Charlie Cummings breaks down his prediction and pick for Friday’s Unrivaled matchup between the Breeze and the Phantom.
Unrivaled action is heating up as the playoffs loom near. Five teams have records above .500, but only four of them can make the playoffs. The Breeze and Phantom are currently tied for the final playoff spot, and this game is going to have massive implications for the stretch run.
The Phantom are 2.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook, while the Breeze sit at +120 on the Moneyline. The game total is set at 142.5 points. Let’s get into my prediction and pick for this Unrivaled matchup.
Breeze vs. Phantom prediction, preview
The Breeze are sure capturing some headlines. Paige Bueckers is utterly dominating offensively, scoring 23.9 points per game on shooting splits that qualify for the coveted 50/40/90 club. Rickea Jackson is growing offensively alongside her, while Cam Brink looks healthy after a struggle of a WNBA season. But it’s Dominique Malonga who is catching the most eyes with her play.
Malonga, the No. 2 pick in the last WNBA draft, did not get a ton of usage in her rookie campaign. Averaging 16.9 points and 10.9 rebounds per game for the Breeze, this is the first showcase of what kind of pro she can be.
The Phantom have a startlingly similar star duo. Kelsey Plum is going to hand out buckets from the backcourt, while Aliyah Boston holds down the paint on both ends of the floor. They have a solid core of role players who can mix and match in different lineups. It’s a very offense-leaning roster build, but there’s nothing wrong with that.
To me, this matchup comes down to the role players. Tip Hayes, Natasha Cloud, and Kiki Iriafen have a huge burden on their shoulders for the Phantom with a five-person rotation. Rickea, Cam Brink, and Kate Martin will look to match them from the Breeze. Whichever role player group can knock down shots, play good defense, and gather up rebounds will define the outcome here.
Breeze vs. Phantom pick, best bet
I have much more trust in the Phantom’s role-player group. They’re experienced vets that know how to get it done, and their youngest player (Kiki Iriafen) is a mismatch nightmare. If Plum and Boston show up, the rest of the roster will take care of business.