The Indiana Fever and Phoenix Mercury meet Monday in WNBA action at the Footprint Center. The Indiana Fever need a win after losing 7 of their last 9 games. The Phoenix Mercury look for a win after splitting their last 10 games.
The Indiana Fever are averaging 79.6 points on 40.8 percent shooting and allowing 88.6 points on 47.1 percent shooting. Kelsey Mitchell is averaging 19 points and 4.1 assists, while NaLyssa Smith is averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds. Victoria Vivians is the third double-digit scorer and Danielle Robinson is grabbing 3.4 rebounds. The Indiana Fever are shooting 33.8 percent from beyond the arc and 76.5 percent from the free throw line. The Indiana Fever are allowing 36.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 34.5 rebounds per game.
The Phoenix Mercury are averaging 81.9 points on 43.9 percent shooting and allowing 86.1 points on 45.2 percent shooting. Skylar Diggins-Smith is averaging 18.9 points and 3.7 rebounds, while Tina Charles is averaging 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds. Diana Taurasi is the third double-digit scorer and Diamond DeShields is dishing 2.2 assists. The Phoenix Mercury are shooting 32.3 percent from beyond the arc and 79.8 percent from the free throw line. The Phoenix Mercury are allowing 37.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 31 rebounds per game.
I'm not running to the window to back either of these teams in sloppy form, and look like the season may be getting away from both sides. With that said, the Phoenix Mercury are still clearly the more talented team, and they need to take advantage of games like this at home if they're going to make anything of this season. The Mercury also beat the Fever by 13 points a couple of weeks ago. Even with their underachieving ways and a defense that's heading in the wrong direction, I'm not giving up on the Mercury just yet. Give me the home team.
AUTHOR: Randy Chambers
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