Lynx vs Mystics Betting Preview: Healthy Again, Washington Trending Up

On the heels of arguably their most impressive victory on the 2023 WNBA schedule, the Washington Mystics will look to continue their winning ways when they host the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET) at Entertainment and Sports Arena.

Washington opened as a 6.5-point favorite (-110) and -300 to win outright, with Minnesota priced +250. The projected total is 164 (-110). Read on as we break down both teams in our Lynx vs Mystics betting preview.

Mystics Finally Closer to Whole Again

The Washington Mystics are whole again, and what a difference it makes. Saturday, for just the second time since June, Elena Delle Donne, Ariel Atkins and Shakira Austin were healthy enough to play together. And their presence was greatly appreciated, as the Mystics knocked off the Las Vegas Aces, the league’s best team, 78-62.

Delle Donne scored a team-high 21 points, while Atkins (ankle) contributed 16 points and Austin (hip) chipped in five points and seven rebounds. The Mystics improved to 16-18 in the process and remain a half game ahead of the Atlanta Dream for sixth place.

Delle Donne had missed the previous two games with a hip injury after returning Aug. 18, when she played only 11 minutes. Prior to that, the two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player and seven-time All-Star was nursing an ankle injury that kept her sidelined throughout most of July. Her absence proved vital, as the Mystics went from a top-four team and possible WNBA title contender to possibly missing the playoffs. The Mystics are 7-12 since the start of July and began the week just 1.0 game ahead of the Los Angeles Sparks for the eighth and final playoff spot.

For the season, Delle Donne, 33, is averaging 17.6 points on 49.1% shooting to go with 5.8 rebounds. She’s done so while playing 28.4 minutes a night, her most since 2019. Combined with Atkins and Austin, the trio has accounted for 49.9% of the team’s scoring. That’s important to remember when assessing the odds in our Lynx vs Mystics betting preview.

Collier Still Leading Charge for Minny

The Minnesota Lynx are 17-12 since an 0-6 start but have yet to climb above .500. Nevertheless, they remain a half-game ahead of the Mystics for fifth place.

Can they stay there, or better yet, improve? Yes and yes, if Napheesa Collier has a say. Collier, 26, a former first-round pick out of UConn, has seamlessly replaced the retired Sylvia Fowles as the franchise’s go-to player. Collier, who missed time last season following the birth of her baby, ranks fourth in the WNBA in scoring (21.2 PPG), 12th in rebounding (7.9) and seventh in steals (1.6). As such, she was voted an All-Star for the third time.

Dorka Juhasz, a fellow former Husky, has stepped up alongside Collier to help fortify the team’s frontcourt. Juhasz, a second-round pick (16th overall), is averaging 5.7 points and 5.8 rebounds over 33 games (22 starts).

Still, improving defensively remains a priority for the Lynx. Opponents are averaging 85.1 points according to WNBA stats, most in the league. Because of that, the Lynx are tied with the Seattle Storm for the second-worst point differential (minus-5.2).

Handicapping the Game

When healthy — and that’s a big if — the Mystics are talented enough to beat anyone. They held the Aces, the -215 WNBA title favorites, to 62 points, one above their season low. They have a legitimate No. 1 player in Delle Donne and a full complement of talent around her, including Atkins. That said, they haven’t proven capable of staying healthy for the long haul. That shouldn’t matter in this case, though. Veteran guard Kristi Toliver (plantar fasciitis) is currently the only Mystics player listed on the injury report.

Washington has already lost to Minnesota twice this year, 80-78 on June 3 and 97-92 on July 26. And oddly enough, the Lynx have played better on the road (10-7) than at home (7-11). But all things being equal, it’s hard to ignore what the Mystics did against Las Vegas. It just is.

The Mystics are healthy for a change. It may not make a difference over the long haul. But it does here. Because of that, the Mystics should be a moderate favorite in our Lynx vs Mystics betting preview.

For WNBA predictions, betting odds, analysis and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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