Basketball Betting








 

Basketball Betting


NFL Football
NCAA Football
NCAA Basketball
MLB Baseball
NHL Hockey
Soccer
Auto
Horse Racing
Golf
Tennis
 

NBA Basketball Betting

Lakers aim for commanding 3-0 series lead vs. reeling Suns

Basketball Betting Lines

05/23/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The scene shifts to the desert tonight as the Los Angeles Lakers aim to take a commanding 3-0 lead over the reeling Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference finals.

The Lakers dominated the first two games of the set in Los Angeles and took a 2-0 edge on Wednesday when Kobe Bryant scored 21 points, and deferred to his teammates to the tune of a career playoff-high 13 assists , as the Lakers rolled once again over Phoenix, 124-112, at Staples Center.

Pau Gasol was the main benefactor of Bryant's charity, scoring a game-high 29 points with nine rebounds and five assists. Ron Artest scored 18 points and Lamar Odom, after being called "lucky" by Suns forward Amare Stoudemire for his play in Game 1, notched a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

"We like to control the pace, but we feel comfortable at an accelerated pace," said Lakers head coach Phil Jackson after the Lakers again topped the 120- point barrier after pouring in 128 in a high-scoring Game 1. "We have to figure out how often to run."

The Lakers won their 10th straight home playoff game and eighth straight postseason contest overall.

"We need to take better shots (in Phoenix)." said Bryant. "They (the Suns) are much better at running at home."

Jason Richardson scored 27 points and Grant Hill added 23 for the Suns, who were outscored 34-22 in the final period. Stoudemire scored 18 points with six rebounds and Steve Nash added 11 points and 15 assists in defeat.

"What can you say? We can't slow them down. Every single time we made an adjustment they went someplace else," said Suns head coach Alvin Gentry.

The Suns will have to buck some serious history to get back in this series and seem almost resigned to their fate. Jackson coached teams are a perfect 46-0 when taking a 2-0 series lead.

"They are a more talented team than we are," Nash said. "They are a more balanced team. It's probably not a stretch in most people's minds just to say they're a better team than we are. So how do we overcome that? That's just all spirit, fight and belief. We've got to rely heavily on those characteristics with this group."

Stoudemire, who has been vilified for his poor interior defense, also lauded the Lakers effort.

"We're doing everything that the coaching staff asks us to do," the All-Star said on Friday after practice. "Front the post or double Kobe or set traps on Gasol. We're doing everything that coach asks us to do. They're just doing a great job of finding open spaces there and taking advantage of the high low action. A lot of fingers are being pointed at me right now. It's hard when you're undersized. We're playing as hard as we can. We have to try to make adjustments, see if we can win."

LA, however, knows things will be tougher at US Airways Arena, where the Suns were 32-9 during the regular season and are 4-1 in the playoffs.

"We understand how tough it's going to be in Phoenix," Gasol said. "The pace and energy they're going to bring is going to be hard to match, but we have to understand who we are and play to our capabilities."

Phoenix, which has never captured an NBA title, is in the conference finals for the first time since 2006, when the Suns lost to the Dallas Mavericks. Phoenix last made it to the NBA Finals in 1993 when they fell in six games to the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls. Meanwhile, Nash, a former two- time NBA MVP, has played in 114 career postseason games without reaching The Finals, the most in NBA history without the chance to play for a championship.

The Lakers are appearing in their third straight Western Conference final and are attempting to become the first repeat league champions since they won three in a row (2000-02) with teams fueled by Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

LA won three of four games vs. Phoenix in the regular season and won the Pacific Division by three games over the Suns.

In the postseason, the clubs have a long and storied history, meeting 11 times previously dating back to the 1969-70 season. The Lakers have won seven of those series but the Suns have rebounded to take four of the last five playoff sets between the two teams after dropping the first six. Phoenix has also taken the last two postseason matchups between the clubs, first round series in 2005-06 and '06-07.

LA and Phoenix have met twice previously in the Western Conference finals with the Lakers winning both, in 1984 and 1989.

Game 4 of the series will be in Phoenix on Tuesday.


