The Minnesota Lynx are hot right now, and they have a chance to move into second place in the Western Conference on Friday night with a win over the Phoenix Mercury.

A Minnesota win and Dallas loss would move the Lynx into second in the West, which is crazy considering how slow the team started the 2023 season.

The win part is very possible on Friday, as the Mercury (3-13) are down Skylar Diggins-Smith (maternity leave) and Diana Taurasi in this game. Without Taurasi, there is going to be a lot of pressure on Brittney Griner to carry the Phoenix offense.

These teams played in Phoenix on July 1, and the Lynx took home a 10-point road win. Yet, they are just five-point favorites in this game.

Let's dive into the odds and my best bet:

Mercury vs. Lynx odds, spread and total

Mercury vs. Lynx prediction and pick

I can't justify betting on this Mercury team with Taurasi out of the lineup.

The star guard hasn't played her best this season, but the Mercury are 0-3 in the games she's missed, showing they clearly could use her in the lineup.

This should be an easy win for Napheesa Collier and the Lynx, who are slowly climbing towards the top half of the league in offensive and defensive rating.

Meanwhile, the Mercury rank dead least in the WNBA in defensive and net rating, hence the 3-13 record.

The team has also been brutal to bet on covering the spread in just four of its 16 games in 2023. I'm all over Minnesota to win and cover on Friday.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.