Thunder continue road trip in clash with Grizzlies
Basketball Betting Lines
01/22/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder hope to stay
perfect on their current road trip as they square off with the Memphis Grizzlies tonight at FedEx Forum.
The Thunder have won three in a row overall and the first two tests of this
trek, including Wednesday's 94-92 triumph at Minnesota behind 31 points and 10
rebounds from Durant. He posted his 11th double-double of the season and
is currently third in the NBA in scoring with 29.2 points per game.
Durant also extended his franchise record by scoring 25-plus points in 16
straight games, and leads the league with a 32.1 point-per-game average since
Christmas Day. He also owns an NBA-best 23 games with at least 30 points this
season.
Jeff Green added 15 points and nine boards while James Harden had 12 points
off the bench for Oklahoma City, which surpassed its win total from all of
last season and improved to 12-9 away from the Ford Center in 2009-10.
"I knew it was going to be a competitive game," Thunder head coach Scott
Brooks said. "[The Timberwolves have] won a few home games in a row. We knew
they were going to come out and play us physical. They've got some weapons we
have trouble guarding. They've got a big-time low post scorer, and [Corey]
Brewer was on fire tonight."
Oklahoma City will also visit LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on the
current road swing.
Meanwhile, Memphis will open a quick homestand versus the Thunder and Magic
and has won a franchise-best nine straight at FedEx Forum. A win tonight would
give the Grizzlies their 23rd win of the season, one shy of last season's
victory total.
In a 113-111 loss at New Orleans on Wednesday, Rudy Gay scored the final seven
Memphis points and ended with a game-high 26 on 11-of-16 shooting. Zach
Randolph ended with 25 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who had their
four-game winning streak come to an end. Randolph has posted a double-double
in 11 of his last 12 games.
"We're just not executing towards the end of the game," Randolph said after
the team's fourth loss in 16 tries. "We're turning the ball over, not getting
back in transition. We just need to learn to put games away on the road."
The Grizzlies, who are 15-5 at home this season, are the only team in the NBA
with two players (Randolph, Gay) averaging over 20 points per game and the
only squad with three players (including O.J. Mayo) posting over 18 points per
game. They also rank fourth in the NBA in scoring (104.4 points) and fifth in
field goal percentage (.480) after averaging 93.9 points on 45.4 percent
shooting in 2008-09.
Oklahoma City defeated Memphis, 102-94, on December 11 of this season at FedEx
Forum and has won the last three matchups between the teams. The Thunder are
unbeaten in their three most recent trips to Memphis.
<< NBA-best Lakers to make a stop in New York
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NBA superstar Kobe Bryant made history last night, but it
wasn't enough to lift the Los Angeles Lakers to victory over LeBron James and
the Cleveland Cavaliers in the team's opener of a lengthy eight-game road
trip.
Tonig
<< Surging Pistons host Pacers in Central clash
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Central Division also-rans get together tonight
at The Palace of Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons will continue a six-
game homestand with a matchup versus the Indiana Pacers.
The Pistons have won four of
<< Ellis, Warriors welcome Nets to Oakland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Monta Ellis needs a rest but he's unlikely to get it
tonight as his Golden State Warriors conclude a season-long seven-game
homestand against the hapless New Jersey Nets.
Ellis has played every single minute
<< Bulls, Suns collide in the desert
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls resume their grueling, season-long seven-
game road swing tonight when they meet a Phoenix Suns team happy to be back in
the desert.
The Bulls fell to 0-2 on their trek Wednesday when Baron Davis poure
<< Colts in path of Jets' quest to end Super Bowl drought
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - When they take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium for Sunday
afternoon's AFC Championship, the New York Jets will be looking to prove that
the notions of homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, first-round byes,
and even pos
Report: Mets acquire Matthews Jr. from Angels >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Mets have apparently acquired
outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
An American League source told SI.com that the Angels will be paying a good
portion of th
Rockets take on rival Spurs in Alamo City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bragging rights in south Texas are on the line tonight as
in-state rivals San Antonio and Houston meet up at the AT&T Center.
The Spurs, who stand 2 1/2 games behind Dallas in the Southwest Division, have
been strug
Royals sign OF Ankiel >>
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas City Royals have agreed to a
one-year deal with outfielder Rick Ankiel.
The Kansas City Star reports that the pact is believed to be worth $3.25
million with a second-year mutual opt
Rangers faces injury crisis ahead of Hearts contest >>
Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers
will welcome Hearts to the Ibrox Stadium on Saturday for a top-five clash as
Gers look to extend their eight-game unbeaten streak in the league.
Walter Smith's
Bombers name Mack VP and GM of football operations >>
Winnipeg, MB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday named
Joe Mack the club's vice president and general manager of football operations.
He takes the place of Brendan Taman, who left the Bombers to take over a
simi
Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value
If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).
For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.
TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.
"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,' it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."
"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.
Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
|