A potential sweep is not what the WNBA had in mind when it expanded the Finals to a best-of-seven format for the first time in league history.
Nonetheless, we are forced to handicap a situation that we have never seen: a 3-0 series lead.
Whether in the NBA or WNBA, a 3-0 series creates a wide range of potential outcomes for Game 4.
Will the likely champion play tight, knowing what is so close? Will the trailing team play hard to save face and avoid a sweep or be completely demoralized?
On the brink of a championship, the Aces are three-point road favorites over the Mercury with a total of 162.5 points.
Adding another unknown is the absence of Phoenix All-Star forward Satou Sabally, who suffered a concussion at the end of Game 3.
She averaged 16.3 points this season, so this leaves a large void for a team on the brink.
Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner figure to see their usage increase in Sabally’s absence.
However, I think game flow should remain the same, and both teams will continue to generate plenty of 3-point attempts. Each team has attempted at least 21 in every game so far this series.
Specifically, Las Vegas’ Jewell Loyd has attempted seven 3s in each game of this series, while starter Jackie Young has hoisted at least six in each game.
On the Phoenix side, Copper has 22 total 3-point shots, so I fully expect that to continue and even increase her average in Sabally’s absence.
I have a 69-54-2 ATS record in this Post sports section and my next play is a same-game parlay (SGP).
An SGP of at least two made 3-pointers by Copper and one made 3 each from Loyd and Young has -120 odds at DraftKings.
BET: SGP Kahleah Copper 2+ 3-pointers & Jewell Loyd 1+ 3-pointer & Jackie Young 1+ 3-pointer (-120, DraftKings)
Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.