Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports/Sipa USA

New York Liberty vs Washington Mystics: Are the Mystics a playoff team?

The Washington Mystics are hosting the New York Liberty in Entertainment and Sports Arena on Tuesday.

The Liberty are the best team in the league

The New York Liberty are on top of the Eastern Conference with a league-best 31-7 record including 15-4 on the road. After winning five consecutive games, they lost 88-79 to the Minnesota Lynx. New York is the best offensive team in the league scoring 86.1 points per game while shooting 44.9% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line. Breanna Stewart leads the team averaging 20.7 points per game, followed by Sabrina Ionescu who scores 19 points per game.

Can the Mystics clinch the playoffs tonight?

The Washington Mystics are fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 15-28 record, including 4-14 at home. They have won 4 of the last 6 games and are coming off a 76-73 overtime loss to the Atlanta Dream. They are ninth in the league averaging 79.2 points per game and shooting 43.4% from the field. Ariel Atkins leads the team with 14.7 points per game.

Betting Trends

The Liberty are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games played on Tuesday, 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games on the road, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played after one-day rest, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games against teams from the Eastern Conference, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games against teams with a losing record, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss and 11-5 ATS in their last 16 games overall. New York has played under the total point line in 5 of their last 7 games against teams from the Eastern Conference, 6 of their last 8 games following a ATS loss, 6 of their last 8 gams following a straight-up loss, 7 of their last 10 games played on Tuesday and 13 of their last 20 games overall. The Mystics are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a loss, 21-7 ATS in their last 28 games overall, 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games against teams from the Eastern Conference, 18-7-2 ATS in their last 27 games splayed on Tuesday, 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss, 15-6-1 ATS in their last 22 games against teams with a winning record and 10-4 ATS in their last 14 home games. Washington has played under the total point line in their last 4 games overall, 4 of their last 5 games against teams from the Eastern Conference, 4 of their last 5 home games and 5 of their last 7 games played on Tuesday.

Prediction and Conclusion

With two games left in the regular season, the Washington Mystics are tied with the Atlanta Dream and the Chicago Sky for fourth place in the Eastern Conference, the last one that leads to the playoffs. The Mystics are in good form, but the schedule brings the best team in the league in DC. The Liberty are locked for the top seed in the entire league and are coming off a rare home loss. They have won the last five head-to-head games against the Mystics and are a 9.5-point favorite in this one. There is no doubt that they are the better team, but given the circumstances and recent Mystics form, we go with Washington to keep the game close and cover the given spread.