The Mercury will look to pick up a win while covering the spread when they take on the Sparks in Los Angeles at STAPLES Center on Thursday in WNBA action.

The Mercury will try to spoil to the party on Thursday; they are 5-10 ATS against the number this season, while the Sparks are 7-8 ATS. Phoenix is 8-7 on the totals; Los Angeles is 5-10.



View Phoenix vs Los Angeles Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Sportsbooks have set the Sparks as 11-point favorites on the Sportsbook line for this contest. The total was listed at 172.5, but may be on the move.

Sportsbook

How They Match Up:
The game also pits Los Angeles's No. 1-ranked offense, averaging 85.2 PPG, against a Mercury defense that ranks No. 12 at 85.8 PPG. The Sparks field goal percentage has averaged 49.2% so far, more than the Mercury shooters have achieved on the year, 45.3% per game.

In comparing how the teams stack up statistically, the Mercury own the league's No. 11-rated mark, allowing 84.9 points per game when on the road. Los Angeles, on the other hand, rates No. 2 in home scoring.

Last time out for Phoenix, they were an 88-76 loser as they battled the Sparks at home. The Mercury failed to cover in the match as a 4-point underdog, while 164 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors. The Mercury got 23 points from Diana Taurasi, but it was Los Angeles that prevailed in an 88-76 final on Sunday at US Airways Center.

Los Angeles won its last outing, a 77-73 result against the Dream on July 17. The Sparks failed to cover in that game as a 10-point favorite, while the 150 combined points took the game UNDER the total. The Sparks got 15 points from Kristi Toliver as Los Angeles ran past Atlanta 77-73 on Wednesday at STAPLES Center.


Phoenix Mercury Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 3-7
Before playing Minnesota are 3-7
After playing Los Angeles are 4-6
After a loss are 2-8

Los Angeles Sparks Trends:
When playing on Thursday are 6-4
Before playing Seattle are 5-5
After playing Atlanta are 5-5
After a win are 7-3

A few Mercury at Sparks trends to consider:
Phoenix is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Phoenix's last 10 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Phoenix is 8-4 SU in its last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Phoenix's last 6 games on the road
Los Angeles is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Los Angeles is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Los Angeles's last 8 games at home
Los Angeles is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Phoenix


Next up:
Phoenix home to Minnesota, Sunday, July 21
Los Angeles at Seattle, Saturday, July 20