Kelsey Mitchell had 29 points, but Caitlin Clark looked rusty after missing two games with a back injury, and Aliyah Boston missed the game altogether as the Fever suffered a 106-92 setback to the Sparks – who were without leading scorer Kelsey Plum.
The Mercury have struggled most of the season, but have shown promise recently, winning three straight and four of five. That ended on Tuesday with a deflating 77-66 defeat to the Chicago Sky. Kahleah Copper had 25 points in the losing effort.
This is the final game between the teams this season. They split two games in three days in Indiana last month.
Indiana Fever vs. Phoenix Mercury WNBA Odds and Betting Trends
Indiana is a 1.5-point road favourite tonight and is -105 on the money line, while the Mercury are at -115 on the other side. Indiana is 4-5 straight up and 3-5-1 against the spread on the road. Moreover, the Fever are 7-2 ATS in their last seven meetings with the Mercury.
Phoenix is 3-7 straight up and against the spread at home but 4-2 straight up and ATS in its last six games.
The over/under for this contest is 174.5 on the WNBA odds. The Fever have played to the under in four of six on the road, while the Mercury have played to the under in four of their last five.
Back-to-back games and injury reports can have a major impact on WNBA betting lines. Our WNBA betting guide explains how to account for rest, player availability and other factors before placing your bets.
Indiana Fever
Mitchell continues to be the steady scoring leader. She is averaging 26.8 points over her last five games and is now second in the league with a 22.2 points per game average.
Clark has played in 18 games, five more than she did last season when she dealt with a myriad of setbacks. However, her back issues consistently cause her to be listed “questionable” on the injury report. She is out for tonight’s game, seemingly as a precaution after playing last night.
To add insult to injury, now Boston is missing games. She played every game for Indiana in her first three years, but she has now missed two games this season. She is expected back, but her status is something to keep tabs on moving forward.
Phoenix Mercury
Copper continues to steadily produce in her 11th season. She is third in the league at 20.8 points per game, just behind Mitchell. She had 25 on Tuesday, averaged 24 in the two games against Indiana last month and is averaging 26.8 points in Phoenix’s last eight games.
Thomas is having another stellar season statistically. She is averaging 14.2 points and 6.9 rebounds and leads the league with 8.3 assists per game. However, she has been shrouded in controversy since she received a Flagrant 2 foul and a one-game suspension for making contact to Clark’s throat last month with her fist.
Thomas is officially listed as probable with some foot issues this evening.
WNBA Prediction: Who will win Fever vs. Mercury?
Will the Fever be better without Clark in the lineup? Would Phoenix be better served if Thomas took the night off?
The Mercury have shown improvement lately, but they are still 8-14. That said, Indiana is on the second night of a back-to-back after surrendering 106 points to a shorthanded Los Angeles team last night.
This may not be a pretty one, but take the Mercury to win at home, 84-80.
