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- What: Washington Mystics vs. New York Liberty
- When: Tuesday, September 19th
- Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
The New York Liberty are riding high on a wave of success, all thanks to their top gun, Sabrina Ionescu, who is set to ignite the court again in the upcoming game against the Washington Mystics.
The energy in the Liberty camp is electric, and it’s no surprise why. After reading our valuableΒ WNBA betting tips and tricks, you should be eager to make your WNBA bets.
In Game 1, Ionescu went full ‘God Mode,’ dropping 29 points and smashing a franchise postseason record with seven 3-pointers. This stellar performance led to a convincing 90-75 victory for New York. The Mystics are still probably seeing those 3-pointers in their nightmares.
Game Preview
The second-seeded Liberty, spearheaded by 3-point queen Ionescu, are all set to bring the heat in the first-round series against Washington Mystics this Tuesday night. Let’s take a look at the moneyline odds in this matchup.
| Team |  |  |  |
| Liberty | -600 | -575 | -600 |
| Mystics | +510 | +455 | +510 |
Ionescu’s post-game comments echoed her in-game dominance, “I was kind of just in that zone, locked in, the basket felt really big when I was shooting.” If she’s seeing the net that big, the Mystics better start figuring out how to shrink it.
WHAT A GAME FOR SABRINA π€―
29 PTS
7 3PM (franchise playoff record)Liberty defeat the Mystics in Game 1 π½ pic.twitter.com/STtyMKency
β Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 16, 2023
Let’s remember that Ionescu isn’t just a one-game wonder. This top overall pick of the 2020 draft set a WNBA record with 128 3-pointers in the regular season.
Brittney Sykes of the Mystics probably summed up what every opponent feels about Ionescu, “She led the damn league in threes this season. I don’t know why we let her shoot the damn ball like that.”
Everything is clicking for the Liberty right now; the mix of players they’ve acquired in the offseason are playing well together. In addition to Ionescu breaking out, teammate Breanna Stewart is the favorite for MVP.
The Liberty are huge favorites at -600 odds on the moneyline at BetUS. The implied probability of that price is 85%! This is a certainty at that price.
There is little value in backing the Liberty at that price, but it seems evident that they will win.
However, the Mystics have an arsenal of players. Myisha Hines-Allen put up an impressive 21 points in Game 1, but they’ll need more from two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne and point guard Natasha Cloud, who had a quiet game with just 15 points combined.
But with the Mystics set to host a potential Game 3, they’ll be swinging for the fences to push this series to the limit.
The Mystics are heavy underdogs, priced at +510 at BetUS, implying a probability of just 16%. It seems like the Mystics are just overmatched in this playoff battle.
I would not recommend betting on the Mystics to pull off this upset.
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Total Points
Now that we’ve analyzed which team will win, let’s look at another market in this game: the total points. The oddsmakers have set this total at 162.5 points.
| Team | | | |
| Over 162.5 Points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 162.5 Points | -110 | -110 | -110 |
The stats and past performances certainly favor the Liberty, but if we’ve learned anything from sports, it’s that no game is a done deal. That being said, the Mystics will need to bring their A-game to shut down Ionescu and Co.
Basketball is a game of runs, and right now, the Liberty are on a hot one. The Mystics need to find a way to cool them down, or they’ll be watching the rest of the playoffs from their living rooms.
Give her 20βΌοΈ
Myisha Hines-Allen has a new playoff career high π#BallOnOurTerms | @Mooks_22 pic.twitter.com/RlPZddQAkP
β Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) September 16, 2023
So, buckle up, folks! You’re in for a treat if you thought Game 1 was high-scoring. With the Liberty’s home crowd in full support and the Mystics fighting for survival, we expect a scoreboard that won’t quit.
Grab your popcorn and prepare for a showdown that promises to be nothing short of an offensive explosion.Β
I recommend betting over 162.5 points in this game at -110 odds.
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