Phoenix Mercury vs. Indiana Fever Preview, Prediction and Odds - 9/4/21
It’s an interconference contest on the WNBA hardwood in the Hoosier State between teams with different situations in regards to the postseason. The Phoenix Mercury are on the road as they play the first game of a two-game set with the Indiana Fever Saturday afternoon. Phoenix comes in off a 103-83 home win over Chicago in their most recent contest Tuesday night. Indiana edged Los Angeles 74-72 at home Tuesday night in their previous game. The Mercury have won eight of the last 10 meetings between the teams, including an 84-80 home win in the first matchup this season on August 17.
Phoenix Mercury Seeking Eighth Straight Win
Phoenix ran their win streak to seven as they prevailed for the ninth time in the last 10 games by drubbing Chicago at home Tuesday night. The Mercury improved to 16-10 on the year and stand fifth in the WNBA playoff picture, 4.5 games behind the league-leading Sun. On Tuesday night, Phoenix led by nine after the opening quarter and by three at the half. The Mercury saw the Sky get within one with 6:08 to play in the third quarter before stringing together a 10-0 run to go up 65-54 with 3:58 to play in the stanza. They weren’t seriously threatened the rest of the way en route to the win. Phoenix shot 52% from the floor, including 14 of 27 from beyond the arc, and held a 35-32 edge on the glass in the game. Kia Nurse led the Mercury with 21 points in the victory.
The Mercury are 5th in the league in scoring offense as they put up an average of 82.4 points per game. Phoenix is second in rebounding (37.1 rebounds) per contest and stand fifth in the league by handing out 19.6 assists a night. The Mercury are fourth in the league in scoring defense as they give up an average of 79.6 points per game. Skylar Diggins-Smith is second on the Mercury in scoring with 19.2 points plus 5.3 assists a night. Brittney Griner (20.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, two blocks), Diana Taurasi (16.4 points, 4.7 assists) and Brianna Turner (7.9 points, 9.4 rebounds) are solid scoring options. Kia Nurse (nine points), Kia Vaughn, Megan Walker, Sophie Cunningham, Shey Peddy and Alanna Smith are other role players for coach Sandy Brondello. Phoenix is fourth in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 44.5% as a team from the floor. The Mercury is 6th in three-pointers per game (7.3 per game) and 8th in three-point shooting (33.6%) this season. Phoenix is 9th in the WNBA in free throw shooting as they cash in 79.6% of their chances on the year.
Indiana Fever Hoping to Climb in Playoff Picture
Indiana won a defensive slugfest with Los Angeles at home Tuesday night to win for the fifth time in their last eight games. The Fever enter this game 11th in the WNBA standings, 3.5 games behind the Mystics for the final playoff spot. Indiana led by as many as six in the opening quarter, by three after one and by five at the half only to see Los Angeles rally. The Fever trailed by three after three quarters and were down eight with 3:05 to play before scoring the game’s final 10 points. Teaira McCowan hit a pair of free throws with 15.3 seconds to play to break a 72-72 tie and give the Fever the win. Indiana shot 40% from the field, including six of 17 from beyond the arc, but hit 20 of 24 free throw attempts in the victory. Kelsey Mitchell poured in 25 points to lead Indiana in the win.
The Fever comes into this game 11th in the league in scoring offense with 75 points per game. Indiana is eightth in the league in rebounding (34.8 boards per contest) and is 11th in the league in assists with an average of 16.4 dimes per game. The Fever are 10th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 83.9 points a night. Kelsey Mitchell is one of three players for the Fever averaging in double figures with 16.6 points a night. Teaira McCowan (11.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks) and Danielle Robinson (9.9 points, 3.7 assists) are good secondary options. Tiffany Mitchell (11.8 points), Jantel Lavender, Bernadett Hatar, Victoria Vivians, Jessica Breland, Lindsey Allen, Kysre Gondrezick and Chelsey Perry are looked at to contribute for coach Marianne Stanley. Indiana is 10th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 41.4% as a team on the year. The Fever are 12th in threes per game (4.6) while standing 12th by hitting 28% of their long-range attempts. Indiana is 10th in free throw shooting as they sink 78.8% of their chances at the stripe this season. Hatar is out indefinitely with an ankle injury while Gondrezick is taking a personal leave and has no timetable for return. Perry (knee) also has been ruled out for the year. Robinson (ankle) is questionable for this contest after missing the last couple of games.
Pick: Phoenix Mercury
Outside of Connecticut, there isn’t a hotter team in the league right now than the Mercury, who have been lighting it up on the way to eight straight wins. Phoenix has gotten great production from their veteran trio of Griner, Diggins-Smith and Taurasi, while putting up some big numbers. The Mercury have played well on the road this season, going 9-3 as the visiting team while outscoring them by an average of 7.4 points per game. As well as Indiana has played, going 5-3 in their last eight after a 1-16 start, they are banged up with several key pieces missing from their rotation. That leaves the Fever shorthanded and short on the talent needed to slow down a team like Phoenix, who is a freight train right now. The Mercury runs over the Fever and makes it eight in a row.
Total: Over
The first meeting a couple of weeks ago saw the teams combine for 164 points, going over the total by 3.5 points. That was the latest chapter in a story that has many similar chapters when these teams take the floor. The first meeting marked the sixth straight time that the teams had gone over the total and the ninth time in the last 10 matchups. Phoenix has scored at least 80 points in six of their seven games since the Olympic break and never fewer than 77. Indiana put up 80 points in the first meeting, a full five points above their season average. All things told, look for this one to wind up over the mark again.
