Phoenix Mercury vs Las Vegas Aces Prediction, 10/8/2021 WNBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Phoenix Mercury vs Las Vegas Aces

Date: Friday, October 8, 2021

Location: Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, NV

TV: ESPN2

Odds/Point Spread: Phoenix (+5.5)

The Phoenix Mercury (19-13) head to Michelob ULTRA Arena on Friday where they'll meet the Las Vegas Aces (24-8). Phoenix opens this matchup as 5.5 point underdogs. The over/under opens at 169.5.

The Phoenix Mercury faced the Las Vegas Aces and walked away from this one with a loss by a score of 93-76 in their last game. Phoenix wrapped up the game with a 41.3% FG percentage (31 of 75) and converted 8 out of their 19 3-point attempts. At the free throw line, the Mercury made 6 of 9 tries for a percentage of 66.7%. When it comes to hauling in rebounds, they earned 35 with 9 of them being on the offensive end. They also recorded 20 dimes in this matchup while forcing the other team into 10 turnovers and earning 6 steals. In regard to the defense, Phoenix allowed their opponent to shoot 48.1% from the floor on 37 out of 77 shooting. Las Vegas recorded 10 dimes and had 9 steals in the game. Additionally, Las Vegas grabbed 37 boards (10 offensive, 27 defensive) and got 5 blocks. Las Vegas ended up going 72.7% when shooting free throws by knocking down 8 of 11 attempts. They also knocked down 11 of 22 tries from distance.

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Brittney Griner is someone who was a contributor for the matchup. She recorded 13 points on 6 of 19 shooting. She played 33:18 mins and grabbed 8 rebounds. Griner finished the game shooting 31.6% from the field and also totaled 1 assist. Another player that was a major factor in this contest for the Mercury was Skylar Diggins-Smith. She grabbed 3 rebounds in 31:55 minutes on the basketball court. She finished the game shooting 35.3% from the field in this game by hitting 6-of-17 (14 points). Overall, Diggins-Smith collected 3 assists.

Phoenix will enter this matchup with a record of 19-13 so far this year. They have an average of 82.1 pts per contest (5th in the WNBA) on 45.0% from the field. The Mercury are shooting 34.6% on shots from 3-point land (241 of 697) and 79.8% from the charity stripe. As a unit, Phoenix is grabbing 36.2 rebounds per contest and has earned 629 assists on the campaign, which has them ranked 5th in the league in terms of passing the rock. They are turning it over 12.8 times per contest and as a group are committing 16.3 fouls per contest. Defensively, the Mercury are forcing their opponents into 10.1 turnovers per game and they draw 18.2 personal fouls. The Mercury defense is allowing and opponent field goal percentage of 41.7% (322 of 583) and they relinquish 34.9 boards per contest as a unit. They currently rank 3rd in the WNBA in giving up assists to the opposition with 546 surrendered on the campaign. They relinquish 32.2% on 3-point shots and they are ranked 4th in the league in PPG allowed (79.5).

When they last stepped on the hardwood, the Las Vegas Aces went home victorious with a score of 93-76 when they faced the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces corralled 27 defensive boards and 10 offensive boards for a total of 37 in the matchup. They also coughed it up 10 times, while getting 9 steals for this game. The Mercury earned 14 personal fouls in this game which got the Aces to the free throw line for 11 tries. They were able to knock down 8 of the free throw tries for a rate of 72.7%. Pertaining to 3-point attempts, Las Vegas converted 11 of 22 tries (50.0%). Overall, the Aces finished 37 for 77 from the floor which had them shooting 48.1%. The Aces allowed the Mercury to knock down 31 out of their 75 attempts from the floor which gave them a rate of 41.3% for this game. They went 42.1% from three-point range by connecting on 8 of 19 and ended up going 6 out of 9 from the free throw line (66.7%). With respect to how they cleaned up the glass, Las Vegas permitted Phoenix to collect 35 in all (9 on the offensive side).

A'ja Wilson was important for the Aces for the game. She buried 7 of 13 for this game giving her a rate of 53.8%, and had 12 rebounds. Wilson recorded 15 points in her 32:20 mins of playing time and tallied 2 dimes in the game. One more player who was a determining factor for Las Vegas was Chelsea Gray. She wrapped the game up with 6 dimes in her 22:48 mins on the hardwood, and she put in 9 of 17 from the field. Gray walked away from this one going 52.9% from the floor while also earning 22 points and 4 boards.

Las Vegas has a win-loss record of 24-8 this year. The Aces are committing 14.2 fouls per game and they connect on 81.9% from the free throw line. Their rate of earning assists is at 20.8 times per contest (3rd in the league) and they are turning it over 11.6 times per contest. Las Vegas has totaled 2,856 pts so far this season (89.3 per contest) and they pull in 38.6 boards per contest. When it comes to executing on offense, the Aces are connecting on 47.2% from the floor, which is 1st in the WNBA. The Aces on defense are ranked 5th in basketball in points allowed per contest with 80.2. They allow 19.4 dimes and 34.9 rebounds on a nightly basis, which ranks them 7th and 7th in basketball. The Las Vegas defense gives up 30.6% on shots from beyond the perimeter (232 of 759) and their opponents are making 81.2% of their free throw attempts. They are forcing their opponents into 11.4 turnovers on a nightly basis and have let teams shoot 41.5% from the field (2nd in the WNBA).

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Phoenix (+5.5)

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