WNBA playoffs predictions, odds, best bets

The Lynx are the odds-on favorites to win the WNBA championship.

And, for the most part, they looked the part in the second half of their semifinal series opener against the Mercury.

The question is whether heavily-favored Minnesota is far superior and merely started slow, or whether Phoenix can be competitive with more rest.

After all, we often see NBA and WNBA teams hit the proverbial wall when they encounter a quick turnaround after an emotional win in the previous series.

Phoenix won a decisive Game 3 on Friday night against the Liberty, eliminating the defending champions in a tight game that came down to the wire.

They then traveled to Minneapolis for Game 1 less than 48 hours later. The Mercury led by seven at halftime but were clearly a tired team, mustering just 22 points in the entire second half in an 82-69 loss. 

Minnesota is a 7.5-point home favorite in Game 2 with a total of 158.5 points.

I am backing the Mercury and the points.

Minnesota is a special team and will likely win the title, but I do believe Phoenix will be competitive in this series.

I attribute the poor second half to fatigue and believe the Mercury will keep this close and have a chance to win.

The Mercury are a somewhat tricky team to handicap.

They were not at full strength for much of the season, given Kahleah Copper only played 28 of 44 games due to injury. She is a fantastic player who can dominate both offensively and defensively. 

Plus, Phoenix also starts one rookie and a Center who logs less than half the minutes, as well as adding key reserve DeWanna Bonner during the season.

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Betting on the NBA?

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Consequently, head coach Nate Tibbetts struggled to find his optimal rotation, but the team did hit a groove with an 11-3 run in August and September.

I believe Phoenix has a legitimate chance to win the title and is the team that will play with more urgency and hunger in Game 2.

Plus, we often see a team that won Game 1 play more relaxed. I also think the Mercury will start the game with a significant amount of intensity.

I have a 64-52-1 record in this Post sports section and have two plays for this game.

I will back the Mercury +7.5 (-110, BetMGM) and also +2.5 points on the first quarter line (-110, bet365).

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Why Trust New York Post Betting

Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.