The New York Liberty take on the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night at Barclays Center. Tip-off is set for 7:00PM ET. New York is 10-1 and still unbeaten at home. Phoenix enters at 9-4 and is playing the second night of a back-to-back after beating Connecticut on Wednesday.
This is the first meeting between these teams since last August, when New York won 84-70. The Liberty are coming off a comeback win over Atlanta, while the Mercury are riding a three-game winning streak. Both teams are near the top of their conferences, and this game could preview a future playoff matchup.
Liberty Preview – Home Winning Streak Still Alive
New York is 6-0 at home this season and just bounced back from their only loss with a win over Atlanta. In that game, they erased a 17-point deficit thanks to a big run led by Sabrina Ionescu. She scored 34 points and now has back-to-back games with 34 points.
Ionescu is shooting 59.3 percent over her last three games after a slow start earlier in the month. She’s also been helping on the glass and with passing, grabbing seven rebounds and five assists last game. Breanna Stewart added 23 points and continues to be a steady scoring option.
The Liberty lead the WNBA in defense, giving up just 75.1 points per game. They are holding teams to a league-best 38.8 percent shooting and also rank first in defensive rebounding. New York’s ball control has been sharp too, with a strong assist-to-turnover ratio and few fouls committed.
Mercury Preview – Depth Leading the Way on the Road
Phoenix is halfway through a tough four-game road trip. They picked up a solid win on Wednesday night against Connecticut. Alyssa Thomas led the way with 14 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds in 30 minutes. She now has four straight games with double-digit assists.
The Mercury had five players score in double figures against the Sun. Kahleah Copper scored 13, Satou Sabally had 12 points and 15 rebounds, and Lexi Held added 14. They only shot 40.6 percent from the field but made 23 of 27 free throws to pull out the win.
Phoenix is scoring 79.8 points per game and ranks third in three-pointers made. They are also one of the top free throw shooting teams, making 78.5 percent from the line. On defense, they give up 75.1 points per game, but they have struggled to control the boards, ranking last in defensive rebounding.
Betting Prediction
The Liberty are 6-5 against the spread this season and 6-0 at home. Phoenix is 7-6 ATS but just 3-2 on the road. This is a tough back-to-back spot for the Mercury against a Liberty team that plays strong defense and is rested.
New York has the edge in shooting, defense, and depth. Ionescu is in top form, and Stewart gives them a steady second option. With Phoenix coming off a physical win and short rest, New York should win and cover. A projected score is Liberty 85, Mercury 75.
Pick: Liberty -8
