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Mercury vs. Aces Game 2 Prediction and Odds for WNBA Playoffs (Vegas Puts Mercury Out of Their Misery)

By Ben Heisler

The Las Vegas Aces celebrate the final seconds of their 16-point Game 1 win over the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Playoffs.
The Las Vegas Aces celebrate the final seconds of their 16-point Game 1 win over the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Playoffs. / ESPN
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For about 33 minutes in Game 1 Wednesday evening, the Phoenix Mercury looked like they may pull off one of the biggest upsets of the year.

Down 53-51 to the Las Vegas Aces with 7:34 left to play as a 15.5-point road underdog, Las Vegas finally pulled away, outscoring Phoenix 26-12 the rest of the way en route to a 16 point win to take the opener of their 3-game series.

Phoenix was without their best two players in Skylar Diggins-Smith along with Diana Taurasi, and won't have either back for Game 2 this evening. Furthermore, Shey Peddy went down with a right achilles injury and will also be out.

The Mercury have had the season from hell, but still found a way to make it into the postseason and almost pull off the upset a few days ago. Can they actually get it done and keep their playoff hopes alive?

Here are the odds from Vegas tonight ahead of Game 2 at WynnBET Sportsbook:

Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

  • Mercury +17.5 (-110)
  • Aces -17.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

  • Mercury +1200
  • Aces -3333

Total:

  • 164.5 (OVER -110 | UNDER -110)

Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces Prediction and Pick

As much as I commend Phoenix for fighting through the adversity of this season and game planning perfectly vs. the Aces for the bulk of Game 1, I can't imagine that scenario comes to fruition later tonight.

Las Vegas was on pace for a season low in points scored before running away from a gassed Phoenix team in the middle of the 4th quarter. Even with several days off, with all the injuries piling up for the Mercury, expect the Aces to really turn up the pace in Game 2.

Under Becky Hammon, the Aces finished the regular season ranked first in points/game, second in possessions/40 min, and first in points/100 possessions. They are a downhill, transition team by nature, and Phoenix mucked it up for as long as they could in Game 1.

Meanwhile, the Mercury, despite their improved defense down the stretch still finished 10th in opponents points/game and eighth in opponent points/100 possessions. The Aces know how to combat their defensive gameplan moving forward, and I fully expect them to exploit it in the early going; putting this one out of reach.

PICK: 1H OVER 82 (-107)

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