The WNBA postseason field is set. We know which eight teams will head to the playoffs and which seven will go home. Las Vegas, the defending champions, is one of the former, while Toronto is one of the latter. Can the Aces continue their march towards the postseason? Or will the Tempo prove to be a stout roadblock?
The Aces enter as 13.5-point home favorites with -1000 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Tempo are +650 underdogs, with the game total set at 173.5 points.
Let’s dive into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Tempo-Aces matchup.
Tempo vs. Aces Preview
It’s been less than a week since we saw these two teams face off in what was a surprisingly compelling game. Going on the road for a game in Vancouver, the Aces kept the Tempo at arm’s length, winning 88-78. The defense was strong, and A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young fueled the offense. It’s a formula that has propelled them throughout the entire season, and they’ll hope that formula is enough for tonight’s game as well.
Toronto nearly pulled off the ideal game plan last time around. Their shorthanded team had limited options, but managed to catch fire from deep, shooting 10-for-27 beyond the arc. That three-point barrage, along with some solid defense on Chelsea Gray and most of Las Vegas’ depth pieces, kept them within striking distance for the entirety of the game. At the very least, they’ve shown they can stay competitive with a much better team.
The injury report is no kinder to the Tempo this time around. Brittney Sykes, Marina Mabrey, and Aneesah Morrow are all out for the remainder of the regular season. They’ve also temporarily suspended the contracts of Nyara Sabally, Julie Allemand, and Maria Conde, as injuries and the incoming FIBA World Cup push them to end their seasons prematurely. But the ledger is a bit more in their favor this time around, as NaLyssa Smith will be out for this game and the foreseeable future. Las Vegas’ breakout starter suffered a non-contact leg injury during that last matchup and will miss the remainder of the season.
For the Aces to pull off another win, they’ll want to run back the same game plan. Set the tone defensively by limiting the Tempo’s shorthanded offense, get Wilson cooking, and watch the lead grow. It’s more than enough to get the job done. Toronto will be hoping for something similar: shoot a lot of threes, keep Vegas’ backcourt under wraps, and hope to eke out the win. But which side can execute better?
Tempo vs. Aces Pick, Best Bet
Smith’s injury cannot be discounted here. As a tertiary scoring outlet and an important defensive cog for this team, it’s going to be difficult for Vegas to fill that hole with the playoffs right around the corner. However, I don’t expect that to be as much of an issue against a tempo team that was playing above its head in their last matchup. Toronto did an admirable job hanging around during the Vancouver game, but with their roster decimated, this should be easy pickings for the champs.
