Dallas Wings vs Phoenix Mercury Betting Prediction
Looking for Dallas Wings vs Phoenix Mercury betting prediction? If you are, you came just to the right place. Stay tuned and read our in-depth prediction for this match.
The Phoenix Mercury will host the Dallas Wings for a pair of matchups this week. Phoenix defeated Dallas to end the month of May, but both teams have started the month of June well.
HISTORY: Phoenix and Dallas have split the last four games, while five of the last six have been decided by five points or less.
Wings Coming Off Wild Win
The third time proved to be the charm for Dallas (3-5) Sunday night. After taking the defending WNBA Champion Seattle Storm to overtime Friday night, the Wings were able to steal a win behind the late-game heroics of Arike Ogunbowale. Through a month of action, Dallas leads the league in rebounding and has shown the ability to score with the league’s premier teams.
The reigning WNBA scoring champion sunk two huge threes to tackle Seattle late, and she’s the catalyst for this Dallas Wings team. She’s averaging 22.8 points per game to go along with 4.1 rpg, and 3.5 apg. Ogunbowale’s all-around ability and her nose for the basket will keep Dallas in games this season, as we saw in the late win over a talented Seattle team. Her college teammate, Marina Mabrey, is posting career numbers. The third-year guard is averaging 19.3 ppg and 6.3 rebounds per game. Kayla Thornton has been having an impressive season this year, averaging a career-best 11.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Dallas will appreciate the return of fifth-year guard Allisha Gray, who scores 14.3 ppg.
Mercury Soaring Without Star
Phoenix (3-3) won two of their first three games, including a thrilling opening night victory over the Minnesota Lynn, before losing Diana Taurasi to an injury. Losing the heartbeat of the team was tough, but the Mercury answered the bell. A pair of losses followed Taurasi’s absence, but they responded by winning three straight games.
Brittney Griner and Skylar Diggins-Smith have stepped up to shoulder more of the scoring load. Diggins-Smith has really taken on a bigger role in Taurasi’s absence from the back court. She’s averaging 19.6 ppg, her highest total since 2014, and she’s fifth in the WNBA in assists (5.3). Griner, a former league MVP, is scoring 17.2 points per game, and she’s grabbing a career high 9.6 rebounds per game. Griner commands so much attention from the opposing defenses, it’s starting to open things up for the younger Mercury player. Former UConn Husky Kia Nurse, who hit the memorable buzzer-beater last week, is averaging 11.8 ppg, and she’s third in the league in three-point percentage. Megan Walker has received an uptick in action and Brianna Turner averages 8.8 rpg, forming an imposing tandem with Griner upfront.
Dallas Wings vs Phoenix Mercury – Players to Watch
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Ogunbowale won’t be the only former Notre Dame great on the court Tuesday. Diggins-Smith has been on a tear, scoring 20 or more in four of her last five games, all while orchestrating the offense. Look for her to play big against her former team, as things didn’t end well in Dallas. Revenge game.
Arike Ogunbowale
The All-WNBA First Teamer is arguably the best scorer in the league. She plays huge when it matters the most. It will be tough to follow up those late-game heroics, but with Ogunbowale, the Wings will always have a shot.
Dallas Wings vs Phoenix Mercury Prediction & Pick
Both teams enter this back-to-back with a bit of momentum. Phoenix escaped last week after Kia Nurse’s game-winning shot, then followed it up by sweeping the Chicago Sky. Dallas was able to steal one Sunday, and they will keep this one close. How the Wings handle Brittney Griner will be the deciding factor. If she avoids foul trouble they may be in trouble, as Dallas lacks the size to counteract. Skylar Diggins-Smith is playing some of the best basketball of her career, and even without Taurasi, the depth of the Mercury is starting to show. These two teams may split this back-to-back, but trust Phoenix at home in the first game. Bet on the Phoenix Mercury to defeat the Dallas Wings, and take the over.
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