Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty Prediction, Preview and Odds - 8/20/21
It’s an interconference contest on the hardwood in the WNBA coming to you from the Big Apple. The Seattle Storm are on the road as they travel to face the New York Liberty in the second game of a two-game set Friday night. In the first game of the two-game series, it was New York earning an 83-79 home victory Wednesday night to ensure no worse than a split. That snapped Seattle’s four-game win streak in the series and gave the Liberty just their second win in the last nine meetings. Will the Storm put their stars back on the floor and pick up a split of the two-game set or will New York shine in the Big Apple again?
Seattle Storm Looking to Get on Track
Seattle won the Commissioner’s Cup in their first game out of the Olympic break but has dropped both regular season contests since that point after falling Wednesday night. The Storm entered Thursday third in the WNBA playoff picture, one game behind the Aces for the top spot. On Wednesday night, Seattle led by three after the opening quarter, trailed by one at the half and held a comfortable 10-point edge after three quarters. The Storm went cold down the stretch, getting outscored 21-7 in the final quarter to wind up with the loss. Seattle shot 43.7% from the field, including nine of 26 from three-point range, and lost the rebounding battle 31-26. Jewell Loyd poured in 35 points to lead the Storm in a losing effort. The team rested Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird in the contest, leaving them out of the mix for the second straight game.
The Storm comes into this contest second in the league in scoring offense with an average of 86 points per game. Seattle is fourth in rebounding (36.4 boards per contest) and is second in the league in assists by dishing out 21.5 dimes per night this year. The Storm are 5th in scoring defense as they allow 80.1 points a game so far this year. Breanna Stewart leads the team with 20.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per contest. Jewell Loyd (18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, four assists) and Sue Bird (10.9 points, 5.5 assists) are solid secondary options. Coach Noelle Quinn has a solid group to work with as her team can get production from Katie Lou Samuelson, Jordin Canada, Ezi Magbegor, Stephanie Talbot, Kennedy Burke, Epiphanny Prince and Kiana Williams. The Storm are third in the league in field goal percentage as they convert 45% of their shots from the floor this year. Seattle is third in the league in three-point field goals made per game (nine) and first in three-point percentage as they knock down 38.8% percent from beyond the arc. The Storm are above average at the line, ranking fourth in the league by converting 82.3% of their chances. Mikiah Herbert Harrington is out for the year as she is pregnant.
New York Liberty Seeking Sweep
New York took advantage of the Storm resting two of their stars to come up with a fourth-quarter rally for a victory. The Liberty improved to 11-12 on the season with the win and entered Thursday seventh in the WNBA playoff picture, 1.5 games ahead of the ninth-place Mystics to remain on the right side of the playoff cut line. Against Seattle Wednesday, New York trailed by three after the opening quarter, took a one-point edge at the half and trailed by 10 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, the Liberty regrouped, outscoring Seattle 21-7, to earn the victory. New York shot 51.7% from the field, including 12 of 25 from three-point range, to help overcome 21 turnovers in the game. Rebecca Allen and Betnijah Laney each had 17 points in the win to lead the way.
The Liberty comes into this contest 9th in the league in scoring offense with an average of 79.3 points per game. New York is 11th in rebounding (33.9 boards a night) and fifth with 19.3 assists per contest. The Liberty ranks 11th in the league in scoring defense by allowing 84.8 points per game. Betnijah Laney leads the Liberty with 18.6 points plus 5.1 assists a night this season. Sabrina Ionescu (10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, six assists) and Michaela Onyenwere (9.5 points) are also capable scoring options. Sami Whitcomb (12 points, 5.7 boards), Natasha Howard (17.3 points), Kylee Shook, Rebecca Allen, Jazmine Jones, Reshanda Gray and DiDi Richards are key contributors for coach Walt Hopkins. New York is 5th in the league in field goal percentage as they shoot 43.4% from the floor as a team. The Liberty is first in the league in made threes per game (10) while ranking fourth in three-point shooting at 36.2%. New York is 9th in free throw percentage as they cash in 79.4% of their chances at the stripe.
Pick: Seattle Storm
The fact that the Storm didn’t play Bird or Stewart in either of their first two road games of the second half and still put up 85 points while losing by two in overtime, then by four while scoring 79 points, is a testament to the depth the team has. With a week-plus of rest in their pocket, one has to think that Quinn will play her stars in this one, if for no other reason than to give some of the other players, especially Loyd, a breather. New York struggled to get a win despite shooting better than 50% from the floor against a team minus their top two players while playing at home. If Seattle does put Stewart and/or Bird on the floor, they won’t be as fortunate. Take the Storm in this one.
Total: Over
Seattle piled up 85 points without two of their three stars Sunday and 79 on Wednesday in a similar situation. Now they get a second crack at a Liberty team that is second-worst in the league when it comes to scoring defense this season. Seattle is third in the league in field goal percentage and leads the league in three-point shooting this season. The Storm have seen the under hit in 12 of their 23 games on the year. Meanwhile, New York is the flip of that as the over has hit in 13 of their 23 contests. Both meetings in the bubble last season went over the number and each team has seen the over hit in both of their games since the Olympic break. With New York struggling on the defensive end of the floor, this one is more of a track meet and that pushes things over the total.