<< Endo wins playoff for Toshin Challenge title
Tomika, Japan (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Akira Endo defeated Takanobu Kondo in a playoff Sunday to win the Toshin Challenge 2010 on the Japan Golf Tour. The win was Endo's first on the tour. Endo shot a five-under 66 on Sunday to join Kondo

<< Kuznetsova reaches second, Azarenka bows out at French Open
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame a sluggish start to beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea at the 2010 French Open. The sixth-seeded Kuznetsova lost the first six points and the first thre

<< Soderling rolls into second round at French Open
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Robin Soderling, a surprising finalist a year ago, cruised past Frenchman Laurent Recouderc 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 as the 2010 French Open commenced Sunday at Stade Roland Garros. The fifth-seeded Swede lost

<< Kuznetsova beats Cirstea at French Open
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame a sluggish start to beat Romanian Sorana Cirstea at the 2010 French Open. The sixth-seeded Kuznetsova lost the first six points and the first three games befor

<< Padres sneak by Mariners
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Stairs hit a home run for his 11th different team, and Clayton Richard allowed one run in seven effective innings, as the San Diego Padres defeated the Seattle Mariners, 2-1, in the second

Santana, Sabathia square off in Subway Series finale >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the top left-handers in the game square off tonight, when Johan Santana and the New York Mets take on CC Sabathia and the defending World Series champion Yankees in the finale of a three-game interleague series at Citi

Reds aim for sweep of Tribe in Cleveland >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hard-throwing right-hander Homer Bailey aims for a third consecutive quality start today, when the Cincinnati Reds try to finish off an interleague sweep of the Cleveland Indians in the third game of their series at Prog

O's send Millwood to hill against Nats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Orioles veteran Kevin Millwood starts for the 10th time this season and is in search of his first victory Sunday, as Baltimore aims for a series win in the finale of a three-game interleague set with the Washing

Braves go for sixth straight win at Pittsburgh >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Young right-hander Kris Medlen starts for the second time this season and for just the seventh time in his big-league career today, when the streaking Atlanta Braves close out a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates

Brewers try to avoid sweep in Minnesota >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Brewers will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Minnesota Twins this afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at Target Field. The Brewers have dropped the two previous meetings against Minnes

Super Bowl XLIII Betting - Super Bowl 2009

Super Bowl 2009, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Let’s take a look at the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds and the betting line and figure out where they’ve been and where they are going to go.

MySportsbook.com put up the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds late on Sunday night with the Pittsburgh Steelers favored by 6.5 points and a total betting line at 47.5 points.

Since then, however, the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds have seen a good deal of movement and you’ll want to be on top of where they are likely to move to make sure you get the best line value for the big game.

Since opening, the Super Bowl 2009 betting lines went to Steelers -7 in the span of roughly 3 hours but were quickly bought back down just minutes later to 6.5 again.

After that is took about 5-6 more hours before the betting line went back to -7 where it has sat for a while now and is likely to remain. The opening betting total of 47.5 was bet down right after the line became available and went to 47 within minutes.

Roughly a day later it has been bet even further down to the 46.5 tally it currently is set at.

Roughly 60% of gamblers seem to be on the Cardinals here so the point spread will be bet down and a 7.5 would not last very long at all with many taking the early 6.5 in hopes of finding a potential middle in the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds.

If you like Arizona and see a 7.5, I’d take it as soon as possible because it’s unlikely to last. For Pittsburgh backers, the -7 might be the best you’ll be able to find but a 6.5 is definitely possible close to game time.

Regarding the Super Bowl 2009 betting odds for the total, most tracked gamblers are already on the over and with those who took the under 47.5 already securing a middle on the over 46.5, the only way I see it moving is back up to 47 so if you like the over, I’d recommend betting now.

Get free Super Bowl XLIII Betting from top rated online sportsbook MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online Super Bowl betting with credit cards

Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt

Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.

The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.

Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.

NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.

"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.

The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.

But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.

The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"

When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.

Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.

The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.

The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.

The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.

Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.

Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."

Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.

"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."

Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.

It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.

"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."

Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.

"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."

At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.

According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.

Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.

Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.

When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.

He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.

Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.

Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.

Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.

While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.

"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.

Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.

Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your VISA Sportsbook needs.