Connecticut Sun vs Phoenix Mercury WNBA Picks 8/14/2019
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Talking Stick Resort Arena
Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.
Talking Stick Resort Arena is the venue where Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury (11-12, 5th in the Western Conference) will play the Connecticut Sun (16-8, 2nd in the Eastern Conference) on Wednesday.
The Sun have been a bad pick for basketball wagerers, having gone 10-14 ATS. Phoenix is covering the spread 50.0% of the time, going 11-11 against the spread.
Valuable Connecticut Sun Betting Trends
The Sun have been a bad Over option for over/under basketball wagerers, having gone 10-14.
The Sun are covering the spread 25.0% of the time as the visitor, having gone 3-9 ATS.
Important Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends
The Mercury are covering the spread 50.0% of the time at Talking Stick Resort Arena, going 6-6 against the spread.
The Mercury have been a bad Over option for over/under basketball wagerers, having gone 10-13.
Key Connecticut Sun Injuries
06/26/19 G Layshia Clarendon Ankle is out 3-4 months
Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries
08/11/19 C Brittney Griner Possible Suspension is questionable Wednesday vs Connecticut Sun
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
Jasmine Thomas comes into this contest averaging 11.4 points per game while playing 29.3 minutes per night so far this season for the Sun. She pulls down 3.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.2 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 40% while her free throw percentage is currently at 81%. Courtney Williams averages 11.8 points per game in 27.7 minutes per contest this season. She averages 3.4 assists per contest and 5.3 rebounds per game for Connecticut. Her field goal percentage is 41% for the year while her free throw percentage is 77%.
Player Spotlight
Brittney Griner averages 19.4 points per game while playing 33.2 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She grabs 7.0 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 54% and her free throw percentage currently is at 82%. DeWanna Bonner averages 18.0 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 33.9 minutes per contest. She also averages 7.4 rebounds per contest and 2.8 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 38% and her free throw percentage is 93%.
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Useful Team Statistics
Connecticut averages 78.6 points per contest this season, which ranks them 5th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.6 and their shooting percentage is 41% as a team, which has them ranked 10th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 3rd in the league. They average 37.1 rebounds per game and 18.8 assists per game, which ranks them 2nd and 6th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 9th with 13.2 per game. The Sun allow 76.0 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 6th in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 29% average from behind the arc, ranking them 9th and 1st in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.0 rebounds a game which ranks 5th and they give up 19.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 10th place in the league. They force 14.5 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league.
Useful Team Statistics
Phoenix is 9th in the league with 75.8 points per game this year. They are 6th in the league in shooting at 42%, while their average scoring margin is 0.4. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 7th in the WNBA. They are 12th in the league in rebounding with 32.1 boards per game, and 8th in assists per contest with 17.6. The Mercury are 11th in turnovers per game with 11.6. The Mercury surrender 75.4 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 36.6 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mercury are 2nd in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 12.3 per game this season.
Advanced Statistics
The Sun are 5th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 100.5, and their defensive rating of 97.2 is ranked 10th. In terms of pace they are 4th in the league with 78.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 46% is 8th. As a team they are 10th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league. Connecticut is 9th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 4th in the league.
Advanced Statistics
Phoenix is 11th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.0 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 47%, which is 7th in the WNBA. The Mercury are 2nd in the league in defensive rating with 100.9, and their offensive rating of 101.4 is ranked 6th. They are 11th in the WNBA in pace with 74.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 4th. 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 4th in the WNBA.
Who will win tonight's WNBA game against the spread?
Josh's Pick: Take Phoenix
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