Fever Hope to Rebound as Copper, Mercury Visit

Mercury vs Fever WNBA Picks Focus on Caitlin Clark

  • All eyes are again on Caitlin Clark as the Indiana Fever look to get back on track following an uninspired effort against the Washington Mystics. Friday (7:30 p.m. ET), the Fever host the Phoenix Mercury at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Phoenix is a 2.5-point favorite and -142 on the moneyline, with Indiana +120 to win outright. Meanwhile, the Over/Under is 171.5, the highest projected total on the slate.

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What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down both teams to help bettors make their Mercury vs Fever WNBA picks.

Phoenix Mercury vs Indiana Fever

⏰Day/Time: 📍Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse; Indianapolis
📺Streaming: ION

 

Mercury vs Fever Betting Trends

  • The Phoenix Mercury are 14-8 against the spread, including 6-4 away from home. As for the Over/Under, Phoenix is 10-12.

The Indiana Fever, meanwhile, are 12-11 ATS, including 6-4 at home. Indiana has also been profitable for Over/Under bettors, going 15-8.

It’s important for bettors to remember these trends before making their Mercury vs Fever WNBA picks.

Copper Setting Pace for Mercury

Phoenix won its third straight game Wednesday, outlasting Dallas 100-84 to improve to 12-10.

  • The Mercury (projected for 18.5 wins) now hold the sixth-best record in the WNBA and seem like a relatively good bet to make the playoffs. Their title odds have climbed to +2500.

Kahleah Copper, a four-time All-Star and 2021 Finals MVP with Chicago, has helped spearhead the Mercury’s transformation.

  • Copper ranks second in the WNBA in scoring (23.0) behind Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson (26.9), the WNBA favorite. Copper has seven 30-point games, including two this month.

With Diana Taurasi, the league’s all-time leading scorer, sidelined (leg), Copper’s presence is invaluable. She has been Phoenix’s top scorer in four of the last six games, during which the Mercury are 4-2.

In addition to being a playoff contender, Phoenix has separated itself as one of the most profitable options for bettors.

  • The Mercury have covered in eight of their last 11 games and are 14-8 ATS, equaling a cover rate of 63.6%. They’ve been an underdog 13 times, but that frequency will change should they keep winning.

Phoenix ranks fourth in the WNBA in scoring (83.8), but it’s also allowed the fourth-most points (84.9). Getting ahead is key, as the Mercury are 10-0 this season when leading after three quarters. Be sure to keep that in mind when analyzing any Mercury vs Fever WNBA picks.

Clark’s Star Power Not Enough

  • Caitlin Clark’s WNBA odds to win Rookie of the Year have shrunk to -600, though the No. 1 overall pick still is a sizable favorite over Chicago’s Angel Reese (+350).

Clark, who notched her first-career triple-double on July 6 against New York (19 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists), has mostly lived up to her lofty expectations.

  • The former Iowa star is averaging 16.7 points on 39.8% shooting (34.2% from 3), along with 7.6 assists and 5.9 rebounds.

It hasn’t necessarily translated to wins — Indiana is 9-14 following Wednesday’s 89-84 loss to Washington — but the Fever still have a decent shot at making the postseason following a 1-8 start. They currently have a 1.0-game lead on Atlanta for the eighth and final playoff spot.

  • Oddsmakers seem to like the Fever’s chances, pricing them -350 to qualify. However, their title odds have plummeted to +10000, placing them alongside the league’s biggest longshots.

The Washington loss was certainly a letdown for Indiana coming off a big win over New York, which owns the WNBA’s best record at 18-4. The Fever, 7-point favorites, fell behind by 21 points after three quarters before their ill-fated comeback attempt.

NaLyssa Smith, coming off three straight games with double-digit rebounds, was curiously replaced in the starting lineup by Lexie Hull.

  • Smith still played 27 minutes but finished with just two boards. Coach Christie Sides called the lineup change a “coach’s decision.” Moving forward, Smith’s role bears watching on the Indiana Fever schedule.

Handicapping the Game

This is the second of three meetings between the teams. Indiana rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Phoenix 88-82 on June 30. Clark narrowly missed a triple-double, finishing with 15 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

  • Phoenix could again be without Taurasi, who has missed the last three of the last four games, but still has a star-studded duo in Copper and Brittney Griner. The 42-year-old Taurasi, the WNBA’s oldest active player, is listed as day-to-day.

Indiana may have a worse record, but this seems like a strong bounce-back spot following a dispiriting loss to lowly Washington.

For WNBA scores today, betting odds and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine


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