Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx Prediction, 9/17/2020 WNBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2020

Location: IMG Academy

TV: ESPN2

IMG Academy is the site where Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx (14-8, 4th in the Western Conference) will take on the Phoenix Mercury (13-9, 5th in the Western Conference) on Thursday in Round 2 of the WNBA Playoffs.

Phoenix advanced by beating the Washington Mystics 85-84 on Tuesday night. Diana Taurasi finished with 23 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds to lead the Mercury. The Lynx were granted a bye, so they'll be the more well rested team. 

Skylar Diggins-Smith comes into this contest averaging 17.7 points per game while playing 30.7 minutes per night so far this season for the Mercury. She pulls down 3.3 rebounds per game and dishes out 4.2 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 47% while her free throw percentage is currently at 90%. Brianna Turner averages 7.2 points per game in 27.9 minutes per contest this season. She averages 1.8 assists per contest and 9.0 rebounds per game for Phoenix. Her field goal percentage is 58% for the year while her free throw percentage is 64%.

Napheesa Collier averages 16.1 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per contest this year for the Lynx. She grabs 9.0 rebounds per game and has 3.3 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 52% and her free throw percentage currently is at 83%. Crystal Dangerfield averages 16.2 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 30.0 minutes per contest. She also averages 2.0 rebounds per contest and 3.6 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 47% and her free throw percentage is 92%.

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Phoenix averages 86.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 4th in the WNBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.0 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 6th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 8th in the league. They average 34.0 rebounds per game and 20.4 assists per game, which ranks them 7th and 4th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 6th with 14.0 per game. The Mercury allow 84.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 8th in the league. They also allow a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 2nd and 6th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 36.0 rebounds a game which ranks 10th and they give up 18.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 3rd place in the league. They force 13.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 4th in the league.

Minnesota is 6th in the league with 84.4 points per game this year. They are 5th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 3.8. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 3rd in the WNBA. They are 6th in the league in rebounding with 34.4 boards per game, and 6th in assists per contest with 19.8. The Lynx are 5th in turnovers per game with 14.2. The Lynx surrender 80.6 points per contest, which ranks them 5th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 6th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 19.7 assists allowed per contest and 1st with 30.9 rebounds surrendered per game. The Lynx are 9th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season.

The Mercury are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 104.3, and their offensive rating of 106.8 is ranked 8th. They are 4th in the WNBA in pace with 80.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 5th. As a unit they are 4th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the WNBA. Phoenix is 7th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 48%, which is 11th in the WNBA.

Minnesota is 4th in the WNBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 6th in the league. The Lynx are 2nd in the WNBA in offensive rating with 109.6, and their defensive rating of 104.6 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 77 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 4th. As a team they are 5th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 32% of their shots, ranking 5th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Minnesota

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