Phoenix Mercury vs Washington Mystics Odds and Picks – August 19th
- The Mercury and Mystics battle at 10 p.m. ET on Twitter in a tripleheader of games in the WNBA on Thursday, Aug. 19th
- Phoenix will try to continue its winning ways, while Washington attempts to right the ship riding a losing streak
- See odds, preview and the best bet for the game below
Included in a tripleheader of games in the WNBA on Thursday, Aug. 19th, the Phoenix Mercury and the Washington Mystics will battle in the desert in a contest that feature two teams currently in the heart of playoff positioning.
Phoenix comes into the game with a record of 11-10 on the year, having won two straight to sit in 5th place in the league standings. Washington enters the contest at 8-12 overall, having lost two in a row while currently a half-game behind the Dallas Wings for the 8th and final playoff spot.
The Mercury and Mystics will tip off at 10 p.m. ET, with the game being aired live on Twitter and on NBA TV Canada.
Mercury vs Mystics Odds
| Team | Spread at FanDuel | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Mystics | +5.5 (-108) | +198 | Over 164.5 (-106) |
| Phoenix Mercury | -5.5 (-112) | -250 | Under 164.5 (-114) |
Odds as of Aug. 19th
Mercury Look to Keep Climbing
Phoenix will remain at home for the second straight time to open up the final portion of the regular season schedule following the Olympic break, having won two in a row as it continues to try and climb the league standings.
The Mercury most recently defeated the Indiana Fever 84-80 on Tuesday in Phoenix, a victory which bumped them into sole possession of the 5th seed, trailing the Minnesota Lynx by two games for the 4th seed while remaining a half-game ahead of the Chicago Sky and the 6th spot.
As the playoffs for the WNBA begin in September, Mercury fans will hope for a deep run as Arizona sports betting legalizes on the 9th of the month.
Leaders for Phoenix this year has been the talented trio of Brittney Griner, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Diana Taurasi. Griner is averaging 20.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 assist and 2.1 blocks, Diggins-Smith is averaging 18.3 points and 5.0 assists, and Taurasi has averaged 16.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds.
Just 🐐 things. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/6DJVPMAjmU
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 18, 2021
One thing that could throw a wrench into things for the Mercury in Thursday’s game is the status of Diggins-Smith, who is questionable for the contest with an ankle injury and could very well miss the game. If she isn’t able to take the court against Washington, Phoenix will have to lean more heavily on the duo of Griner and Taurasi at home.
Mystics Trying to Bounce Back
Washington will remain on the road for the second consecutive game out of the Olympic break, having gone through a bit of a rough stretch over the last 10 contests now trying to bounce back.
The Mystics, who most recently fell 93-83 on the road against the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday, have lost two in a row while now dropping six of their last 10 games.
Leading the way for Washington so far this season has been Tina Charles with an impressive 26.2 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block in 19 games. Behind the stellar play of Charles, Ariel Atkins has averaged 17.4 points, 3.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game, along with Myisha Hines-Allen tallying 13.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.3 steals a contest.
History books got @tinacharles31 written all over them
Last night Tina passed @Catchin24 for 3rd on the @WNBA All-Time Rebounds list!#TogetherDC #CountIt pic.twitter.com/a8qrIpVOAH
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 18, 2021
The Mystics will have their work cut out for them on Thursday, and they will rely heavily on that group to try and get back into the win column.
Best Bet
One thing is certain going into Thursday’s matchup between Phoenix and Washington in that both sides feature solid post players which could make for an entertaining battle in the paint.
Teams on both sides might end up focusing on that post presence, as both Phoenix and Washington come into the game in the bottom four in the WNBA when it comes to three-point percentage and making shots outside of the paint.
Back at home on Thursday!
🎟 https://t.co/2PHdAQqXaY pic.twitter.com/TH2EnU9kzK
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 18, 2021
One of the biggest factors in the game will be the status of Diggins-Smith for the Mercury and if she is able to take the court. If she is, that changes things dramatically. If not, that could make things tougher for Phoenix.
When it comes to the best bet in the matchup in Arizona on Thursday night, go with the Mercury covering the 5.5-point spread, especially if Diggins-Smith does indeed play in the game. If she doesn’t, that will impacts things and that spread will likely change before tip-off. So keep an eye on Diggins-Smith’s status before the game begins, but Phoenix should still come away with a win.
- The Pick: Mercury -5.5 (-112)
Mitchell has a decade of experience in journalism, marketing, communications and digital fields, having covered sports teams and leagues on all levels. He has spent more than seven years covering the WNBA and NBA, among other sports. You can follow him on Twitter @M_Hansen13.
