Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky Prediction, 10/15/2021 WNBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Phoenix Mercury vs Chicago Sky

Date: Friday, October 15, 2021

Location: Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Phoenix (+3)

The Phoenix Mercury (19-13) go to Wintrust Arena on Friday where they'll take on the Chicago Sky (16-16) in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Phoenix and Chicago are currently sitting at 1-1 in this series. The spread on this game has Chicago as 3 point favorites. The total is set at 167.5.

The Phoenix Mercury faced the Chicago Sky and went home with a win by a final score of 91-86 in their last game. Phoenix wrapped up the game with a 44.4% field goal percentage (36 of 81) and made 9 of their 26 shots from beyond the arc. At the charity stripe, the Mercury made 10 of 11 shots for a percentage of 90.9%. With regard to rebounding, they earned 37 with 9 of them being offensive. They also doled out 25 dimes in the game in addition to forcing 16 turnovers and getting 9 steals. In reference to the defense, Phoenix allowed their opponent to shoot 46.3% from the field on 37 out of 80 shooting. Chicago recorded 9 dimes and had 9 steals for the game. Moreover, Chicago pulled down 42 rebounds (9 offensive, 33 defensive) and got 7 blocked shots. Chicago ended up going 75.0% at the free throw line by knocking down 3 of their 4 tries. They converted 9 out of their 29 tries from long range.

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Skylar Diggins-Smith is a player who was a major contributor for this game. She totaled 13 points on 5 of 18 shooting. She was on the court for 41:35 mins and snagged 7 rebounds. Diggins-Smith finished 27.8% from the floor and earned 12 assists. An additional player that played a role in the game for the Mercury was Brittney Griner. She snagged 9 rebounds in 41:29 min on the hardwood. She went 63.2% from the floor for the game by shooting 12-of-19 (29 points). In all, Griner had 1 assist.

Phoenix enters this matchup with a win-loss mark of 19-13 so far this season. The Mercury are shooting 34.6% on 3-pointers (241 of 697) and 79.8% from the free throw line. They currently have an average of 82.1 pts per game (5th in the league) while connecting on 45.0% from the floor. They are losing possession via turnover 12.8 times per game and as a squad they are committing 16.3 personal fouls per contest. As a unit, Phoenix is grabbing 36.2 boards per game and is sitting with 629 dimes for the season, which is 5th in the WNBA in terms of passing the rock. On the defensive end, the Mercury are able to force 10.1 turnovers per game and they draw 18.2 personal fouls. They are conceding 32.2% on shots from beyond the perimeter and they rank 4th in basketball in PPG allowed (79.5). The Mercury are allowing a shooting percentage of 41.7% (322 of 583) and they concede 34.9 rebounds per game as a team. They currently rank 3rd in basketball in giving up assists to the opposition with 546 surrendered on the campaign.

The last time they took the court, the Chicago Sky took a loss by a final score of 91-86 when they played the Phoenix Mercury. The Sky pulled down 33 defensive boards and 9 offensive rebounds for a total of 42 for this game. They turned the ball over 16 times, while getting 9 steals in this game. The Mercury committed 13 fouls for the matchup which took the Sky to the charity stripe for a total of 4 shots. They were able to convert 3 of the free throw tries for a rate of 75.0%. Concerning three-point shots, Chicago made 9 of their 29 tries (31.0%). When all was said and done, the Sky finished the game shooting 37 for 80 from the floor which gave them a shooting percentage of 46.3%. The Sky allowed the Mercury to make 36 of 81 attempts from the field which gave them a shooting percentage of 44.4% in the matchup. They went 34.6% from beyond the perimeter by shooting 9 of 26 and finished the game at 10 out of 11 from the free throw line (90.9%). Concerning cleaning the glass, Chicago permitted Phoenix to pull down 37 in total (9 on the offensive glass).

Kahleah Copper ended up having an impact for the Sky for the matchup. She made 7 of 14 in the matchup for a rate of 50.0%, and accounted for 9 rebounds. Copper racked up 15 points in her 41:32 mins on the hardwood and totaled 1 assist in this game. An additional player who came through for Chicago was Courtney Vandersloot. She ended up walking away with 14 dimes in 41:24 mins played, and she converted 9 of 15 from the floor. Vandersloot walked away from this one going 60.0% from the floor in addition to collecting 20 points and 3 boards.

Chicago has a record of 16-16 so far this season. The Sky commit 19.0 personal fouls per game and they connect on 84.5% from the free throw line. Their rate of assisting teammates is at 21.8 times per game (1st in basketball) and they lose possession via turnover 13.8 times per game. Chicago has totaled 2,664 points on the year (83.3 per contest) and they snag 34.9 boards per game. When it comes to offense, the Sky are hitting on 44.1% from the floor, which ranks them 6th in basketball. The Sky on the defensive end are ranked 8th in the WNBA in PPG allowed with 81.9. They are able to force 14.8 TO's per game and allow teams to shoot 43.3% from the field (7th in basketball). The Chicago defense allows 35.2% on shots from behind the 3-point line (210 of 597) and opponents are converting on 78.1% of their shots from the free throw line. They have given up 18.9 dimes and 35.9 rebounds per contest, which ranks 5th and 8th in the WNBA.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago (-3)

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