Phoenix Mercury vs Minnesota Lynx 9/17/20 - WNBA Picks & Predictions

On Thursday the Phoenix Mercury will play the Minnesota Lynx in a single-elimination game during the second round of the WNBA playoffs. The Mercury defeated the Washington Mystics in the first round of the playoffs 85-84 on Tuesday, with a come-from-behind victory that was capped off with a buzzer-beater by Shey Peddy for three points to give Phoenix the one-point victory.

Diana Taurasi is leading Phoenix in scoring and assists with averages of 18.7 points and 4.5 assists per game. Skylar Diggins-Smith is the second leading scorer and second in assists with averages of 17.7 points and 4.2 assists per game. The leading rebounder for Phoenix is Brianna Turner with an average of 9.0 per game. Phoenix has just three active players averaging double-figures in scoring.

Minnesota is playing its first game of the postseason after earning a bye in the first round. The Lynx defeated the Indiana Fever 98-86 on Saturday in their final game of the regular season. Rachel Banham was the leading scorer for Minnesota with 29 points after hitting seven baskets from beyond the three-point arc. Minnesota hit 59.1% of its 3-point shots and turned the ball over just nine times.

During the regular season, Crystal Dangerfield was the leading scorer for Minnesota with an average of 16.2 points per game and also led the Lynx in assists with an average of 3.6 per game. Napheesa Collier is the second leading scorer and leading rebounder with averages of 16.1 points and 9.0 assists per game. Minnesota has just three players averaging double figures in scoring.