Mercury vs Lynx Picks and Prediction – 9/22/2024

The Phoenix Mercury play the first game of a best-of-three quarterfinals series on the road Sunday versus the Minnesota Lynx. Phoenix finished seventh in the WNBA regular season standings. The Mercury were defeated by the Seattle Storm 89-70 in the final game of the regular season and lost four of the last six leading up to the postseason. Ensure you stay updated with the WNBA with our WNBA previews.

Kahleah Copper is leading Phoenix in scoring with an average of 21.1 points per game, while Brittney Griner is the second leading scorer and the leading rebounder with averages of 17.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Natasha Cloud is the leader in assists with an average of 6.9 per game. Phoenix has four players averaging double figures in scoring and as a team scores an average of 81.5 points per game.

Minnesota finished the regular season second in the WNBA standings at 30-10, just two games behind first-place New York. Minnesota was defeated by the Los Angeles Sparks 68-51 in the final game of the regular season but had already clinched second place in the standings and could not catch first-place New York, therefore the game was meaningless to Lynx, and several players were rested. 

Napheesa Collier is leading Minnesota in scoring and rebounding with averages of 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, while Courtney Williams is the leader in assists with an average of 5.5 per game. Kayla McBride is the second-leading scorer with an average of 15.0 points per game. Minnesota is scoring an average of 82.3 points per game.

Minnesota has played far better than Phoenix this season both overall and head-to-head. Minnesota was 3-1 straight up and against the spread in four meetings versus Phoenix this season. Minnesota is 25-14-1 ATS this season. The Lynx have the second-best defense in points allowed at 75.6 per game. Phoenix is ninth in points allowed at 84.8. while scoring an average of only 81.5 points per game. Final Score Prediction, Minnesota Lynx wins and covers ATS 85-70.