Published Aug 4, 5:55pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Aug 4, 5:55pm ET
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Updated Aug 5, 7:51pm ET
One of Wednesday's WNBA matchups features the Phoenix Mercury visiting the Atlanta Dream. Which team has the edge in our Mercury vs Dream pick?
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| Atlanta Dream | -4.5 (-115) |
| Phoenix Mercury | +4.5 (-105) |
Phoenix started the season 8-18, but has recently come on strong, winning four of its last five games. This stretch includes a 106-101 victory over the Chicago Sky on Monday.
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The Mercury trailed by one late in the final frame before Kelsey Plum buried a 3-pointer with 53 seconds remaining to give Phoenix a two-point lead. Moments later, DeWanna Bonner blocked Courtney Vandersloot's layup attempt and sank two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Kahleah Copper led four double-digit scorers with 31 points, including four made 3-pointers. Plum, who was recently acquired in a trade from Los Angeles, led the second unit with 20 points and four assists, giving Phoenix solid production from its bench.
The Dream had won five straight heading into Monday night's action. Unfortunately, that streak ended with a 109-87 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
Atlanta kept it close early, leading by two after the opening quarter, but the narrative changed quickly. Las Vegas responded with a devastating 64-38 run, propelling the defending champs to a 22-point win.
Angel Reese led the offense with 23 points and 16 rebounds on 10-for-19 shooting. Rhyne Howard added 19 points, converting 7-of-13 attempts. Unfortunately, Atlanta's defense struggled to keep pace with a Las Vegas unit that shot 62 percent overall and 53 percent from distance.
Here's what you need to know for both teams ahead of this tilt.
Neither squad offers a distinct trend advantage, with the Mercury going 3-2 in its last five road outings, while Atlanta is 3-2 in its last five games at home. Even still, the Dream have won four of the previous five meetings and profile as the superior team at both ends of the floor, giving Atlanta the edge in this matchup.
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Pick
Atlanta Dream (-4.5)
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