Los Angeles Sparks vs. Phoenix Mercury Preview, Prediction and Odds - 6/27/21
It’s a battle of Western Conference teams on the hardwood in a WNBA tilt from the Valley of the Sun. The Los Angeles Sparks are on the road as they travel to face the Phoenix Mercury Sunday night. Los Angeles edged Washington 89-82 in their most recent game Thursday night at home. Phoenix has been off since beating Los Angeles 80-66 on the road in their most recent game on June 18 to split a two-game road series. That victory evened the season series between the games at a game apiece and snapped the Sparks’ four-game win streak in the series. Which team gets the upper hand in this contest?
Los Angeles Sparks Look to Earn Road Win
Los Angeles had dropped two straight and four of five before picking up a win at home over Washington in a matchup of shorthanded squads. The Sparks improved to 6-7 on the season and entered Saturday 10th in the WNBA playoff picture, percentage points behind the Liberty for the final playoff spot. Los Angeles trailed 8-0 less than two minutes into the game, by as many as 11 in the first quarter and was down six after the opening quarter. The Sparks rallied to lead by five at the half and held a narrow one-point edge after three quarters. Los Angeles managed to hold Washington at bay the rest of the way to earn the victory. The Sparks shot 51.6% from the field, including 10 of 17 from three-point range, and overcame a 38-22 disadvantage on the glass. Te’a Cooper led Los Angeles with 26 points off the bench in the win.
On the season, Los Angeles is 11th in the league in scoring offense as they average 75.5 points per game. The Sparks are last in rebounding (28.8 boards per game) and 12th in assists (15) this season. Los Angeles is 3rd in scoring defense as they give up an average of 78.4 points a night. Nneka Ogwumike leads the team with 16.4 points plus seven rebounds a game this season. Chiney Ogwumike (nine points, 5.7 boards) and Kristi Tolliver (9.8 points) are solid secondary scoring options. Derek Fisher hopes to get more from role players like Brittney Sykes, Nia Coffey (9.5 points), Erica Wheeler (12.5 points, 4.4 assists), Te’a Cooper, Amanda Zahui B (10.9 points, 5.6 boards), Arella Guirantes and Bria Holmes. Los Angeles is 11th in field goal percentage on the season as they shoot 40.6% from the field as a team on the year. The Sparks are fifth in three-pointers per game (7.8) and 6th in three-point shooting as they convert 35.1% from beyond the arc this season. Los Angeles is 11th in success at the charity stripe as they cash in 74.3% of their attempts on the year. Jasmine Walker was lost for the season with a torn ACL that she suffered against Las Vegas May 21. Chiney Ogwumike missed the last 10 games with a knee injury and is out indefinitely. Nneka Ogwumike is expected to miss four to six weeks with a knee sprain sustained against the Wings June 1. She is expected to be out until early to mid-July.
Phoenix Mercury Seeking Back-to-Back Wins
Phoenix snapped a four-game skid as they earned a split of their two-game road set with the Sparks in the City of Angels by prevailing in their last game. The Mercury entered Saturday ninth in the WNBA playoff picture, percentage points behind the Liberty for the final playoff spot. Phoenix jumped to a 6-0 lead and led 13-3 in the first quarter before seeing the game tied at 17 after one quarter. With the score tied at 22 early in the second quarter, the Mercury reeled off a 7-0 run to take a 29-22 lead with 6:21 to play in the half and never led by less than four the rest of the way. Phoenix shot 45.5% from the field, including five of 16 from three-point range, and knocked down 25 of their 31 attempts at the charity stripe. Skylar Diggins-Smith led the way for the Mercury with 21 points in the win.
The Mercury are 10th in the league in scoring offense as they put up an average of 78.8 points per game. Phoenix is sixth in rebounding (36.2 rebounds) per contest and stand seventh in the league by handing out 18.8 assists a night. The Mercury are fifth in the league in scoring defense as they give up an average of 80 points per game. Skylar Diggins-Smith is second on the Mercury in scoring with 19.2 points plus 5.5 assists a night. Brittney Griner (19.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks), Diana Taurasi (15.8 points, 3.8 assists) and Brianna Turner (7.6 points, 8.5 rebounds) are solid scoring options. Kia Nurse (10.1 points), Kia Vaughn, Megan Walker, Sophie Cunningham, Shey Peddy, Alanna Smith and Cierra Burdick are other role players for coach Sandy Brondello. Phoenix is fifth in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 43.1% as a team from the floor. The Mercury is 10th in three-pointers per game (6.1 per game) and 11th in three-point shooting (29%) this season. Phoenix is 10th in the WNBA in free throw shooting as they cash in 76.9% of their chances on the year. Taurasi suffered a fractured sternum against the Sun on May 16 and has been out since May 21: she has been cleared to return to action in this contest.
Pick: Phoenix Mercury
The biggest factor in this game is the return of Taurasi as the Mercury’s offense wasn’t nearly as efficient without the veteran point guard in the mix over the past month. She brings a heightened awareness to the floor and her teammates play better with her than without her. It makes Griner and Diggins-Smith that much more dangerous when there is a floor-spacing option who can run the point on the court. It also is a massive psychological boost for the Mercury playing in front of their home crowd against a Sparks team that is missing both Ogwumike sisters once again. Phoenix dropped the Sparks by 14 in the last meeting and they are well rested here. Give the edge to the hosts as they prevail in this contest.
Total: Under
We’re looking at a Sparks team that is last in rebounding and assists while they are second-last in scoring offense this season. Meanwhile, Phoenix has the third-worst scoring offense in the league. Neither team is knocking down perimeter jumpers with any kind of success or regularity this season, taking away the option for a quick flurry of points. The Sparks are third in the league in scoring defense while Phoenix is fifth in that category entering this game. While the first meeting this season went over the total, the second one fell short of the mark. Los Angeles has stayed under the mark in nine of their 13 contests while Phoenix has fallen under the number in seven of 13 with one push on the books. This game doesn’t get to the mark as offensive production proves hard to come by.
