Published Jun 5, 12:38am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 5, 12:38am ET
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Updated Jun 5, 12:38am ET
One of Friday's WNBA matchups features the Portland Fire hosting the Phoenix Mercury. Who has the edge in our Fire vs Mercury pick?
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| Portland Fire | -3 (-110) |
| Phoenix Mercury | +3 (-110) |
After a three -game win streak, Portland has dropped two of its last three games. The latest setback was a 95-77 loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Tuesday night.
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Early on, the game was competitive, with Portland trailing by a point through the first 10 minutes. But the Valkyries responded with a 35-16 edge in the second and never looked back.
Five players scored in double figures for the Fire. Megan Gustafson led the way with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Emily Engstler added 12 points and eight boards. But Portland’s 15 turnovers turned into 19 opponent points, and the Fire also allowed 18 made three‑pointers — a combination that proved costly.
The Mercury split their first four games before dropping six straight. However, they ended their skid with a 72-68 victory over the Seattle Storm on Wednesday night.
Phoenix trailed by three points entering the fourth quarter before pulling ahead 68-61 with 2:39 left in regulation. The Storm pulled within one possession multiple times in the final 20 seconds, but Kahleah Copper secured the win with four crucial free throws.
Natasha Mack tied for team-high scoring honors, finishing with 16 points along with 10 rebounds. She converted all seven of her shot attempts. Copper put up 16 points and snagged six rebounds for a Phoenix squad that shot 38 percent overall and a pedestrian 14 percent from beyond the arc.
Portland enters this showdown as a three-point favorite. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
Although the Fire are 2-3 in the previous five meetings in this series, Phoenix is just 1-4 in its last five road outings. Portland’s home‑court advantage and stronger overall offensive balance give them a slight edge.
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Pick
Portland Fire (-2.5)
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