Washington Mystics vs Phoenix Mercury Prediction, 9/15/2020 WNBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Washington Mystics vs Phoenix Mercury

Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Location: IMG Academy

TV: ESPN2

IMG Academy is the site where Diana Taurasi and the Phoenix Mercury (13-9, 5th in the Western Conference) will take on the Washington Mystics (9-13, 3rd in the Eastern Conference) on Tuesday in Game 1 of the WNBA Playoffs. Phoenix opens as 5.5 point favorites. The total is set at 165.5.

Ariel Atkins comes into this game averaging 14.7 points per contest while being on the court 31.0 minutes per night so far this year for the Mystics. She grabs 2.9 rebounds per contest and hands out 2.4 assists per game as well. Her field goal percentage is 44% while her free throw percentage is currently at 89%. Myisha Hines-Allen averages 17.1 points per game in 30.0 minutes per contest this season. She averages 2.6 assists per contest and 8.9 rebounds per game for Washington. Her field goal percentage is 51% for the year while her free throw percentage is 83%.

Diana Taurasi averages 18.7 points per game while playing 28.1 minutes per contest this year for the Mercury. She grabs 4.2 rebounds per game and has 4.5 assists per contest on the year. Her field goal percentage is 41% and her free throw percentage currently is at 91%. Skylar Diggins-Smith averages 17.7 points per game this season and she sees the court an average of 30.7 minutes per contest. She also averages 3.3 rebounds per contest and 4.2 assists per game. Her field goal percentage is 47% and her free throw percentage is 90%.

Related: Get WNBA predictions on all of today's games

Washington averages 80.0 points per game this season, which ranks them 11th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -1.5 and their shooting percentage is 43% as a team, which has them ranked 9th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 9th in the WNBA. They average 31.5 rebounds per contest and 19.7 assists per game, which ranks them 11th and 7th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 11th with 12.1 per game. The Mystics allow 81.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 6th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 10th and 8th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 34.7 rebounds a game which ranks 8th and they give up 17.8 assists per contest, which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 14.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 8th in the league.

Phoenix is 4th in the league with 86.1 points per game this year. They are 6th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 2.0. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 8th in the WNBA. They are 7th in the league in rebounding with 34.0 boards per game, and 4th in assists per contest with 20.4. The Mercury are 6th in turnovers per game with 14.0. The Mercury surrender 84.1 points per contest, which ranks them 8th in the WNBA. Their defense is allowing a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 6th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 18.3 assists allowed per contest and 10th with 36.0 rebounds surrendered per game. The Mercury are 4th in the WNBA in forcing turnovers with 13.3 per game this season.

The Mystics are 9th in the WNBA in offensive rating with 103.5, and their defensive rating of 105.5 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 76.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 7th. As a team they are 8th in the WNBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 4th in the league. Washington is 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 1st in the league.

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

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

Guy's Pick: Take Washington

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