The New York Liberty host the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night at Barclays Center. The game tips off at 7:30PM ET. New York is 16-6 and sits in first place in the East. Phoenix is 15-8 and ranks second in the West.
This is the third meeting of the season between these two teams. Phoenix has won both games so far, including a 106-91 win in late June and an 89-81 win earlier in the month. Both teams come in healthier than they’ve been in weeks, with key players now available.
Liberty Preview – Jonquel Jones Is Back in the Mix
New York has won four straight games after losing six of nine earlier in the season. The team is 11-2 at home and has been sharp on both ends of the floor. They rank top five in both field goal shooting and three-point shooting.
Jonquel Jones returned Tuesday after missing time with an ankle injury. She scored 18 points and grabbed nine boards in just over 22 minutes. With Jones back, New York has a strong inside presence alongside Breanna Stewart, who leads the team with 19.6 points per game.
Sabrina Ionescu is also averaging over 18 points and nearly 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Natasha Cloud helps run the offense and ranks fourth in the league with 5.9 assists per game. The Liberty have four players shooting over 40% from three, including Fiebich and Kennedy Burke.
Mercury Preview – Trying to Get Back on Track
Phoenix enters this game after dropping two straight, including a 90-79 home loss to Atlanta. The Mercury shot under 39% in both losses. Still, they are only 1.5 games behind New York in the overall standings.
Alyssa Thomas has had a big impact in the two wins over New York. She averaged 17.5 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in those matchups. Thomas is one of the few players in the league who can post triple-doubles on any night.
Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper are both back from injuries. Sabally had 13 points in her return Wednesday, while Copper added 10. They give Phoenix needed scoring depth. The team averages 83.2 points and shoots 34.6% from beyond the arc.
Betting Prediction
New York is a 5.5-point favorite at home with the total set at 169.5. The Liberty have been much better at home than on the road. They are 11-2 in Brooklyn and come in with momentum after four straight wins.
Phoenix won both earlier matchups, but New York did not have a full lineup in either. With Jones back and Stewart playing well, the Liberty should take this one. Phoenix is still trying to rebuild its rhythm with players just returning. Final score prediction: New York 89, Phoenix 81.
Pick: Liberty -5.5
