Phoenix is looking to end a two-game losing streak including a 84-79 Wednesday loss to Dallas. The Wings ended a two-game losing streak after overcoming a four-point halftime deficit.
Who will win this important WNBA contest? Check out our preview of the Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks for Friday, June 9.
Phoenix Mercury vs. Dallas Wings Game Preview
Friday night’s rematch of their Wednesday night WNBA Commissioner’s Cup matchup, should be an interesting contest based on the two sides’ past results.
The Mercury have struggled this season – the ladies can put the ball in the hoop, but they can’t prevent their opponents from scoring nearly 90 points per game.
Dallas scores the second most points per game this season, but they also allow the eighth-most points per game in the WNBA this season.
DraftKings has Phoenix as a +4 underdog with a 163.5-point total for Friday’s tilt.
Griner Leads Phoenix
Phoenix center Brittney Griner has been exceptional after missing last season with a legal issue. The Mercury star leads Phoenix in points, rebounds, blocks, and steals and is playing 30 minutes per game. Griner has been an incredible presence on the block and alongside Diana Taurasi, forms a solid one-two punch that should be better than their 1-4 record suggests they are.
For all its offensive firepower, the Mercury defense is putrid. Taurasi, Sug Sutton, Brianna Turner, and Megan Gustafson have +/- over -5.5 with several other reserves playing equally bad defense. Phoenix is last in rebounds but blocks the third-most shots and as a team has a +/- -31.
Sabally Averaging Double-Double for Dallas
Forward Satou Sabally leads the Wings in points, rebounds, and blocks and is currently averaging a double-double. Arike Ogunbowale is averaging 20 points with 4.1 dimes, and the two ladies are as good a one-two scoring punch as any in the WNBA. Veronica Burton leads the team in assists, and like Phoenix, the Wings should be better than their record says they are.
The Wings offense soars but the defense is what seems to ground the Wings. As a team, the ladies are +/- -1.1 on the defensive end with Burton being the weakest link at +/- 6.4. Dallas is the 3rd-best rebounding team with the 6th-most blocked shots per game.
Phoenix Mercury vs. Dallas Wings Best Bet: Phoenix Mercury +4 -110 (DraftKings)
This one should be a tougher battle than Wednesday’s contest, and my best bet is for Phoenix to cover the spread.
The Mercury are probably better than their 1-4 record and probably should have defeated Dallas Wednesday night. Phoenix shot the ball better than Dallas from everywhere on the court while committing fewer turnovers but were crushed 15-4 on the offensive glass and 50-26 overall and that was a difference maker for Dallas.
Taurasi shot 2-14 from downtown in Wednesday’s loss to Dallas, and we should expect a career 36% shooter from beyond the arc to have a bounceback game and come out firing. That should open things up for Griner to go to work.
Finally, there isn’t much Phoenix can do about their rebounding and defensive issues in two days. Phoenix likely won’t be able to keep Sabally and Ogunbowale from getting their buckets, but they can do enough defensively to keep the others from doing enough damage on the scoreboard and for the Mercury to cover the spread. Phoenix Mercury +4 -110 (DraftKings)
