Preview of Game 5 Betting between the Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces
The fate of the Phoenix Mercury’s season will be decided at Michelob Ultra Arena on the Las Vegas Strip this Friday night.
The Mercury and Las Vegas Aces are set to face off in Game 5 of the WNBA’s Western Conference Finals with the opportunity to advance to the 2021 WNBA Finals on the line.
The competition will commence at 6 p.m. on Friday in Arizona time and will be aired live nationwide on ESPN2.
Oddsmakers suggest that those engaging in sports betting in Arizona may soon have their last chance to bet on the Mercury.
Sports betting in Arizona was officially launched on September 9, enabling legal wagering on NFL games and WNBA playoff matches.
The Mercury pull off an upset in Game 5 as the underdogs.
All Arizona betting applications agree that Phoenix is the underdog, with slight discrepancies in the exact odds depending on the individual operator.
On Friday, the Phoenix Mercury are listed as +180 underdogs against the Aces at BetMGM Arizona. The Mercury also have a 5.5-point spread (-110) and the over/under for the game is set at 169.5.
Caesars Sportsbook has the Mercury as +190 underdogs with a 5.5-point spread and an over/under of 169.0.
FanDuel Sportsbook Arizona has the Mercury as 5.5-point underdogs with -108 odds, a +198 money line, and an over/under of 169.5 for Friday’s game.
TwinSpires Sportsbook in Arizona is offering the Mercury with a +6 point spread (-113), a +190 money line, and an over/under of 169.5.
The origin story of Mercury
The Mercury had a chance to clinch the series in Phoenix on Wednesday night, but a strong 29-11 third quarter by the Aces crushed any chances of finishing the series in four games.
In Game 4, the Aces took control with an impressive 26-2 run in the third quarter, ultimately securing a 93-76 victory. A’ja Wilson recorded 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Chelsea Gray added 22 points to lead Las Vegas to a win over the Mercury.
After dominating Las Vegas in two straight games, the Mercury suffered a collapse in the second half.
Phoenix emerged victorious over the Aces in Game 2 in Las Vegas with a score of 117-91, and in Game 3 at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe with a score of 87-60.
The Mercury were on the brink of reaching the franchise’s first WNBA Championship Series in seven years, but following Wednesday’s game, they were left with more questions than answers.
One question still unanswered is how Phoenix will alter its lineup with guard Kia Nurse out due to a right knee injury suffered in Game 4.
The Mercury’s injury report released on Thursday afternoon ruled out Nurse for Friday’s game. Nurse had averaged 9.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 32 regular season games for the team.
Following Game 4, Mercury coach Sandy Brondello acknowledged that Nurse’s injury had thrown off the team’s game plan.
Brondello stated that she thinks it took them by surprise and underscored the importance of Kia Nurse for the team.
Brondello’s team will return to Las Vegas with their championship aspirations hanging in the balance.
After her outstanding performance in Game 4, Gray remains undaunted by the high stakes of Game 5, where victory will be decisive.
Gray explained that athletes excel in moments like these, maintaining confidence in their performance throughout the year and remaining composed. He emphasized that the series format of basketball adds excitement by allowing for rapid shifts in momentum.
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With over seven years of experience covering sports and sports betting in Arizona, Peterson Christopher has worked for ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News. He is currently the lead writer at yengols.com.
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