Fever vs Mystics Odds: Delle Donne’s Health Worth Monitoring

Mystics Star Missed Practice Thursday with Ankle Injury

July 7, 2023 102 3 minutes readNBA Picks & Parlays

Fever vs Mystics Odds: Delle Donne's Health Worth Monitoring — Photo taken from thesportslite.com

Injury Woes Hit Mystics
Boston the Real Deal
Handicapping the Game

Despite a recent wave of injuries, the Washington Mystics are in the thick of the WNBA playoff race. Following back-to-back losses, they’ll look to get back on the right side of things when the Indiana Fever visit Friday (7 p.m.). The Fever are still a couple years away from contention, but the future is finally bright thanks to the emergence of first overall pick Aliyah Boston.

Washington is a 3.5-point favorite and -160 to win outright, with Indiana priced at +140. The projected total is 159 (-110). Read on as we assess the Fever vs Mystics betting odds.

Indiana Fever at Washington Mystics

Date, time: Friday, 7 p.m. ET
Location: Entertainment and Sports Arena; Washington, D.C.

Injury Woes Hit Mystics

Washington Mystics star forward Elena Delle Donne is questionable after she missed Sunday’s 89-72 loss to the Dallas Wings with a sprained ankle. Delle Donne, a two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player, suffered the injury two days prior against Atlanta. With Delle Donne sidelined, guard Ariel Atkins led Washington with 20 points.

Delle Donne, 33, remains one of the WNBA’s best players. She’s averaging 19.5 points on 50% shooting to go with 6.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.0 block per game. Delle Donne is also averaging 31.1 minutes through 14 games, her most since 2018 (32.2). She was recently named an All-Star for the seventh time in her career.

Her play has carried Washington to a 9-7 start. Despite losing three of their last four, the Mystics are sitting in fourth place. At +2000, they’re seen as one of the few WNBA teams capable of knocking off the clear title favorites, the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty.

Unfortunately, durability’s been an issue for Delle Donne in recent years. Prior to this season, Delle Donne had played just 28 games since Washington’s WNBA title in 2019. After opting out of the 2020 COVID-shortened season due to her battle with Lyme disease, she missed significant time the last two years while rehabbing from multiple back surgeries.

Delle Donne’s most recent injury came at an especially inopportune time, as Washington was already without center Shakira Austin. Austin, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft, is expected to miss multiple weeks after straining her hip June 25 in a loss to New York. To help alleviate the sudden lack of frontcourt depth, Washington traded Amanda Zahui B to Indiana in exchange for Queen Egbo. After making the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2022, Egbo was averaging 2.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16 games this season. Be sure to monitor Delle Donne’s status as you assess the Fever vs Mystics betting odds.

Boston the Real Deal

Off to a 5-12 start, the Indiana Fever are in danger of missing the postseason for the seventh straight year. They’re currently in 10th place, 3.0 games out of the eighth-and-final playoff spot.

Despite that, the future finally looks bright. Boston has been a revelation as a rookie. In her first 17 games (all starts), the 6-foot-5 Boston is averaging 15.0 points on an WNBA-best 63.4% shooting. She’s also tied for fifth in blocks (2.1) and is eighth in rebounds (8.5). As such, her WNBA Rookie of the Year odds have increased from +150 to -200.

With Boston joining NaLyssa Smith, last season’s No. 2 draft pick, Indiana should be fortified in the post for years to come. The 6-4 Smith is averaging 15.4 points and 10.1 rebounds, tying her with Connecticut’s Alyssa Thomas for the WNBA lead. Smith is also shooting 45.3% and has upped her free-throw percentage from 61.8 to 78.7.

In Wednesday’s 90-83 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, per WNBA scores, Boston and Smith combined to score 40 points on 16-of-27 shooting.

Handicapping the Game

Boston dominated her first career meeting with Delle Donne and the Mystics, collecting 23 points, 14 rebounds and six assists in an 87-66 victory on June 13. The former South Carolina star was incredibly efficient from the field, shooting 11-of-14. If Delle Donne, who did not practice Thursday, needs to sit out another game, Boston could be in for another big performance.

Washington is incredibly thin in the frontcourt at the moment, which is problematic given Indiana’s strengths. Washington being at home helps, but Indiana has unexplainably been better on the road this season. Delle Donne’s status will greatly impact the Fever vs Mystics betting odds.

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