Mercury vs. Aces Prediction: WNBA Finals Game 2 Preview
Game 2 takes place Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas at 3 pm ET.
A’ja Wilson and reserve Dana Evans led the Aces with 21 points each, and Jewell Loyd added 18 points, as Las Vegas, which trailed for most of the contest, took the lead late and held on. Chelsea Gray added eight points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, and Jackie Young scored 10 points.
Kahleah Copper scored 19 of her team-high 21 points in the first half for Phoenix, which is looking for its first WNBA title in 11 years. Satou Sabally added 19 points, and Alyssa Thomas contributed 15 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
The Aces are playing for their third title in four years.
Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces WNBA Odds
Las Vegas has now won four of five against Phoenix this season, and is 3-1-1 against the spread. The Aces are 22-3 straight up and 16-8-1 ATS in their last 25 games since the start of a 16-game winning streak to close the regular season. They have won five of six at home in the playoffs.
Phoenix is 4-1-1 against the spread at Las Vegas in their last six meetings. They’ve lost 16 of 18 against the Aces in Las Vegas, but they are getting closer. Friday’s Game 1 was the third time in four defeats that the Mercury fell by exactly three points.
Check out WNBA Finals odds here.
Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix missed a golden opportunity to take a 1-0 advantage on the road in the Finals. The Mercury led for the majority of the contest, but were outscored in the fourth quarter, 21-15. Thomas, who had yet another great all-around game, faltered late, missing two free throws with under a minute to play that would have put Phoenix back in the lead.
The team is still healthy across the board, so the focus for this game will be maintaining their level of play in the starting five, while getting more from their bench, which was outscored, 41-19. DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb combined for 18 points off the bench, which is solid. Allowing Las Vegas’ reserves, mainly Evans and Loyd, to score 41 is not.
Las Vegas Aces
The Aces are also healthy after Game 1, so this contest should again be top-level across the board.
Las Vegas stole one in Game 1. It’s that simple. If Evans and Lloyd don’t dominate off the bench, the Aces are in a hole. Wilson, Young, and Gray combined to shoot just 33% (12 for 36) from the field. Don’t expect that to happen again.
Especially from Wilson, whose 21-point outing is solid, but well beneath her four-time MVP capabilities.
Look for a big response from the Aces’ leader. Every time she has scored less than 22.5 points this postseason, she has immediately responded with a banger offensively, averaging 31.3 points on those three occasions, including two efforts of 30 points or more.
WNBA Finals Game 2 Prediction: Who Will Win Mercury or Aces?
After one impressive contest, this Finals has the feel of one that could go the distance, which would be appropriate in the first year of the WNBA’s extended best-of-seven format.
Phoenix lost one in the opener. Look for the Mercury to steal one in Game 2, holding on in the fourth quarter this time around. Phoenix winning, 86-84, gives this series even more of a boost as it heads to the desert for Game 3.
