WNBA Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 07-19-2017 22:00 EDT

Spread: Phoenix Mercury -9

Total: +169

The second and last teams of the Western Conference are clashing tonight, when the second Phoenix Mercury, who ended a losing streak and want to continue on the winning ways, are hosting the worse team of the West, the Las Vegas Aces, who have been playing much better lately and were running a multi-game streak until their latest defeat.

Aces are 10-13 (12-11 ATS) so far in the league and are sitting on the bottom of the Western Conference. A road defeat by the Sparks in their latest matchup with a 78-99 score ended a 4-game victory streak they were running. Mercury are 15-8 (15-8 ATS) so far in the league and are sitting in the 2^nd place of the West. A road victory against the Fever in their latest matchup with a 101-82 score ended a 3-game losing skid they were running.

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Las Vegas are led in scoring by A’ja Wilson with 19.9 ppg. The rookie also leads the team in rebounding with 8.7 per game, while Kayla McBride follows with 19.1 ppg, adding 3.9 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Tamera Young adds 10.2 ppg and 5 rebounds per game. Phoenix are led in scoring by Brittney Griner with 20.7 ppg. She also leads the team in rebounding with 7.3 per game, while Diana Taurasi follows with 20 ppg, adding a team-best 4.8 assists per game. DeWanna Bonner adds 15.4 ppg, 6.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.

This will be the third meeting between those two squads so far this season, with the Mercury having won both matches (at home by 6 points and on the road by 12). Mercury have a 5-3 home record so far, while Aces are 5-7 on the road. Mercury have both a better offense with 83.7 ppg to Aces’ 82.7 and a better defense, allowing 80.7 ppg to Aces' 85.1 (third-worse). Mercury also have a better accuracy from the field, shooting with 45.8% to Aces' 43.7% and from behind the arc, shooting with 36.2% to Aces' 35.2%. Aces grab more boards per game, with 36.9 to Mercury’s 31.6 and commit fewer turnovers (13.7 to 14.3), while both teams are almost equal in assists made, with 20.6 and 20.3). The Aces are playing much better lately and even if they don’t pose a threat in Phoenix, expect them to force a closer game than 9 points, so pick them tonight.

Las Vegas Aces vs Phoenix Mercury Prediction: Las Vegas Aces +9 (-108)