One team is trying to secure the top seed in the playoffs, while the other is hoping to sneak into the postseason as the New York Liberty take on the Washington Mystics.
For the Liberty, a win in either of the last two games or a loss by the Minnesota Lynx would clinch. For the Mystics, things are a bit more tenuous as they are in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot.
Want to see where the betting value lies? Read on for my Liberty vs Mystics prediction before the game tips off at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
New York Liberty vs. Washington Mystics Prediction
The Liberty and Mystics could very well end up on opposite ends of the playoff spectrum, with the former earning the top seed and the latter settling into the last. Either way, what could become a playoff matchup is set up to be a high-scoring affair, with the Liberty's plethora of weapons and the Mystics' faster pace. Not only that, both teams are first and second in 3s made per game.
Liberty vs. Mystics Pick: Over 160 points (-110)
Mystics vs. Liberty Odds
| Liberty Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-9 -114 | 160 -110o / -110u | -430 |
| Mystics Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+9 -106 | 160 -110o / -110u | +320 |
New York Liberty: Prepping for a Title Run
The Liberty had a few hiccups over the last month but for the most part, have looked every bit the title contender. They're coming off a home loss to the Lynx that ended a five-game winning streak.
The game saw New York, normally an incredible offensive team, struggle to make shots. That is unless your name is Breanna Stewart. The team's leading scorer erupted for 38 points, pushing her season average to 20.7 per game. The star is also second on the team with 8.6 rebounds per game and dishes out an average of 3.7 assists.
The team also leans on Sabrina Ionescu (19.0), Jonquel Jones (14.5) and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (11.9) for offense, with Ionescu also leading the team with 6.1 assists and Jones pacing the squad with 9.0 boards per game.
The Liberty are tied for first in the W at 86.1 points per game, a mark they achieved with the best offensive rating in the league while making a league-high 10.2 3s per game. Playing at just the seventh-fastest pace, the Liberty are stout defensively, excellent on the glass and rank in the top four in turnover percentage, assist-to-turnover ratio and assist percentage.
Washington Mystics: Coming In Hot
A little less than a month ago, the Mystics didn't resemble anything like a playoff team. They stated the season with a 6-22 record, but they've won seven of their last 10 games to climb into the conversation. That stretch includes wins over playoff teams Phoenix and Seattle, so it hasn't all been feasting on the bottom of the standings.
The Mystics are coming off an overtime home loss to Atlanta, one of the teams they're battling with to make the playoffs. The offense was a struggle in that game — much as it has been all season — with the team's 79.2 points per game being the fourth-worst in the W.
Yet, while they are not great offensively, the Mystics' -2.7 point differential is on par with the playoff-bound Indiana Fever and better than that of the Mercury — who is also heading for the postseason.
Ariel Atkins paces the team at 14.7 points per game, with Brittney Sykes averaging 12.5 and Stefanie Dolson chipping in at 9.9. The team has had to adjust without Shakira Austin, their third-leading scorer, but is now out for the season with an ankle injury.
The Mystics play at the sixth-fastest pace and have the league's second-best assist percentage but are second-to-last in rebound percentage and last in the league in turnover percentage.
Liberty vs. Mystics: Perimeter to Take Precedence
Betting Pick & Prediction
These teams have played three times this season, with the Liberty winning each game. That probably isn't much of a surprise, but what's interesting about the games is they've all featured a good amount of scoring, even from Washington.
The teams rank first and second in 3-point shots made per game, and that, along with each team's strengths and limitations, lends itself to a high-scoring affair.
Mystics vs. Liberty Pick: Over 160 points (-110)
How to Watch Liberty vs. Mystics
| Liberty vs. Mystics | Tuesday, September 17 |
| Start Time: | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | NBA TV & YouTube TV |
| Location: | Entertainment & Sports Arena, Washington, D.C. |
Liberty vs. Mystics is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET live from Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. This marquee WNBA matchup between the league's hottest team and the playoff-hopefuls of the Mystics is on NBA TV and streaming on YouTube TV and other streaming platforms.
