Phoenix Mercury vs Seattle Storm Expert WNBA Picks Against the Spread 5/25/2019

Saturday, May 25, 2019

Angel of the Winds Arena

Get todays WNBA odds and lines on this game.

Jewell Loyd and the Seattle Storm (26-8 last year, 1st in the Western Conference) play the Phoenix Mercury (20-14 last season, 2nd in the Western Conference) at Angel of the Winds Arena on Saturday, May 25, 2019. Seattle opens this game as 2 point underdogs. The over/under opens at 159.

The Mercury were an excellent bet for basketball bettors last season, having gone 25-16 ATS. Seattle covered the spread 61.9% of the time, going 26-16 against the spread. The Mercury were a less than ideal play for basketball wagerers as favorites, going 12-12 ATS. Seattle went 20-12 against the spread as the underdog, so they covered the spread 62.5% of the time.

Valuable Phoenix Mercury Betting Trends

The Mercury were an excellent Over play for O/U basketball wagerers, having gone 23-17.

Phoenix covered the spread 76.2% of the time last season away from home, having gone 16-5 ATS.

Important Seattle Storm Betting Trends

The Storm covered the spread 75.0% of the time last season at Angel of the Winds Arena, going 15-5 against the spread.

The Storm were a hot and cold Over play for O/U basketball wagerers, having gone 20-20.

Key Phoenix Mercury Injuries

05/23/19 F Sancho Lyttle Knee is questionable Saturday vs Seattle Storm
05/20/19 G Diana Taurasi Back is out indefinitely

Key Seattle Storm Injuries

05/21/19 G Sue Bird Knee is out indefinitely
05/19/19 F Breanna Stewart ACL is out for season

Player Spotlight

Brittney Griner comes into this contest after averaging 20.5 points per game while playing 32.6 minutes per night last season for the Mercury. She pulled down 7.7 rebounds per game and dished out 2.1 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage was 54% while her free throw percentage was at 80%. Briann January averaged 7.0 points per game in 27.1 minutes per contest last season. She averaged 3.3 assists per contest and 2.1 rebounds per game for Phoenix. Her field goal percentage was 42% for the year while her free throw percentage was 81%.

Player Spotlight

Jewell Loyd averaged 15.5 points per game while playing 29.7 minutes per contest last year for the Storm. She grabbed 4.6 rebounds per game and had 3.7 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage was 42% and her free throw percentage was at 85%. Natasha Howard averaged 13.2 points per game last season and she saw the court an average of 25.6 minutes per contest. She also averaged 6.4 rebounds per contest and 1.1 assists per game. Her field goal percentage was 55% and her free throw percentage was 80%.

Useful Team Statistics

Phoenix averaged 85.8 points per contest last season, which ranked them 4th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin was 2.5 and their shooting percentage was 46% as a team, which had them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shot 36% which was good for 4th in the league. They averaged 32.6 rebounds per game and 20.6 assists per game, which ranked them 10th and 3rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they ranked 7th with 12.7 per game. The Mercury allowed 83.2 points per game to their opponents which ranked them 7th in the league. They also allowed a 43% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 11th in those defensive categories. Opponents averaged 34.5 rebounds a game which ranked 7th and they gave up 17.1 assists per contest, which put them in 1st place in the league. They forced 11.9 turnovers per game which ranked them 3rd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

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

Advanced Statistics

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

Advanced Statistics

Seattle was 6th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turned 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 was 48%, which was 10th in the league. The Storm were 1st in the WNBA in offensive rating with 111.1, and their defensive rating of 101.5 was ranked 11th. In terms of pace they were 6th in the league with 77.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% was 1st. As a team they were 2nd in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shot 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 Seattle +2

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