The first game up on Tuesday night’s WNBA betting doubleheader is a cross-conference matchup between the Phoenix Mercury and Washington Mystics. Interestingly enough, this will be the second time in 48 hours that the two teams have faced off. The Mercury managed to come away victorious on the road in an overtime thriller on Sunday. However, the WNBA betting odds heavily favor the Mystics to exact revenge at home tonight. Washington may be an eight-point favorite, but is that the side to bet for tonight’s Mercury vs Mystics prediction?
The following game preview includes our official Mercury vs Mystics prediction, the injury report for both teams, WNBA betting odds from BetOnline Sportsbook, key betting trends and much more!
Mercury vs Mystics Prediction, WNBA Betting Odds and Game Info
WNBA Regular Season Game
Phoenix Mercury (5-8, 2-5 Away) vs. Washington Mystics (9-6, 4-4 Home)
Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Time: 7 PM EST
Venue: Entertainment & Sports Arena — Washington, D.C.
Coverage: ESPN2
Mercury vs Mystics WNBA Betting Game Preview
Phoenix Mercury Preview
The Mercury may come into Tuesday night’s WNBA betting matchup with an inferior record, but things have certainly been trending up of late. Sunday’s overtime win over the same Mystics outfit that the Mercury will clash with this evening marked their third straight victory. This winning streak follows a brutal stretch in which Phoenix dropped seven in a row.
As has been the case for much of the season, the backcourt tandem of Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi powered the Mercury to the win on Sunday. The two combined for 47 of Phoenix’s 99 total points in the victory. Diggins-Smith hit an insane clutch jumper in the final minute of the fourth quarter to lift the Mercury up from what was a two-point deficit at the time. Down low, veteran center Tina Charles continues to play well in the absence of Brittney Griner. She finished with a dozen points and eight boards in Sunday’s win while Brianna Turner also came up huge on the glass with 10 rebounds.
Washington Mystics Preview
Sunday’s WNBA betting loss marked the third defeat for the Mystics in their last five games. However, a key piece was missing for Washington in that game. Former league MVP Elena Delle Donne has played a grand total of seven minutes in the Mystics’ last four games combined. She has sat out each of the last two entirely, including the game two days ago against Phoenix. The fact that Delle Donne is listed as probable for Tuesday’s rematch drastically alters the outlook on the Mercury vs Mystics prediction.
The Mystics have had to rely on other players to step up offensively in recent games during Delle Donne’s absence. On Sunday, it was Myisha Hines-Allen who came out of nowhere to lead Washington with 18 points starting in place of Delle Donne. While her minutes are likely set to decline in Tuesday’s game, the double-digit scoring efforts of Ariel Atkins, Alysha Clark and Shakira Austin are certainly sustainable.
Mercury vs Mystics WNBA Betting Odds
All WNBA betting odds for Mercury vs Mystics can be found at BetOnline Sportsbook.
Moneyline: PHX: (+285) | WAS: (-340)
Point Spread: PHX: +8 (-110) | WAS: -8 (-110)
Total: 161.5 — Over: (-105) | Under: (-115)
Public (Spread) Betting Percentages via Action Network: PHX: (63%) | WAS: (37%)
Mercury vs Mystics Betting Trends
- Mercury are 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a WNBA betting underdog.
- 15 of the Mercury’s last 18 games against teams with a winning record have gone OVER the total.
- Mystics are just 1-5 ATS in their last six home games.
- The UNDER is 11-2 in the Mystics’ last 13 games when playing on one day’s rest.
- 11 of the last 15 Mercury vs Mystics head-to-head matchups have gone OVER the total.
Phoenix Mercury Injury Report
Out: Brittney Griner (personal); Sophie Cunningham (elbow); Kia Nurse (knee)
Washington Mystics Injury Report
Probable: Elena Delle Donne (back)
Mercury vs Mystics Stats
- Phoenix is averaging 82.2 points per game (PPG) this season (No. 5 in the WNBA).
- Phoenix is surrendering 86.5 points per game (PPG) this season (No. 10 in the WNBA).
- Washington is averaging 80.1 points per game (PPG) this season (No. 7 in the WNBA).
- Washington is surrendering 75.9 points per game (PPG) this season (No. 2 in the WNBA).
Mercury vs Mystics Prediction
The fact that the Mercury needed overtime to get past a Mystics team that was without its best player is certainly concerning for Phoenix fans and bettors alike. While the Mercury seem to have snapped out of the rut they were in during the seven-game losing skid, neither of their last two wins has been convincing. Lapses on the defensive end are the main reason for this.
Prior to the game against Washington on Sunday, the Mercury let a comfortable lead slip away down the stretch against an offensively challenged Atlanta Dream squad. Although Phoenix held on to win by two points, the game should not have been nearly that close. Seeing how the Mercury have so many gifted scorers in Skylar Diggins-Smith, Diana Taurasi and Tina Charles, it’s clear that defense has been the primary issue for the team this season.
Among the stats to consider when making our Mercury vs Mystics prediction is the fact that Phoenix ranks just ninth in the WNBA with a very poor defensive rating of 105.2. The Mercury also rank fourth in average pace, a far cry from the Mystics who enter the day with the slowest average tempo of any team. However, it would likely take a plodding pace to fully negate the scoring capabilities of both teams.
Considering that only 19 of the 189 total points scored in Sunday’s game between the teams came in overtime, that means that 170 were scored in regulation. That comes in well over Tuesday’s WNBA betting odds which list the game total at 161.5.
Mercury vs Mystics Prediction: Over 161.5 (-105 at BetOnline Sportsbook)
