Going into Thursday’s game, the Las Vegas Aces and Washington Mystics are tied for the last playoff spot in the WNBA. And one team is sure to be more upset about this than the other.
At 9-10, the Aces were hoping to still be in the contender’s circle this year. But nothing has gone right for them. The offense is struggling, the defense is underperforming, and they’re searching for answers. It doesn’t seem likely that Vegas’ season will end happily this year. The Mystics surely aren’t content with just being in the mix, but it beats their initial projection. With a rookie All-Star duo hitting the ground running, Washington looks like they could be a feisty out come playoff time.
The Mystics are two-point favorites at home and are -130 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 157.5 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Aces vs. Mystics Prediction
There is a lot on the line in this game. Going into Thursday’s game, both teams are three games clear of the Chicago Sky and the Los Angeles Sparks. The race for eight playoff spots may come down to nine teams. Right now, the Aces and Mystics are likeliest to be on the bubble. That adds a lot of pressure for an early July game.
Then you add in A’ja Wilson’s injury status. The three-time MVP is officially listed as questionable for the game after exiting their loss to the Liberty with a wrist injury. Her absence would be a major blow to Las Vegas’ chances in this contest; A’ja is second in the league in points and rebounds per game while leading the entire WNBA in blocks per game.
I have serious doubts about this Aces team, even with Wilson in the lineup. Now that she’s uncertain to play, I am going in on the Mystics as winners.
Aces vs. Mystics Pick
Washington Mystics -2 (-110)
Washington’s offense has been complicated to stop this season for the Aces. The combined attack of Brittney Sykes, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen is formidable in its own right. When you add in this excellent run from Shakira Austin, the Mystics suddenly have a balanced offensive attack that can go off more often than you’d expect.
That might be the case against these Aces. Las Vegas, despite the presence of Wilson, has the fourth-worst defensive rating in the league. The same can be said for their offense. This isn’t a particularly deep team. They don’t have a real identity besides “A’ja, save us” at the moment. Without Wilson, they’re dead in the water against a healthy Mystics team.
