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- The Washington Mystics are -223 moneyline favorites when they host the Portland Fire Thursday
- These teams played less than three weeks ago in a 4 OT classic
- Read below for my Fire vs Mystics picks, props, as well as updated odds
It’s been 18 days since WNBA fans were treated to a wild 4OT thriller between the Portland Fire and Washington Mystics.
While it’s unlikely the rematch captures that same lightning in a bottle, there’s still plenty on the line for both teams looking to book a spot in the playoffs — though neither is currently considered in the WNBA Championship odds.
Washington starts the day in seventh spot, while the Fire are 2.5 games back sitting in the 9-spot.
Action gets underway at 7pm ET from the CareFirst Arena in Washington, DC, with NBA TV providing the broadcast coverage.
Fire vs Mystics Odds
The Mystics enter as -223 favorites on the moneyline, while taking the Fire to win outright pays at +213 odds.
Portland is getting 5.5 points on the spread, which offers a nice +104 payout, while a wager on the Mystics to win by at least six points comes in at -113 odds.
The total is set at 163.5 points, with the Over getting -108 odds, and the Under at -104. These teams combined to score a whopping 267 points the last time they met.
Fire vs Mystics Expert Picks
Washington is playing much better basketball right now, with wins in four of their last five, started with that electric 124-123 4OT win over the Fire. They will be seeking just their second 3-game winning streak on the season Thursday.
Perhaps the most encouraging sign from Washington is their dominant defensive effort in a 79-62 win in Toronto over the Tempo. They Mystics — who rank third in the WNBA in scoring defense — held the Tempo to just 35.4% shooting from the field, while allowing just 10 free throw attempts and five offensive rebounds.
Portland is trending in the opposite direction, as they have just two wins in their last seven games. They’re halfway home on a four-game road trip, coming off a 90-87 loss to the Sun.
A lack of offensive execution did them in, as the Fire put up just four points over the final two and a half minutes to whimper away and lose.
Head coach Alex Sarama said his side struggles against athletic post players, and so they might have their hands full with Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin. They’re two of the Mystics’ top scoring players, and help Washington’s 41.8 paint points per game, which is no. 2 in the WNBA.
Add that up, and it looks like a cover for the home team.
- Total Pick: OVER 163.5 points (-108 at Polymarket)
Despite Portland’s recent struggles, they have been able to score the basketball. During the last seven games, they have averaged a cool 91.6 points per game, tied with the Aces for 3rd-best total in the league.
Over their last 10, the Fire have seen the Over cash seven times. Just three times in that set have the failed to crack the 80+ point plateau. They should be able to deliver again.
As for the Mystics, they rank third-last in scoring in the league, but during their current fun-run, they’ve upped their point total, putting up 83.4 points per contest.
They’ve only gone Over the total twice in their last five games, but they also had to deal with Golden State, Atlanta and Seattle — three of the Top 7 scoring defenses in the WNBA.
It won’t quite burst scoreboard lights like last time, but I like the Over here.
POR Fire vs WAS Mystics Player-Prop Picks
Shakira Austin OVER 15.5 points (-127 at Polymarket): Washington’s 6-foot-5 center is coming off a nice 17-point, 10-rebound game in Toronto, and she’s scored at least 16 points in three of her last four games, topping 20+ points twice. Austin should be a force inside against Portland.
Carla Leite OVER 3.5 assists (+122 at Polymarket): God bless the prediction markets. Good luck getting Portland guard Carla Leite on a traditional betting site at these odds. For example, her line is 5.5 assists at bet365, and that pays out at -125. Here? She’s got plus odds to hit the 4-assist mark. That’s a number she’s hit in eight straight games.