Phoenix Mercury aim to bounce back in Game 2 of the WNBA Western Finals.
The Phoenix Mercury are up against challenging odds as they aim to level the playing field in their best-of-five WNBA Western Conference finals series against the Las Vegas Aces.
According to BetMGM Arizona, Phoenix, who lost Game 1 with a score of 96-90 on Tuesday, is seen as a 6.5-point underdog for Thursday’s Game 2 of the series.
The second WNBA Western Conference finals game will air live on ESPN2 at 7 p.m. Arizona time on Thursday.
Arizona introduced new sports betting apps on September 9, conveniently coinciding with the beginning of the regular-season NFL games and the WNBA playoffs.
There is no response for the aces.
The Mercury’s loss in Game 1 on Tuesday was mainly due to their inability to stop Las Vegas’ 3-point shooting. The Aces made 9 out of 19 (47.4%) shots from beyond the arc.
Guards Riquna Williams and Kelsey Plum were hot from long range in Game 1, sinking seven of their 18 3-point attempts. The duo combined for 51 points, leading the Aces to a 96-0 victory.
The Mercury had difficulty stopping guard Chelsea Gray’s versatile offense, as the eight-year veteran dished out a game-high 12 assists in the win.
In Game 1, both teams displayed good ball control, but the Aces committed more turnovers (8) compared to the Mercury (6).
The Aces’ success in shooting from long distance was the determining factor in the game, as they made 47.4% of their three-point attempts compared to the Mercury’s 29.0% conversion rate from behind the arc.
Creating a more solid first half
The Mercury’s six-point loss can be attributed mainly to their subpar performance in the second quarter, during which Las Vegas outscored Phoenix 31-19.
Following that, Phoenix regained composure and closed the gap to 44-41 in the latter half of the game.
Phoenix started off strong in Tuesday’s game, with a 30-21 lead going into the second quarter. However, they lost control and ultimately missed out on a chance for a road victory.
In order to even the series before heading back to Phoenix, the Mercury must step up their game in the first half on Thursday.
Diana Taurasi’s ankle injury, which has been a concern throughout the postseason, may have a big impact on the outcome of Game 2.
Taurasi struggled in Game 1, shooting only 6 for 17 and finishing with a -9 rating in the loss.
Giving Taurasi a larger role in the offensive strategy on Thursday could be a pivotal moment for the Mercury as they look to even the series at one game apiece.
The odds for the Phoenix Mercury’s future success.
BetMGM Arizona has reported that the Mercury currently have the third-best chance of winning the WNBA championship with odds of +375, placing them among the top four playoff teams.
Phoenix ranks third in championship odds, trailing behind the Connecticut Sun and the Aces. The Chicago Sky follow in fourth place with odds of +850.
According to the FanDuel Arizona rankings, the Mercury’s odds have now increased to +1100, putting them in fourth place out of four teams. Chicago is in third place with odds of +400, and Connecticut and Las Vegas are tied for first place with odds of +150.
The Aces are the sole team still standing from last year’s WNBA Finals, after the Mercury triumphed over the Seattle Storm 85-80 in overtime on Sunday.
The outcome of Las Vegas’ return to the Finals rests on Taurasi and her teammates’ performance in Sin City on Thursday night, as the Mercury take on the Aces.
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Peterson Christopher, with more than seven years of experience in sports and sports betting in Arizona, now leads the writing team at yengols.com. He has also contributed to ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News in the past.
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