Jazz return home to face hapless Wizards
Basketball Betting Lines
03/15/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz hope a return to Salt Lake City against a
hapless Washington team will get them back on the winning track as the
postseason approaches.
The short-handed Jazz dropped the final two games of a four-game road trip,
the latest of which came last night in Oklahoma City when Russell Westbrook
poured in 30 points and dished out 11 assists, as the Thunder took down Utah
119-111.
Wesley Matthews finished with a career-high 29 points for the Jazz, who ended
the four-game trip with a 2-2 mark and are now just a half-game ahead of the
Thunder for the fifth seed in the Western Conference standings.
Deron Williams battled through a sore shoulder and wrist to record 27 points
and 14 assists before fouling out. Carlos Boozer tallied 18 points and 11
boards for Utah, which lost back-to-back games for the first time since a
three-game skid from December 31-January 4.
"That was about as physical a basketball team as we're going to face," Thunder
head coach Scott Brooks said of the Jazz. "It's great for our guys to
experience it and compete against a very veteran, physical, playoff-tested
team."
The Jazz were without center Mehmet Okur (back) and forward Andrei Kirilenko
(calf) on Sunday and both players are listed as questionable for tonight's
game.
The Wizards, who are opening up a four-game road trip tonight, continue to
falter down the stretch and dropped their season-high seventh consecutive game
on Saturday against Orlando. Dwight Howard put up 28 points, grabbed 15
rebounds and even dished out five assists in that one, as the Magic overcame a
sluggish start to upend Washington, 109-95.
Andray Blatche posted 32 points for the Wizards, who actually led by 15 before
stumbling to yet another loss. Shaun Livingston provided 18 points and eight
assists, and Al Thornton chipped in 15 points in defeat.
"Unfortunately the game's are 48 minutes and not 12," joked Wizards head coach
Flip Saunders.
Blatche has been the lone bright spot for Washington, averaging 24.5 points
and 9.8 rebounds in 14 games since joining the starting lineup.
The Jazz have won 18 of their last 21 home games against the Wizards.
<< Celtics and Pistons clash in Beantown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics hope to bounce back from a tough loss in
Cleveland on Sunday when they welcome Eastern Conference also-ran Detroit to
Beantown.
In a possible playoff preview the C's came up short against the Cavs when
<< Sixers, Knicks meet in Philly
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third place in the Atlantic Division is on the line tonight
in Philadelphia.
Of course, third place doesn't mean all that much if you are entering the
contest at 23-43 like the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Ne
<< Streelman carries 3-shot lead into final round
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Streelman finished off an
eight-under 64 in the third round Monday to carry a three-shot lead into the
final round of the rain-delayed Puerto Rico Open.
Streelman made five birdies in
<< Playoff-hopeful Flames, Red Wings square off in key battle
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Flames took on the Red Wings, they walked
away with two points and the eighth spot in the Western Conference.
Calgary will hope for similar results tonight at Pengrowth Saddledome versus
Detroit, which wi
<< Blue Jackets host Oilers in meeting of disappointing clubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With both clubs headed towards disappointing finishes to
the 2009-10 season, the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets face each
other for the final time this year tonight at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus made the postsea
Fading Hornets resume road trip vs. Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fading New Orleans Hornets resume a five-game road trip
at Staples Center tonight hoping for their 13th straight win over the Los
Angeles Clippers.
The Hornets dropped the opener of their trek in Phoenix last night whe
Lakers shoot for another season sweep of Warriors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pacific Division foes square off for the last time this
season on Monday when the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers head up
the California coast to take on the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers - Warriors rivalry h
Nuggets press on without Karl; meet Rockets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets continue their push toward the
postseason without head coach George Karl tonight against a desperate Houston
Rockets team.
The Nuggets have played without Karl, who is undergoing radiation and
chemother
Rachel Alexandra absence does not affect Zenyatta >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The hoped for meeting next month at
Oaklawn Park between 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and champion mare
Zenyatta has been put on hold.
Rachel Alexandra's majority owner Jess Jackson an
Colts sign OT Terry >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to
terms with offensive tackle Adam Terry, who had spent his first five NFL
seasons with Baltimore.
Terry missed the entire 2009 campaign because of an in
Mayweather picked to beat De La Hoya
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
As of Wednesday, MySportsbook.com closed its book with Mayweather a favorite to defeat De La Hoya at -170 (a $100 bet wins $70), while De La Hoya is a +140 underdog (a $100 bet wins $140).
Mayweather arrived at about 11:30 a.m. on a big truck with his face and a big "World's Best Pound-for-Pound" sign scribbled across the vehicle. He was accompanied by his entourage made up of rappers and his training team.
A crowd of close to 3,000 eager fans packed the MGM Grand lobby, with their cameras in tow, all trying to vie for position to get a good angle at Mayweather, who is acknowledged as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound.
Eric Gomez, Golden Boy Promotions vice-president, described the fan turnout as "amazing" and swore he had never seen anything quite like this event.
"The crowd was fantastic. Everybody was just too eager to see the two fighters," said ALA manager Michael Aldeguer, who was among those who waited at the lobby together with his ward Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal.
De La Hoya made his own grand entrance at the hotel lobby at around 12:30 p.m. accompanied by GBP chief executive officer Richard Schaefer and trainer Freddie Roach.
The same group of fans who trooped to see Mayweather also lingered around to get a close look at De La Hoya, who has been secretly working out at a Las Vegas gym for days after arriving from his main training camp in Puerto Rico.
The golden boy then took part in a closed-door afternoon workout with Bautista and Banal. The two, along with Aldeguer and wife Christine, as well as an HBO crew were the only ones allowed inside the gym.
De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.
Ring Magazine, the acknowledged bible of boxing, reported in its June 2007 issue that 12 out of 20 boxing experts it interviewed have favored Mayweather to defeat De la Hoya, with only 8 favoring the latter.
But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.
|