Phoenix Mercury vs Washington Mystics Prediction & Picks

The Phoenix Mercury have a lot of work to do make the WNBA playoffs, but picking up some valuable wins recently is giving them a realistic chance. This afternoon, they will look to make it four wins in five games as they visit the Washington Mystics (1:00 pm ET, CBS).

With three wins in their last four games, the Mercury (6-15, 1-9 away) have as many wins as they did in their first 17 games this season.

They are still three games out of the last playoff spot, which is currently occupied by the Chicago Sky (9-13), but with 19 games still left in the WNBA regular season, time is still on their side as long as the wins continue to come.

However, winning away from home has been a major challenge for Phoenix, who owns the worst road record in the league. Their next four games are on the road, so that miserable 1-9 mark is going to need to see some improvement if they are to continue gaining ground in the playoff race.

Will they pick up another important win today? My prediction and picks for this matchup are below, but first, let’s take a look at Mercury vs Mystics odds, courtesy of Bovada.

Phoenix Mercury vs Washington Mystics Odds

Spread

• Phoenix Mercury +3 (-110)
• Washington Mystics -3 (-110)

Over/Under

• Over 156.5 (-110)
• Under 156.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Phoenix Mercury +145
• Washington Mystics -170

Team Totals Over/Under

Phoenix Mercury

• Over 76.5 (-110)
• Under 76.5 (-120)

Washington Mystics

• Over 79.5 (-110)
• Under 79.5 (-120)

Are the Mercury Catching the Mystics at the Right Time?

While the Mercury are on a nice little run and have won back-to-back games for the first time all season, it does come with the caveat that this success has come at home.

To date, their only road win this season is an 85-82 win at Indiana on June 11. Since then, Phoenix has lost six straight on the road, and only one of those losses was by single digits.

But winning, whether at home or on the road, can be contagious, and after beginning the second half of the season with two solid wins over the Connecticut Sun and Chicago Sky, there’s no reason why they can’t seriously challenge Washington.

The Mystics (11-10, 7-4 home) may be five games ahead in the WNBA standings, but the Mercury may actually be catching them at a good time.

Washington has dropped five of seven games, including both of their post-All-Star Game matchups against the Fever and New York Liberty.

If the Mercury can continue to lock things down on the defensive end, they will have a chance in this one.

On Tuesday, Phoenix held Connecticut, who is third in the WNBA in field goal percentage (44.6%), to only 36.1% shooting from the field. They kept that up in Thursday’s 80-62 win over the Sky, who shot only 34.2% from the field and made just 2 of 21 (9.5%) from three.

The Mercury are 4-0 this season when they have held an opponent to fewer than 75 points, and they have allowed fewer than 85 points in all of their wins.

At the same time, Phoenix 4-2 when scoring 80 or more points this season. So, if they can hit both of those targets in today’s matchup, as they did in Thursday’s win over Chicago, the odds will be in their favor, especially when you factor in that the Mystics are 3-9 when they have surrendered 80+ points this season.

Phoenix Mercury vs Washington Mystics Prediction and Picks

Prediction and Picks for Mercury vs Mystics: Mercury to win

Picks for Mercury vs Mystics: Mercury +3 (-110) & Mystics team total under 79.5 (-120)

As I said, winning can be contagious, whether it is at home or on the road. The Mercury have had the perfect start coming out of the All-Star break, and I’m cautiously optimistic that those home performances will carry over into the opener of their road swing.

Where to Bet on the WNBA

The Mercury vs Mystics betting odds mentioned in this article came from Bovada, but they aren’t the only sports betting site out there offering WNBA odds.

• BetOnline
• Bovada
• Bookmaker
• Sportsbetting.ag

There are a number of online sportsbooks that are good for betting on the WNBA, but the above books are four that we highly recommend.

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