Mystics +8.5 (-110) over Lynx
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- The Mystics should have Brittney Sykes and Shakira Austin back after the Olympic break, which should help them compete here.
- Napheesa Collier is coming back from the Olympics this week and could be flat after occupying a huge workload in Paris.
In the first half of the WNBA season, the Minnesota Lynx were among the best teams in the league while the Washington Mystics were one of the worst. On Thursday, they will open their second halves of the season against one another, with the Mystics hoping that some returning players can help them compete in Minnesota. Continue reading for our WNBA betting picks for Thursday’s Mystics vs Lynx matchup.
This game will be played at Target Center at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, August 14, 2024.
Washington Mystics
Heading into Thursday’s Mystics vs Lynx contest, the Washington Mystics hold a record of 6-19. They are tied with the Dallas Wings for the worst record in the league. But they have some key players returning from injury heading into this matchup with Minnesota, something they hope will translate to a much-needed win on the road.
Brittney Sykes should be back for the Mystics in this contest, who dramatically transforms the Washington offense when she is on the floor. With Shakira Austin also expected to compete in this game, the Mystics at least have a team resembling the one they expected to have going into the season. Whether or not that is enough for the Mystics to win this game remains to be seen, but they could be a much tougher out than they were before the Olympic break.
Minnesota Lynx
The Minnesota Lynx enter the second half of the WNBA season in third place in the league standings with a record of 17-8. The Lynx hold a record of 11-3 at home for the year, as they were playing some phenomenal basketball before the break. The question going into this game will be whether or not the Lynx can keep that going, especially after the last couple of weeks that Napheesa Collier had.
Collier was one of the most heavily used players on the USA Olympic team over the last couple of weeks in Paris. Without a true break, it will be interesting to see how she plays in her first game back with the Lynx here. While the Lynx will be expected to win this game no matter what, a flat performance from Collier could help the Mystics cover the number on Thursday night.
