Chicago Sky vs. Phoenix Mercury Preview, Prediction and Odds - 6/3/21
It’s an interconference clash on the parquet floor in the Valley of the Sun in WNBA action. The Chicago Sky are on the road as they travel to face the Phoenix Mercury in the second half of a home-and-home set Thursday night. In the first meeting between the teams, which came in the Windy City Tuesday night, it was the Mercury earning a last-second, 84-83 victory on the road. That marked just Phoenix’s second win in the last nine meetings between the teams. Will the Mercury find a way to sweep the home-and-home set or can the Sky get back in the win column to end their extended slide?
Chicago Sky Hoping to Snap Skid at Five
Chicago seemingly had a chance to earn the victory that could have got them back in the win column only to be stunned by a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer. The Sky suffered their fifth straight loss and dropped to 2-5 on the year, putting them 10th in the playoff picture, a half-game behind the Mystics for the final playoff spot. Chicago trailed by six after the opening quarter, by 11 at the half and by as many as 13 in the second half only to rally. The Sky roared to a 10-point lead with 3:37 to play only to get outscored 14-3 the rest of the way, capped by that three-point bomb, to take the loss. Chicago shot 38% from the field, including four of 14 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 35-28 in the game. Diamond DeShields led the Sky with 26 points in the loss.
The Sky is ninth in the league in scoring offense as they muster 78 points per contest this season. Chicago is second in rebounding (37.9 boards a night) and seventh in assists by dishing out 18.4 dimes a game. The Sky is good on defense as they are fourth in the league by allowing an average of 79.7 points a contest. Kahleah Copper is one of six players averaging in double figures for the team with 14.6 points plus four rebounds a night this season. Candace Parker (16 points, eight boards), Astou Ndour (10.9 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Ruthy Hebard (11 points, 7.4 rebounds) are solid secondary options. The Sky can also look to Diamond DeShields (15 points), Courtney Vandersloot (12.9 points, 8.1 assists), Allie Quigley, Stefanie Dolson, Brittany Boyd-Jones, Azura Stevens, Natasha Mack and Stephanie Watts to contribute for coach James Wade. Chicago is 10th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 39.5% as a team. The Sky are near the bottom of the pack in threes per game as they are 10th with 5.4 per contest: they are eighth in three-point shooting at 33.6%. Chicago comes in first at the free throw line this season as they are shooting 89% at the stripe. Parker (ankle) is questionable while Quigley (hamstring) has been upgraded to probable for this one. Both have missed the last six games.
Phoenix Mercury Go for Home-and-Home Sweep
Phoenix was up big in Tuesday’s game, then let it slip away to find themselves down double figures late only to pull out the stunning victory at the buzzer. The Mercury improved to 4-3 on the year with their second straight win and hold the sixth seed in the WNBA playoff picture. In the game with the Sky, Phoenix led by six after the opening quarter, by 11 at the half and by 13 in the third quarter. The Mercury saw the Sky rally to tie the game after three quarters and found themselves down 80-70 with 3:37 to play. Phoenix was still down 83-81 in the final seconds when Kia Nurse buried a three-pointer from just inside the halfcourt line at the buzzer to steal the win. The Mercury shot 52.5% from the field, including eight of 20 from three-point range, and knocked down 14 of 20 free throws in the victory. Skylar Diggins-Smith led the Mercury with 24 points and five assists in the win.
The Mercury are seventh in the league in scoring offense as they put up an average of 80.7 points per game. Phoenix is fifth in rebounding (36.4 rebounds) per contest and stand fourth in the league by handing out 20.3 assists a night. The Mercury are fifth in the league in scoring defense as they give up an average of 81.1 points per game. Skylar Diggins-Smith is leading the Mercury in scoring with 18.1 points plus 5.7 assists a night. Brittney Griner (17.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks), Diana Taurasi (15.8 points, 3.8 assists) and Brianna Turner (7.4 points, 8.7 rebounds) are solid scoring options. Kia Nurse (11.4 points), Kia Vaughn, Megan Walker, Sophie Cunningham, Shey Peddy, Alanna Smith and Cierra Burdick are other role players for coach Sandy Brondello. Phoenix is third in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 45.2% as a team from the floor. The Mercury is seventh in three-pointers per game (seven per game) and 10th in three-point shooting (32.2%) this season. Phoenix is 10th in the WNBA in free throw shooting as they cash in 75.4% of their chances on the year. Taurasi was announced to have suffered a fractured sternum that she sustained May 16 against the Sun and is out. She is expected to miss at least four weeks.
Pick: Phoenix Mercury -1.5
Chicago has dropped five in a row coming into this one and the loss to Phoenix Tuesday was the most painful of all. Blowing a 10-point lead in the final 3:37 to lose on a halfcourt prayer has to sting. The Sky look like they’ll have Quigley and Dolson back in the mix for this one but when you lose five straight, you have to be faded accordingly. Phoenix has won two straight coming into this contest and they have home court in this one. The Mercury is a tough defensive team as they lead the league in field goal percentage defense (39.5%) while the Sun struggles to shoot the ball. Give the edge to Phoenix as Griner and Diggins-Smith lead the way again.
Total: Over 162.5
Phoenix has seen the over hit in just three of their seven games on the season entering this contest. Chicago is in a similar situation with the over hitting in three of seven contests on the year. The Mercury has the ability to put up some solid point totals, even though Taurasi is missing right now. We saw the contest go over the mark on Tuesday night, which marked the eighth time in the last 10 meetings that the teams have exceeded the total. With Quigley and Dolson back for Chicago, it lengthens their rotation and gives options on the offensive end. That helps push this one over the mark.
