Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury Predictions, WNBA Picks, Betting Tips 7/31/2020

Game: Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury

Date: Friday, July 31, 2020

Location: IMG Academy

TV: CBS Sports

IMG Academy is the venue where Skylar Diggins-Smith and the Phoenix Mercury (0-2, 6th in the Western Conference) will play the Las Vegas Aces (1-1, 4th in the Western Conference) on Friday. 

Angel McCoughtry comes into this contest averaging 18.5 points per game while playing 20.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Aces. She pulls down 7.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 2 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 62% while her free throw percentage is currently at 90%. A'ja Wilson averages 21.5 points per game in 28.5 minutes per contest this season. She averages 2 assists per contest and 11 rebounds per game for Las Vegas. Her field goal percentage is 52% for the year while her free throw percentage is 65%.

Skylar Diggins-Smith averages 13 points per game while playing 27 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She has 5 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 67% and her free throw percentage currently is at 71%. Diana Taurasi averages 11 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 24 minutes per contest. She also averages 2 rebounds per contest and 2.5 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 29% and her free throw percentage is 100%.

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Las Vegas averages 93 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 14 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 3rd. Behind the arc they shoot 43% which is good for 2nd in the league. They average 44.5 rebounds per game and 19.5 assists per game, which ranks them 1st and 5th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 2nd with 18 per game. The Aces allow 79 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 2nd in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 26% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 2nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 29 rebounds a game which ranks 1st and they give up 18.5 assists per contest, which puts them in 8th place in the league. They force 16 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the league.

Phoenix is 8th in the league with 88 points per game this year. They are 7th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is -14.5. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 8th in the WNBA. They are 10th in the league in rebounding with 30 boards per game, and 3rd in assists per contest with 20.5. The Mercury are 3rd in turnovers per game with 17.5. The Mercury surrender 102.5 points per contest, which ranks them 12th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 54% shooting percentage and a 45% average from 3-point range, ranking them 12th and 11th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 19 assists allowed per contest and 5th with 34.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mercury are 4th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 13.5 per game this season.

The Aces are 5th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 107.9, and their defensive rating of 91.7 is ranked 11th. In terms of pace they are 1st in the league with 86.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 7th. As a team they are 9th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 9% of their shots, ranking 12th in the league. Las Vegas is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 17.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 17 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 48%, which is 9th in the league.

Phoenix is 2nd in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 18.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 60%, which is 1st in the league. The Mercury are 7th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 105.8, and their defensive rating of 123.2 is ranked 1st. In terms of pace they are 9th in the league with 83.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 6th. As a team they are 4th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league.

Who will win tonight's WNBA game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take Phoenix 

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