WNBA Atlanta Dream vs Phoenix Mercury Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 08-17-2018 22:00 EDT

Spread: Phoenix Mercury -3

Total: +165

The best team of the East is facing the third-best of the West, when the Atlanta Dream, who are looking to extend their current lengthy winning streak, are visiting the Phoenix Mercury, who want to continue on the winning ways after winning their last couple of games.

The Dream are 22-10 (22-10 ATS) so far in the league and currently have the best record in the Eastern Conference and second-best in the whole WNBA. They are red-hot being 15-1 in their last 16 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against the Liberty on the road, 86-77. The Mercury are 18-14 (19-13 ATS) so far in the league and are sitting in the 3^rd place of the Western conference. They have won their last two games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against the Sparks at home, 86-78.

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Atlanta are led in scoring by Tiffany Hayes with 17.3 ppg. She also adds 3.5 boards per game, while Angel McCoughtry follows with 16.5 ppg, adding 6 rebounds per game. Renee Montgomery adds 10.2 ppg and 3.6 assists per game. Phoenix are led in scoring by Diana Taurasi with 20.6 ppg. She also leads the team in assists made with 5.1 per game, while Brittney Griner follows with 20.5 ppg, adding a team-best 7.5 rebounds per game. DeWanna Bonner adds 17 ppg, 6.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.

This will be the third meeting between those two teams so far this season, with each team having won once. Dream won at home with a 76-70 score and Mercury on the road 71-78. Mercury have a 7-8 home record so far, while Dream are 9-6 on the road. Mercury have a better offense with 84.9 ppg to Dreams’ 81.1, while Dream have the third-best defense in the league, allowing 78.8 ppg to Mercury’s 82.8. Mercury have a better accuracy both from the field, shooting with 45.5% to Dream’s 42.4% and from behind the arc, shooting with 35.4% to Dream’s 30.8%. Dream grab more boards (36 to 32.2), while Mercury dish more dimes per game (20.2 to 18.2) and both squads commit almost the same number of turnovers (13.6 and 13.7). The Dream are as hot as it gets having won 15 of their last 16 and expect them to get away with the road victory against a mediocre at home Mercury squad.

Atlanta Dream vs Phoenix Mercury Prediction: Atlanta Dream +3 (-112)