WNBA Picks & Predictions: Tempo vs. Mercury (Tuesday)
The WNBA regular season rolls on Tuesday night, but we have just a single game on the slate. The Toronto Tempo makes its first-ever visit to the Mortgage Matchup Center to visit the Phoenix Mercury at 10:00 p.m. ET. Let’s build our bankroll with our top WNBA picks and predictions for Tuesday, May 19th.
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Tuesday’s Best WNBA Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
Toronto Tempo (+240) at Phoenix Mercury (-310) | O/U 169.5 (-110/-110)
The Tempo (2-2) squares up against the Mercury (2-2) at Mortgage Matchup Center at 10:00 p.m. ET, and there is no national television or streaming available for this standalone game.
The expansion Tempo started off with a 68-65 home loss as a 2-point favorite, failing to cover in its first-ever game. Since then, Toronto has won its first two games in franchise history in the past three tries, and it has rattled off three consecutive covers.
In addition, the Tempo’s offense was ratcheted up to tremendous heights in a back-to-back in Los Angeles over the weekend, averaging 100.5 points per game while allowing 97.5, covering both games as a 7.5-point underdog.
Veteran guard Brittney Sykes is doing a great job for Toronto, giving the team leadership and experience. She is averaging a team-best 24.3 points, while also pacing the team with 4.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game through the first four contests.
Fellow veteran guard Marina Mabrey is also lighting it up with 18.5 points, four rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game in the early going. Each should be a fixture in the starting lineup. Things fall off a little after that, at least in terms of the scoring department. They need to stay out of foul trouble, which they generally do.
After opening the season with an absolutely stunning 99-66 win against defending champ Las Vegas, on the floor at Mandalay Bay, no less, the Mercury lost a pair of games back-to-back, including the home opener against the Napheesa Collier-less Minnesota Lynx last Tuesday as a 5.5-point favorite. The Mercury rebounded with a 91-83 win over the Chicago Sky last time out on Friday, cashing as a 4.5-point favorite, while the over (166.5) hit for a third consecutive game.
After thumping the Aces, ruining the banner-raising ceremony, it seems that the Mercury have forgotten how to play defense. They’ve allowed 95, 88 and 83 points in the past three games, though that is a bit of progress. The totals have been coming down, while the offense has improved lately. Still, Phoenix is 2-2 straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS), so there is work to be done.
The Mercury have five players averaging 10 points or more per game, led by Kahleah Copper (17.8). Alyssa Thomas is good for 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner has averaged 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in a bit of a resurgent start. Natasha Mack is good for 10 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds per game, and she also checks in with a team-best 2.3 blocks per game. Phoenix is a strong rebounding team with several good options on the boards.
I think Phoenix is a little deeper than Toronto at this point, but the Tempo catching nearly four buckets is quite a bit. Let’s go with the Tempo to keep it within seven points, and we’ll go high on the total, as the Mercury don’t play much defense and the Tempo have proven they can fill the basket at a feverish pace.
Picks: Tempo +7.5 (-105) & Over 169.5 Points (-110)