We continue our coverage of women’s basketball with a focus on the matchup between the Minnesota Lynx and the Phoenix Mercury. Dailysports experts have provided their prediction for this exciting contest.
Minnesota Lynx
The Lynx had an impressive regular season, securing 30 wins out of 40 games, which earned them second place in the overall standings. They were just two wins shy of the regular season leader, but that gap isn’t too significant. Minnesota also claimed the Commissioner’s Cup this year, defeating the strong New York Liberty in the final.
In their most recent game, Minnesota suffered a 51-68 home loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, a result that shouldn’t be taken too seriously since the match held no playoff implications. The Lynx are determined to compete for the championship, building off their regular-season success.
Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix finished the regular season with 19 wins in 40 games, comfortably securing a playoff spot in seventh place.
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Their last outing resulted in a 70-89 home loss to Seattle, ending a two-game win streak. This could have been due to a lack of motivation as the game didn’t impact their standing. Phoenix faces a challenging road ahead, starting with this difficult first-round matchup.
Match Facts
– Minnesota won 16 of their 20 regular-season home games.
– Phoenix has had mixed success on the road, with 9 wins and 11 losses.
– Odds: Minnesota 1.19, Phoenix 4.65.
Key Player
Minnesota forward Nafisa Collier is a crucial player to watch. She’s averaging over 20 points per game this season, along with nearly 10 rebounds, making her a potential game-changer.
Head-to-Head (H2H)
The Lynx and Mercury have faced each other four times this season, with Minnesota winning three of those meetings.
Prediction
Minnesota enters this game as clear favorites, with odds favoring them to win their first home game of the series. However, the playoffs can bring unexpected turns, and I expect an intense battle. My prediction is a total score of over 159.5 points, given the offensive performances these teams have shown in their past encounters.
