Las Vegas Aces - Phoenix Mercury predictions and free betting tips [22/05/2024]

In the main game of the day of the WNBA regular season, the Las Vegas Aces will face the Phoenix Mercury.

Las Vegas Aces

Last season, the Las Vegas Aces, under the guidance of Becky Hammon, had the task of defending their championship title, which they won in the 2022 season.

In the first game of the season, the hosts defeated the Los Angeles Sparks on the road (85:94).

The reigning champions then secured six consecutive victories, remaining undefeated longer than any other team this season. The team had a consistent performance in the first part of the regular season. However, the end of August was not so successful for the Aces with three wins in six matches, far from a champion's pace. Nevertheless, they managed to regain their form in September with four straight victories.

To reach the main final, the Aces required the minimum number of matches. In the first round, they blew out the Chicago Sky (87:59; 92:70). In the semifinals, the Dallas Wings put up more resistance but still lost all matches (97:83; 91:84; 61:64). In the final series against the New York Liberty, the champions needed one additional game to defend their title, achieving a golden double.

This season, Becky Hammon's team started like true champions, defeating today's opponents, the Phoenix Mercury (89:80), and the Los Angeles Sparks (89:82).

Phoenix Mercury

Last season, the team from Arizona secured their first victory only in the third game, against the Minnesota Lynx. In the next five matches, the team from Arizona recorded three wins, with Brittney Griner showing top-level performance despite a hiatus in playing and training, but there was no one to support her. The team needed reinforcements through trades.

After an injury to their main star sidelined her for the rest of the season, the Phoenix's position in the playoff race weakened significantly.

In early August, the key player of the Phoenix Mercury returned to the court, bringing her team victories against the Washington Mystics (91:72) and the Connecticut Sun. However, the team from Arizona lost the last 11 matches and fell to the bottom of the table.

This season, the Phoenix Mercury started with a defeat from the reigning champions, the Las Vegas Aces, but managed a victory over the Atlanta Dream (88:85).

Head-to-Head

In the last head-to-head meeting last week, the Las Vegas Aces emerged victorious (89:80).

Match Prediction

It's unlikely that the Phoenix Mercury will be able to count on a victory or even a close finish today, but this game is expected to be a high-scoring affair. The Aces’ playing tempo allows not only themselves to score around 90 points but also lets their opponents easily surpass the 80-point mark. I believe the optimal bet for this match is on the total over 170.5 points.