Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks Preview, Prediction and Odds - 6/18/21
A pair of Western Conference teams in search of a victory to try and right the ship take the floor in WNBA action in the City of Angels. The Phoenix Mercury are on the road as they travel to face the Los Angeles Sparks in the second game of a two-game set Friday night. In the first game of the two-game series Wednesday night, it was the Sparks picking up an 85-80 victory on their home floor to draw first blood. That extended Los Angeles’ in the series to four games and they have won nine of the last 11 matchups. Will the Mercury find a way to earn a split of the two-game set or will the Sparks sweep the two-game series?
Phoenix Mercury Hoping to Split Two-Game Set
Phoenix dropped their fourth straight game as they fell on the road in the first game of this series with a galling defensive showing against a shorthanded Sparks squad. The Mercury entered Thursday 5-7 on the year and held the final playoff spot in the WNBA though they were tied with the Sky, Mystics and Lynx, who held the ninth, 10th, and 11th spots in the standings. Against Los Angeles, Phoenix trailed by three after the opening quarter and by 10 at the half, only to cut the deficit to two after three quarters. The Mercury gave up a 7-1 run to start the fourth quarter to trail 75-67 with 7:56 to play and couldn’t get closer than two the rest of the way. Phoenix shot 41.3% from the floor, including seven of 21 from three-point range, and missed seven of their 28 free throws in the loss. Brittney Griner led the Mercury with 30 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.
The Mercury are 10th in the league in scoring offense as they put up an average of 78.8 points per game. Phoenix is fourth in rebounding (36.5 rebounds) per contest and stand sixth in the league by handing out 19.3 assists a night. The Mercury are sixth in the league in scoring defense as they give up an average of 81.2 points per game. Skylar Diggins-Smith is second on the Mercury in scoring with 19 points plus 5.6 assists a night. Brittney Griner (20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.3 blocks), Diana Taurasi (15.8 points, 3.8 assists) and Brianna Turner (7.1 points, 8.2 rebounds) are solid scoring options. Kia Nurse (10.4 points), Kia Vaughn, Megan Walker, Sophie Cunningham, Shey Peddy, Alanna Smith and Cierra Burdick are other role players for coach Sandy Brondello. Phoenix is sixth in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 42.9% as a team from the floor. The Mercury is 10th in three-pointers per game (6.2 per game) and 11th in three-point shooting (28.9%) this season. Phoenix is 11th in the WNBA in free throw shooting as they cash in 76.5% 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 until late June. She is expected to miss at least four weeks.
Los Angeles Sparks Angling for Sweep of Set
Los Angeles managed to put up a solid offensive showing despite being shorthanded and picked up a home victory in the first game of this two-game set. The Sparks improved to 5-5 on the season and held the fifth seed in the WNBA playoffs entering Thursday though they were just half a game ahead of the 11th-place Lynx. Los Angeles led by three after the opening quarter and by as many as 13 in the second quarter before the lead was trimmed to 10 at the half. The Sparks saw the Mercury lead by four with 1:33 to play in the third quarter but used a 13-1 run spanning the end of the third and start of the fourth quarter to take an eight-point lead with under eight minutes to play. Los Angeles didn’t let Phoenix closer than two the rest of the way. The Sparks shot 45% from the field, including nine of 28 from three-point range, and committed just five turnovers in the win. Erica Wheeler led Los Angeles with 18 points, five rebounds and 10 assists in the win.
On the season, Los Angeles is 11th in the league in scoring offense as they average 75.3 points per game. The Sparks are last in rebounding (29.8 boards per game) and 12th in assists (15.3) this season. Los Angeles is 2nd in scoring defense as they give up an average of 78.5 points a night. Nneka Ogwumike leads the team with 16.4 points plus seven rebounds a game this season. Chiney Ogwumike (nine points, 5.7 boards) and Kristi Tolliver (9.9 points) are solid secondary scoring options. Derek Fisher hopes to get more from role players like Brittney Sykes, Nia Coffey (nine points), Erica Wheeler (11.6 points, 4.2 assists), Te’a Cooper, Amanda Zahui B (11.8 points, 6.1 boards), Arella Guirantes and Bria Holmes. Los Angeles is 12th in field goal percentage on the season as they shoot 39.4% from the field as a team on the year. The Sparks are fifth in three-pointers per game (8.1) and 5th in three-point shooting as they convert 34.8% from beyond the arc this season. Los Angeles is 11th in success at the charity stripe as they cash in 74.8% of their attempts on the year. Jasmine Walker was lost for the season with a torn ACL that she suffered against Las Vegas May 21. Chiney Ogwumike missed the last six games with a knee injury and is out indefinitely. Nneka Ogwumike is expected to miss four to six weeks with a knee sprain sustained against the Wings June 1.
Pick: Phoenix Mercury
Granted, I went this way on Wednesday night and the Mercury completely let me down as they were lousy on the defensive end and couldn’t generate enough points against a Sparks team missing a trio of key contributors. With that said, Los Angeles will get Cooper back in the mix for this contest, which helps, but both Ogwumike sisters are still out. Griner had a big showing in the game Wednesday night and you have to think that Diggins-Smith and the rest of their supporting cast will put together a better showing on both ends of the floor. Lean on Phoenix to come up with a win here to split the two-game set.
Total: Under
The game Wednesday night blew well over the total of 153 points that was set as there was little faith in the Sparks when it came to putting points on the board. That marked just the third time in the Sparks’ 10 games this season that has wound up over the mark. Phoenix has seen the under post a 6-5-1 mark in their games on the year. Los Angeles has the league’s second-best scoring defense, which keeps them in games given their poor offensive performances. With that in mind, you have to think that we’re looking at a game in the 70s at best. This one should end up falling just under the total when all is said and done.
