The Connecticut Sun upset the Washington Mystics in Game 2 of the 2019 WNBA Finals to tie the series. The Sun took advantage of Elena Delle Donne’s absence and fully deserved to play the next two games on the home court. On the other side, the Mystics, who finished the regular season with the best record in the WNBA by far, will be in big trouble if Delle Donne doesn’t suit up on Sunday.

Injuries/Suspensions

The Mystics could miss their best player, Elena Delle Donne, who’s struggling with a back spasm. She played just two minutes in Game 2 before leaving the court. Elena has a herniated disk in her back and will have treatment in order to get ready for Game 3. On the other side, the hosts are coming in full strength.

The Line

Connecticut opened as a 2-point fave with the total at 175.0 points and Washington at +110 money line odds. The bookies believe that Delle Donne will be limited even if she takes the floor on Sunday. The Mystics will be road dogs for the first time since a 95-72 win in Las Vegas on June 20, 2019.

What’s at Stake?

There’s so much on the table for both Washington and Connecticut. Whoever wins this clash will be one step away from the WNBA championship.

The Spot

Connecticut is arguably at the better spot than Washington. The hosts are coming off a surprising victory in Game 2, while the Mystics have to recuperate after Delle Donne’s injury and put on a fight.

The Matchup

In the WNBA Finals, Washington has outscored Connecticut by 12 points with Delle Donne on the court. However, their inside game fell apart in Game 2, and Connecticut topped them 99-87. The Sun outrebounded the Mystics 41-27, posting 17 offensive rebounds. Likewise, the Sun shot 50.0% from the field and dominated the Mystics down the stretch.

After a poor performance in the opener, Jonquel Jones stepped up in Game 2, accounting for 32 points and 18 rebounds. She was completely unstoppable, also adding three blocks to her stats. Alyssa Thomas logged for 40 minutes, tallying 21 points, 12 boards, and six assists while doing an excellent job on the defensive end.

On the other side, Emma Meesseman led the Mystics, scoring 23 points off the bench. Kristi Toliver had 13 points and seven dimes, but she made just six of her 20 field-goal attempts. Tianna Hawkins had a solid role off the bench, posting 16 points and six rebounds while shooting 6-of-8 from the field.

The Mystics desperately need Elena Delle Done back on the court. She’s averaging 19.5 points and 8.3 rebounds this season, shooting 51.5% from the field and 43.0% from beyond the arc. Also, the Mystics will have to do a much better job on the glass, while their defense will need to bounce back from a poor display in Game 2. Delle Donne guarded Jonquel Jones in the opener, and Jones didn’t have a single offensive rebound while scoring 12 points.

The Bets

The good thing for the Mystics is a long stretch between Game 2 and 3, so Delle Donne will have five days to recover and get ready for the action. We’ll have another update Saturday morning, and the bookies could adjust the odds regarding Delle Donne’s situation. Howsoever, I expect to see a tight clash that will be decided by a few possessions down the stretch.

Therefore, I’m going with the totals in this one, avoiding the side bet. The Mystics are the most efficient team in the WNBA. They are able to put some serious numbers on the scoreboard even if they play without Delle Donne. On the other side, their defense looks fragile, and Connecticut knows how to take advantage of it, so I’m backing the over.

The Mystics are 4-7 SU and 5-6 ATS in their last 11 road games when listed as underdogs, while the Sun is 5-1 SU and ATS in its last six outings at home as favorites. The over is 7-3 in Connecticut’s last ten games overall, and it is 6-1 in Washington’s previous seven contests overall.