The Mercury are hosting the Sky on Thursday. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Phoenix is favored by 12.5 points and this game carries a total of 164.5 points.
Below, I break down the matchup between the Mercury and the Sky and give a pick for the game.
Mercury vs. Sky preview, prediction
The Mercury and Sky have had opposite seasons. Phoenix is 23-14 and ranks third in net rating, while the Sky are 9-28 and rank last in net rating. Unsurprisingly, the Mercury have dominated the Sky this season. Phoenix is 3-0 in the season series with an average margin of victory of 14.0 points.
Thursday is their fourth and final matchup of the season, and both of these clubs are at full strength. Phoenix is jockeying to improve its seed for the playoffs with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, while Chicago has nothing to play for and is just hoping to notch some moral victories to wrap up the year.
Alyssa Thomas has been outstanding for the Mercury and has put herself in the MVP conversation recently. Since the All-Star break, the 33-year-old is averaging a near triple-double of 16.6 points, 11 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game, with that latter stat leading the WNBA. On DraftKings Sportsbook, Thomas carries the third-best odds to win MVP at +4000. Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper have also elevated their games lately for Phoenix.
For the struggling Sky, Angel Reese continues to be a double-double machine. She is tied with Thomas for the most in the league this season at 20. However, her impact hasn’t been enough to keep Chicago afloat. The Sky’s struggles almost certainly will continue in this tough road matchup in Phoenix.
Mercury vs. Sky pick, best bet
The Sky have been no match for the Mercury this season, and Phoenix should notch another easy win on Thursday. The Mercury are 12-6 at home, while the Sky are 4-13 on the road.
Each of Phoenix’s last two wins over Chicago this season have been by at least 16 points. The Mercury has a great chance to cover this 12.5-point spread. Phoenix is 20-16-1 ATS this season.
