Mercury vs Aces Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks
Top in the West Facing the Bottom
The Phoenix Mercury, a team tied for the worst record in the WNBA, will face the Las Vegas Aces, who have the best record, on Tuesday. The teams have been complete opposites on the court, making the Aces heavily favored in WNBA lines. However, the Mercury are coming off a big win.
Mercury Get a Jolt
Defense seems to be where the Mercury has made their most significant shift since Nikki Blue was made coach. On the season, they have been one of the worst defensive teams in the league, allowing 85.2 points per game, the fourth-most, and have the worst defensive rating.
However, the defense has seen tangible improvements since Blue took over six games ago. Phoenix has had the third-best defensive rating through that time, allowing 78.7 points per game. While this has not translated directly to wins – two during that span – it is a significant adjustment.
The improvement on defense played a big factor in the Mercury winning their last game, holding the Los Angeles Sparks to 72 points. However, the offense, which could be the key to changing the team’s WNBA odds, also played an essential role in the win. Brittney Griner finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and her first dunk of the season, while Diana Taurasi scored 22 with a pair of 3-pointers and added five assists.
Aces Come Back With Vengeance
The Dallas Wings ended the Aces’ nine-game win streak, handing the top team in the WNBA their second loss. In response, the Aces blew out the Minnesota Lynx 113-89 on Sunday, almost as a signal to the rest of the league that they are still the top team.
Kelsey Plum scored 40 POINTS on 18 SHOTS!
40 Points (Franchise High)
14/18 Shooting
6/9 Threes
4 Assists #ALLINLV | @Kelseyplum10
pic.twitter.com/7zfqaPPO5m— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 10, 2023
All of the Aces players came out looking for blood, but no one more than Kelsey Plum, who headlined WNBA news with a career-high 40 points. She put on a masterclass of offensive efficacy, dominating the game from the start, only needing 18 shots to have a franchise-record scoring night. On top of that, she went 6-for-9 from deep.
For someone to have a game like Plum did, her teammates had to play a massive role, getting her the ball in the right places. Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray did that for Plum, combining for 18 assists. The pair also had their own solid scoring nights, combining for 31 points. Let’s not forget about A’ja Wilson. She contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds, and was a menace on defense with three steals and four blocks.
Mercury vs Aces Game Information
- Game: Mercury (4-14) vs Aces (17-2)
- Location: Michelob ULTRA Arena, Paradise, Nev.
- Day/Time: Tuesday, July 11, 10 p.m. ET
- Mercury vs Aces Live Stream: WNBA.com
Mercury vs Aces Betting Lines
Mercury vs Aces Picks and Prediction
It is hard not to take the Aces in WNBA picks based on how good they have been, especially in the last game. However, the bigger question is whether they will be able to cover a massive spread when they play the Mercury. Given how the last game went, there is a good chance that the Aces will be able to do so.
The Las Vegas Aces are listed at -1650 in our Vegas WNBA odds. This means that if you wager $100 on Las Vegas, you have a chance to win $6. The Phoenix Mercury is +950, offering a chance to win $950 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Aces a 94.29% chance to win, with Phoenix at 9.52%.
