San Antonio Stars (+7.5, -110)
Phoenix Mercury (-7.5, -110)
Total: 170.5
Remember when the Mercury were the hottest team in the league and charged all the way up the standings into third place? Yeah, I do too but it sure feels like that was a long time ago. Phoenix followed their four game winning streak with a losing streak that was just as long, finally broken by another win last time out against Chicago. Now, that losing streak wasn’t simply due poor play but also the huge absence of Brittney Griner who is missing time due to some knee and ankle injuries. While most assumed that the Mercury’s success without Griner would fall on the play of Diana Taurasi, the win over Chicago actually occurred in a game that Taurasi scored just nine points and handed out only four assists. Instead, the team was paced by Camille Little‘s 19 points and newly acquired Monique Currie, who scored 18 points in just over 13 minutes of play. The Mercury are a middle-of-the-pack team on both ends so its hard to predict when they will go off, but when Griner returns they will undoubtedly be a tough out every night.
You’ve got to hand it to the Stars. After starting 0-14 they were able to pull out a win, then did it again three games later. After that, they completed a trade that sent away Monique Curry for a questionable return of Shay Murphy and Sophie Brunner, the latter of which was waived shortly after. Despite Curry’s absence, the Stars have been competitive and even managed to take down the Fever in convincing fashion right before the All-Star break. Were it not for the play of Jonquel Jones of the Sun, Isabelle Harrison would be in serious contention for the Most Improved Player award and Kelsey Plum is slowly but surly looking more comfortable with each passing game. This team is still a year or two away from being any sort of threat, but there have been some positives which is good to see.
Really not sure if the Mercury are able to win that big without Griner, but I’m also weary of the Stars. I’m going to cautiously pick Phoenix and the under.