08/11/19 G Diana Taurasi Hamstring is out indefinitely
08/05/19 FW Alanna Smith Undisclosed is out indefinitely
08/02/19 F Essence Carson Calf is out indefinitely
07/16/19 F Sancho Lyttle Knee is out indefinitely
Player Spotlight
Tiffany Hayes comes into this contest averaging 13.9 points per game while playing 28.1 minutes per night so far this season for the Dream. She pulls down 3.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.1 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 40% while her free throw percentage is currently at 76%. Renee Montgomery averages 8.3 points per game in 26.8 minutes per contest this season. She averages 2.8 assists per contest and 2.2 rebounds per game for Atlanta. Her field goal percentage is 33% for the year while her free throw percentage is 85%.
Player Spotlight
Leilani Mitchell averages 13.3 points per game while playing 30.8 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She grabs 3.3 rebounds per game and has 4.2 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 45% and her free throw percentage currently is at 85%. DeWanna Bonner averages 18.0 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 33.7 minutes per contest. She also averages 7.3 rebounds per contest and 2.7 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 38% and her free throw percentage is 92%.
Related: Get WNBA picks & tips on all of today's games
Useful Team Statistics
Atlanta averages 70.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 11th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is -8.6 and their shooting percentage is 37% as a team, which has them ranked 12th. Behind the arc they shoot 28% which is good for 12th in the league. They average 36.4 rebounds per game and 15.8 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 7th with 13.8 per game. The Dream allow 79.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 5th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 40.0 rebounds a game which ranks 12th and they give up 19.4 assists per contest, which puts them in 10th place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 3rd in the league.
Useful Team Statistics
Phoenix is 9th in the league with 75.6 points per game this year. They are 7th in the league in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is 0.1. They shoot 33% from 3-point range, which is good for 8th in the WNBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 32.1 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 17.4. The Mercury are 11th in turnovers per game with 11.9. The Mercury surrender 75.5 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 42% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 6th and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 17.3 assists allowed per contest and 10th with 36.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mercury are 2nd in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 12.4 per game this season.
Advanced Statistics
The Dream are 12th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 91.3, and their defensive rating of 102.4 is ranked 3rd. In terms of pace they are 7th in the league with 77.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 41% is 12th. As a team they are 12th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 46% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 2nd in the league. Atlanta is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 46%, which is 8th in the league.
Advanced Statistics
Phoenix is 10th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 7th in the WNBA. The Mercury are 3rd in the league in defensive rating with 100.9, and their offensive rating of 101 is ranked 6th. They are 11th in the WNBA in pace with 74.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 5th. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the WNBA.
Who will win tonight's WNBA game against the spread?
Tony's Pick: Take Phoenix
Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here
Read more articles by Tony Sink
Get all of Today's Free WNBA Picks
Get all of Today's Expert WNBA Picks