Phoenix Mercury vs Connecticut Sun Expert WNBA Picks Against the Spread 8/1/2019
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Mohegan Sun Arena
Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.
Brittney Griner and the Phoenix Mercury (10-8, 4th in the Western Conference) travel to Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday where they'll take on the Connecticut Sun (13-6, 1st in the Eastern Conference).
The Mercury have been pretty good for Las Vegas oddsmakers, having gone 8-9 ATS. Connecticut is covering 47.4% of the time, going 9-10 against the spread.
Valuable Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends
The Mercury have been a bad Over play for O/U basketball bettors, having gone 6-12.
Phoenix is covering 44.4% of the time on the road, having gone 4-5 ATS.
Important Connecticut Sun Betting Trends
Connecticut is covering 22.2% of the time at Mohegan Sun Arena, going 2-7 against the spread.
The Sun have been a bad Over play for O/U basketball bettors, having gone 7-12.
Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries
07/24/19 G Diana Taurasi Back is questionable Tuesday vs Wash Mystics
07/24/19 F Essence Carson Calf is questionable Tuesday vs Wash Mystics
07/16/19 F Sancho Lyttle Knee is out indefinitely
Key Connecticut Sun Injuries
06/26/19 G Layshia Clarendon Ankle is out 3-4 months
Player Spotlight
Brittney Griner comes into this contest averaging 19.1 points per game while playing 34.3 minutes per night so far this season for the Mercury. She pulls down 7.2 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.0 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 51% while her free throw percentage is currently at 82%. DeWanna Bonner averages 18.7 points per game in 33.7 minutes per contest this season. She averages 2.6 assists per contest and 7.4 rebounds per game for Phoenix. Her field goal percentage is 40% for the year while her free throw percentage is 94%.
Player Spotlight
Jasmine Thomas averages 11.7 points per game while playing 29.7 minutes per contest this year for the Sun. She grabs 3.2 rebounds per game and has 5.5 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 39% and her free throw percentage currently is at 83%. Jonquel Jones averages 15.3 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 29.6 minutes per contest. She also averages 10.2 rebounds per contest and 1.3 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 46% and her free throw percentage is 74%.
Related: Get WNBA tips & picks on all of today's games
Useful Team Statistics
Phoenix averages 74.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 10th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.7 and their shooting percentage is 41% as a team, which has them ranked 7th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 32.2 rebounds per game and 17.1 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 11th with 11.3 per game. The Mercury allow 73.4 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 2nd in the league. They also allow a 41% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 4th and 7th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 37.7 rebounds a game which ranks 10th and they give up 16.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league.
Useful Team Statistics
Connecticut is 4th in the league with 78.3 points per game this year. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 41%, while their average scoring margin is 3.9. They shoot 35% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the WNBA. They are 2nd in the league in rebounding with 37.4 boards per game, and 5th in assists per contest with 18.5. The Sun are 8th in turnovers per game with 12.9. The Sun surrender 74.3 points per contest, which ranks them 3rd in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 42% shooting percentage and a 28% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 8th with 18.7 assists allowed per contest and 4th with 33.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Sun are 8th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 13.8 per game this season.
Advanced Statistics
The Mercury are 6th in the league in defensive rating with 98.4, and their offensive rating of 99.4 is ranked 8th. They are 11th in the WNBA in pace with 74.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 47% is 6th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 52% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the WNBA. Phoenix is 11th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 46%, which is 9th in the WNBA.
Advanced Statistics
Connecticut is 9th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.0 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 47%, which is 7th in the league. The Sun are 3rd in the WNBA in offensive rating with 101, and their defensive rating of 95.9 is ranked 11th. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 77.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 46% is 7th. As a team they are 10th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 50% and they shoot 3-pointers on 29% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league.
Who will win tonight's WNBA game against the spread?
Guy's Pick: Take Connecticut
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