WNBA Washington Mystics vs Minnesota Lynx Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 08-19-2018 19:00 EDT

Spread: Minnesota Lynx +1

Total: +158.5

The defending champions and third-worse in the Western Conference Minnesota Lynx who are closing an underwhelming season today and want to return to the winning ways, are hosting the second in the East Washington Mystics, who have been one of the hottest teams currently in the league, having won seven straight.

The Mystics are 21-11 (18-13-1 ATS) so far in the league and are sitting in the 2^nd place of the East. They are 8-1 in their last 9 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against the Sparks at home, 69-67. The Lynx are 17-16 (12-21 ATS) so far in the league and are sitting in the 4^th place of the Western Conference. They have lost their last three games and in their latest matchup they got defeated by the Sun on the road, 79-96.

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Washington are led in scoring by Elena Delle Donne with 21 ppg. She also leads the team in rebounding with 7.3 per game, while Kristi Toliver follows with 13.8 ppg, adding a team-best 4.4 asssists per game. Ariel Atkins adds 11.4 ppg. Minnesota are led in scoring by Maya Moore with 18.1 ppg. She also adds 5.2 rebounds per game, while Sylvia Fowles follows with 17.5 ppg and also leading the team in rebounding with 11.8 per game, while Seimone Augustus adds 10.8 ppg.

This will be the third meeting between those two teams so far this season with each team having won once. Mystics won at home with a 90-78 score and Minnesota on the road with an 80-88 score. The Lynx have an 8-8 home record so far, while Mystics are 10-6 on the road. Mystics have a better offense with 84.6 ppg to Lynx’s 78.7 (third-worse), while Lynx are better defensively, allowing a third-best of 78.1 ppg to Mystics’ 81.2. Both squads have almost the same accuracy from the field, shooting with 44.7% and 44.6%, while Mystics have a better accuracy from behind the arc, shooting with 35.9% to Lynx’s 34.3%. Lynx dish more dimes (19.5 to 17.8) and grab more boards per game (35.5 to 32.8), while Mystics commit fewer turnovers (12.3 to 14.2). The Mystics have been playing much better than the Lynx for most of the season so expect them to get away with the road victory one way or another today.

Washington Mystics vs Minnesota Lynx Prediction: Washington Mystics -1 (-111)