Currently holding a 12-10 record, the Phoenix Mercury find themselves in a competitive Western Conference. Sitting 6th overall but 4th in the West, the Mercury have found their stride with a three-game winning streak, highlighted by another 100-point performance in their recent victory over the Dallas Wings during the league-wide Wednesday slate of games. Kayleah Copper led the charge with an impressive 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, while Brittney Griner contributed significantly with 23 points. On the other hand, the Indiana Fever, at 9-14, have experienced mixed results, splitting their last four games 2-2. They are positioned 8th in the overall standings and 4th in the East. The Fever’s latest game was a tough loss against Washington, where Caitlin Clark’s stellar performance of 29 points and 13 assists overshadowed their efforts. Only Kelsey Mitchell and NaLyssa Smith managed to score in double digits, with Aliyah Boston limited to just 6 points in her 21 minutes of play.
In their only meeting this season on June 30th, Clark’s Fever secured an 88-82 victory.
Copper Scores, Griner Evolves
Brittney Griner is not traditionally been known for her 3-point shooting. This season, however, Griner appears to be evolving her game by attempting more shots from beyond the arc. In Wednesday’s 100-84 home win over the Dallas Wings, Griner showcased her newfound range, shooting 2-for-2 from 3-point range. Remarkably, she is now 3-for-3 from deep in just four games in July. Mercury guard Kahleah Copper attributes Griner’s improved outside shooting to her relentless effort and practice. In her first five WNBA seasons, she didn’t attempt a single 3-pointer. Over the next five seasons, she averaged only 5.2 attempts from beyond the arc. However, now in her 11th season, Griner has already taken nine 3-pointers in just 12 games, positioning her to surpass her previous season-high in attempts. Additionally, her 3-point attempt rate has seen a substantial increase, from a career-high of 2.3% in 2023 to an impressive 5.6% this year.
Kahleah Copper scored 32 points, marking the seventh time she has scored over 30 this season, as the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Dallas Wings 100-84 on Wednesday for their third consecutive series victory. Griner added 23 points for Phoenix (12-10), which has scored 100-plus points against Dallas for the second time in a week, following a 104-96 victory on July 3. Copper scored 18 points in the first half, and Griner added 13 to help Phoenix build a 49-46 lead. Copper scored seven of Phoenix’s 31 third-quarter points to help pull away. The Mercury improved to 10-0 when leading into the fourth quarter this season. Natasha Cloud scored 14 points, and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan added a season-high 12 for Phoenix. Copper was 12 of 19 from the field and 7 of 9 at the stripe. Diana Taurasi (leg) did not play for the second straight game. Natasha Howard and Odyssey Sims each scored 19 points for Dallas (5-18). Teaira McCowan had 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Arike Ogunbowale had 13 points and a career-high 13 assists.
Clark’s History Isn’t Enough
Caitlin Clark recorded a historic stat line on Wednesday afternoon against the Washington Mystics that no professional basketball player has ever completed in the NBA or the WNBA. Clark finished with 29 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, five made 3-pointers, five blocks, and three steals. According to the WNBA, she is the first player in either league to achieve these marks. The Indiana Fever noted that she was also the first WNBA player to record 25+ points, 10+ assists, 5+ rebounds, 5+ steals, and 5+ three-pointers in a single game. Despite her exceptional performance, the Fever fell behind early and needed a heroic effort to narrow the gap to single digits against the Mystics. Indiana outscored Washington 29-13 in the fourth quarter but ultimately lost the game, 89-84.
“I wasn’t going to give up,” Clark said via the team’s website. “It’s still really hard to win. You need everything to fall in your favor to really be able to complete the comeback. I wasn’t going to give up.” Clark acknowledged that her five turnovers contributed to the team’s total of 23, emphasizing the difficulty of winning games with such high turnover numbers. With this loss, the Fever sit in eighth place in the WNBA standings, currently in position for the last playoff spot if the season ended today. They have two more losses than the Chicago Sky, who are 9-12 this year. The Phoenix Mercury, with three more wins than both the Sky and the Fever, are sixth in the standings. Clark is now averaging 16.7 points, 7.6 assists, and 5.9 rebounds per game this season and is among the favorites to win the WNBA Rookie of the Year.
Thursday’s Top Plays
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Best Bets
Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
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The Fever are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games. Indiana is also 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games when playing on 1 day’s rest, what a wild stat. Most importantly, the Fever are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games overall. Caitlin Clark typically performs better at home, with her three highest-scoring games occurring on their home court. Her 29-point outing against Washington on Wednesday underscores her ability to elevate her game in familiar surroundings. Clark’s standout performances at home can provide the necessary spark and scoring punch to keep the Fever within the spread or even secure a win. Despite their record, the Fever have shown they can be competitive against stronger teams. Their ability to stay close in games, especially at home, enhances their chances of covering a modest spread like +3.
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Prediction: Indiana Fever +3
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
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The Under has hit in 4 of the Fever’s last 5 games overall. The Under is also 4-0 in the Mercury’s last 4 games against teams with a losing straight-up record and 5-1 in the Mercury’s last 6 games against Eastern Conference opponents. Lastly, for Phoenix, the Under is 4-1-1 in the Mercury’s last 6 games overall, solidifying the trend that their recent games have generally been lower scoring. Both teams are coming off just one day of rest. Historically, teams with limited rest tend to have lower scoring outputs due to fatigue affecting their shooting accuracy and overall energy levels. This factor often leads to slower-paced games and reduced scoring. With the Mercury focusing on tightening their defense against lower-ranked teams, we can expect them to prioritize stopping Caitlin Clark from controlling the Indiana offense. The Fever have shown inconsistency in their offensive output, particularly against stronger defenses.
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Prediction: Under 173
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