Minnesota Lynx vs. Phoenix Mercury Prediction, Preview and Odds - 6/30/21
A pair of Western Conference teams take the floor in the Valley of the Sun in a WNBA tilt. The Minnesota Lynx are on the road as they travel to face the Phoenix Mercury Wednesday night in the first game of a two-game set. Minnesota comes in off a 90-89 overtime home victory over Las Vegas Friday night in their most recent game. Phoenix dropped Los Angeles 88-79 at home Sunday evening in their most recent contest. In the first meeting between the teams this season, it was the Mercury clawing out a 77-75 victory on the road back on May 14. Even with that win, Minnesota has won seven of the last nine meetings.
Minnesota Lynx Looking to Earn Third Straight Win
Minnesota went to the wire and needed overtime before putting away Las Vegas at home for their second straight win. The Lynx entered Tuesday 7-7 on the season and they were holding the seventh seed in the WNBA playoff picture, one game clear of the ninth-place Mystics to remain on the right side of the cut line. Minnesota led by nine in the opening quarter only to find the game even after one. The Lynx trailed by four at the half and were down as many as eight in the third quarter before rallying to take a six-point lead after three quarters. Minnesota led by 10 with 4:59 to play in regulation only to get outscored 13-3 the rest of regulation to send things to overtime. In the extra session, the Lynx did just enough to come up with the win as both teams were scoreless over the final 1:09 of the game. Minnesota shot 46.1% from the field, including two of 15 from three-point range, and held the Aces to 38.5% shooting in the game. Sylvia Fowles led the Lynx with 30 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks in the win.
On the season, the Lynx are 5th in the league in scoring offense with an average of 82.4 points per game. Minnesota is 8th in rebounding as they collect 34.7 boards a night while the team is fourth in assists by dishing 20.1 dimes a night. The Lynx are eighth in the league in scoring defense as they give up an average of 83.5 points per contest this season. Sylvia Fowles is second on the team with 17.4 points plus 9.9 rebounds per contest. Kayla McBride (12.4 points), Crystal Dangerfield (9.8 points, 3.7 assists) and Aerial Powers (10 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists) are solid secondary scoring options. Damiris Dantas, Napheesa Collier (17.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists), Jessica Shepard, Layshia Clarendon (8.8 points, 5.4 assists), Bridget Carleton, Rachael Banham, Natalie Achonwa and Linnae Harper are looked at to be contributors for coach Cheryl Reeve. Minnesota stands third in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 44.2% from the field as a team this year. The Lynx are 8th in the league in three-pointers per game (6.9) and 10th in three-point shooting as they hit 32.7% of their attempts from beyond the arc. Minnesota is 6th in the league in free-throw shooting as they hit 81.7% of their attempts at the charity stripe. Powers is out eight to 10 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery on June 18 for a torn UCL. Achonwa (knee) and Rennia Davis (foot) are out indefinitely at this point in time.
Phoenix Mercury Trying for Third Straight Victory
Phoenix welcomed back Diana Taurasi from a month-long absence from a fractured sternum with a victory as they took care of the Sparks at home. The Mercury improved to 7-7 on the season and stood sixth in the WNBA playoff picture, one game clear of the ninth-place Mystics to remain on the right side of the playoff cut line. Phoenix trailed by two after the opening quarter and held a four-point edge at the half, only to see the Sparks tie the game in the opening minute of the third quarter. The Mercury went on a 13-2 run to take a 60-49 lead with 3:46 to play in the third quarter and cruised the rest of the way. Phoenix shot 45.2% from the field, including nine of 21 from three-point range, and controlled the boards by a 44-31 margin. Taurasi led the Mercury with 25 points in the win.
The Mercury are 10th in the league in scoring offense as they put up an average of 79.5 points per game. Phoenix is fourth in rebounding (36.8 rebounds) per contest and stand seventh in the league by handing out 18.4 assists a night. The Mercury are fourth in the league in scoring defense as they give up an average of 79.9 points per game. Skylar Diggins-Smith is second on the Mercury in scoring with 18.9 points plus 5.4 assists a night. Brittney Griner (19.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.3 blocks), Diana Taurasi (17.6 points, 3.6 assists) and Brianna Turner (7.6 points, 8.9 rebounds) are solid scoring options. Kia Nurse (10.3 points), Kia Vaughn, Megan Walker, Sophie Cunningham, Shey Peddy and Alanna Smith are other role players for coach Sandy Brondello. Phoenix is fifth in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 43.3% as a team from the floor. The Mercury is 10th in three-pointers per game (6.3 per game) and 11th in three-point shooting (30%) this season. Phoenix is 10th in the WNBA in free throw shooting as they cash in 77.9% of their chances on the year.
Pick: Phoenix Mercury
Both teams have won two straight coming into this contest but the fact remains that the Lynx are on the road in this one. Minnesota is only 2-4 on the road though no one is impressed by Phoenix’s 2-5 record on their home floor. With that said, the fact remains that the Mercury are healthy with the return of Taurasi, giving them their trio of big-time scorers with Griner and Diggins-Smith. Minnesota beat Las Vegas in their last game but that came at home. They have their work cut out for them here, especially since they are missing some key contributors. In the end, Phoenix has too much firepower when the game is in the balance and that carries them to a victory.
Total: Under
Both teams have had their issues on the offensive end of the floor this season. Phoenix hopes that the return of Taurasi can help them in that regard, which it did in their win over the Sparks. With that said, the Mercury have seen the under hit in seven of their 14 games with one push on the year. Minnesota has seen the over hit in nine of their 14 games but they are going to have to contend with a pretty good Mercury defense. The under has hit in each of the last three meetings and eight of the previous nine entering this contest. Based on what we’ve seen when these teams meet, this one falls short of the mark.
