Minnesota Lynx vs. Washington Mystics Prediction, Preview and Odds - 6/7/21
It’s an interconference matchup on the parquet floor in the nation’s capital in WNBA action. The Minnesota Lynx are on the road as they make the trip to face the Washington Mystics Tuesday night. Minnesota swept a two-game home set from the Dream as they earned a 100-80 victory on Sunday night in their most recent contest. Washington was edged 96-93 at home by Las Vegas Saturday afternoon in their last game. The teams split two meetings in the bubble last season with the Mystics taking an 89-86 win as the “home” team in the most recent matchup on September 8, 2020. Washington has won four of the last five matchups but overall, the teams have split their last 10 meetings.
Minnesota Lynx Look to Maintain Momentum
Minnesota has won three straight as they swept a two-game home set with the Dream over the weekend. The Lynx enter this one 3-4 on the season and held the final playoff spot by half a game over the Wings. In Sunday’s game, Minnesota bolted to a 13-0 lead less than three and a half minutes into the game and didn’t let Atlanta back into the contest. The Lynx never let their lead drop below six the rest of the way en route to the victory. Minnesota shot 51.5% from the field, including 11 of 25 from three-point range, and forced 18 Atlanta turnovers in the victory. Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 19 points in the victory.
On the season, the Lynx are 7th in the league in scoring offense with an average of 80.7 points per game. Minnesota is 10th in rebounding as they collect 33.7 boards a night while the team is third in assists by dishing 20.7 dimes a night. The Lynx are seventh in the league in scoring defense as they give up an average of 81.9 points per contest this season. Sylvia Fowles leads the team with 17.3 points plus 9.1 rebounds per contest. Kayla McBride (14 points), Crystal Dangerfield (11.6 points, 3.9 assists) and Aerial Powers (11 points, five rebounds, 4.3 assists) are solid secondary scoring options. Damiris Dantas, Napheesa Collier (16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, four assists), Jessica Shepard, Layshia Clarendon (10 points, four assists), Bridget Carleton, Rachael Banham, Natalie Achonwa and Linnae Harper are looked at to be contributors for coach Cheryl Reeve. Minnesota stands sixth in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 43.1% 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 only 31.6% of their attempts from beyond the arc. Minnesota is 8th in the league in free throw shooting as they hit 78.7% of their attempts at the charity stripe. Powers (hamstring) and Rennia Davis (foot) are out while Dantas (back) missed Sunday’s game. She is questionable here.
Washington Mystics Still Trying to Find Their Footing
Washington battled but came up on the short end of the stick against the Aces Saturday afternoon in their most recent contest. The Mystics dropped to 2-5 on the season and enter this one 10th in the WNBA standings, one game behind the Lynx for the final playoff spot. Washington led by five after the opening quarter and by as many as 11 in the first half before things slipped away. The Mystics led by just one at the half, trailed by three after three quarters and trailed 90-77 with 4:11 to play in the game. Washington rallied to even the game with a 13-0 run to make it 90-90 with a minute to play. The Mystics gave up the next four points and couldn’t get closer than one with five seconds to play. On their final possession with a chance to tie the game, Tina Charles threw a bad pass, sending them to defeat. Washington shot 44.2% from the field, including 11 of 30 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 44-35. Myisha Hines-Allen poured in 32 points and 13 rebounds in the loss to lead the Mystics.
The Mystics are eighth in the league in scoring offense with an average of 80.4 points per contest this season. Washington comes in eighth in the league in rebounding (35.1 boards per game) and is 8th in assists by handing out 18.3 dimes a night. The Mystics are sixth in the league in scoring defense by allowing an average of 81.9 points a contest. Tina Charles leads the Mystics with 25.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest this season. Ariel Atkins is one of two other players scoring in double figures as she puts up 17.9 points a night. Erica McCall, Myisha Hines-Allen (14.5 points, nine boards), Natasha Cloud, Theresa Plaisance, Sydney Wiese, Kiara Leslie, Stella Johnson, Shavonte Zellous, Leilani Mitchell and Jillian Alleyne are key pieces for coach Mike Thibault. Washington is 11th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 39.3% from the floor as a team. The Mystics are second in the league in threes per game (9.4) and stand 9th in the league in three-point percentage (32.4 %) on the year. Washington is excellent at the charity stripe as they are second in the league by sinking 84.6% of their chances this season. Elena Delle Donne is currently still out as she continues her recovery from offseason back surgery. Wiese (ankle) left the game against the Sun May 28, missed Saturday’s game with the Aces and is questionable here.
Pick: Minnesota Lynx -2
Minnesota has been energized with the return of Collier from Europe and the addition of Clarendon after a waiver claim. The Lynx have won three straight and we just saw them turn in their best game of the season in their demolition of Atlanta. Beating the Dream twice, when Atlanta came into that set on a four-game win streak, has to be a boost of confidence. While Washington battled back and hung tough against a very good Las Vegas team, inevitably, they ended up falling short. Missing Delle Donne has really impacted the Mystics and it could be a challenge here slowing down a Minnesota team with momentum. Look for the Lynx to extend their winning ways as they collect a fourth straight triumph here.
Total: Over 165
Minnesota has seen the over hit in four of their seven games and their offensive production has improved since Collier came back. The Lynx have started to shoot the ball better and they’re starting to develop other offensive weapons as they space the floor. Washington has seen the over hit in four of their seven games on the year and were involved in a wild, back-and-forth, high-scoring affair in their loss to the Aces. The Mystics saw Hines-Allen break out in Saturday’s game and she could provide a solid secondary scoring option to Charles with Delle Donne out of the mix. Seven of the last 10 meetings between the teams have gone over the total and with the way Minnesota has clicked of late, this one seems poised to do the same. Lean toward the over here.
