Unrivaled action is heating up again this weekend, starting with an important Friday night slate. The Phantom and Vinyl are both on the playoff bubble as we approach the halfway mark of the season, with the game carrying heavy playoff implications.
The Phantom is a 2.5-point favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Vinyl sits as a +120 underdog. The game total is set at 137.5 points. Let’s get into my prediction and pick for this Unrivaled matchup.
Phantom vs. Vinyl Preview
No surprise for the Phantom: adding Kelsey Plum was huge. One of the best scorers in WBB history, Plum is averaging 22.6 points per game on 51.6% shooting, while adding 6.2 rebounds and six assists per game. That kind of star impact has set the tone for this offense. She pairs extremely well with Aliyah Boston, a dominant defensive paint presence who is pulling down 8.2 rebounds per game, along with 1.8 steals and two blocks. Boston continues to take steps offensively, adding 18.8 points a night.
The supporting cast has been the question as Satou Sabally’s absence has significantly altered their rotations. Natasha Cloud, Tiffany Hayes, and Kiki Iriafen are all great players in their own right, but overtaxed as the Phantom work with a five-person rotation. Still, things continue to work well enough; the Phantom have the best point differential in the league.
Things haven’t been as sweet for the Vinyl. At 2-3, they need to pick up some wins to get back in the playoff picture. The scoring prowess of Rhyne Howard and Dearica Hamby has kept them in games, while Courtney Williams fills gaps all over the floor. But the bench unit leaves a lot to be desired. Brittney Griner’s skillset is diminished in a 3v3 setting, Erica Wheeler isn’t hitting her shots, and Rae Burrell isn’t fitting in most of the time. Until the rotation gets sorted, they’ll rely on Howard and Hamby to overwhelm their opponents with buckets. Luckily, that is their specialty.
Phantom vs. Vinyl Pick
There are a lot of buckets out there on the floor. It’s going to be a close affair between similarly constructed teams, and the ability to knock down perimeter shots may decide the game. One thing is for sure: the over has value here. Count on a lot of points in Friday’s nightcap.
