Terry leads Mavs past hobbled Rockets
Basketball Betting Lines
11/20/2008 -
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Terry scored 31 points, and Dirk Nowitzki
added 24 points and 12 rebounds to pace Dallas to a 96-86 victory over the
injury-riddled Houston Rockets.
Jason Kidd contributed eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the
Mavericks, who won their third in a row following a five-game skid. The Mavs,
who played without second-leading scorer Josh Howard (left ankle), also beat
Houston for the 11th time in the last 14 meetings.
Rafer Alston and Tracy McGrady each scored 16 points, but the Rockets were
without center Yao Ming (sore left foot). Forward Shane Battier practiced on
Tuesday for the first time this season, but was in street clothes again as he
continues be sidelined due to offseason foot surgery.
"When you don't have Yao, you've got to move the ball and you have to create
situations," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman. "We don't have a lot of guys who
can break you down off the dribble. So the guys who can't do that, you've got
to give them some room and I thought there were times when we had the ball in
the hands of someone who could get there and our thought process was very
poor."
McGrady played despite leaving Monday's game against Oklahoma City with a knee
injury, and Ron Artest put together a solid performance with 14 points and 13
rebounds despite playing on a gimpy ankle. But Houston shot just 37.2 percent
from the field.
The Mavericks carried a 72-61 lead going to the fourth quarter, but Houston
got three-balls from Aaron Brooks and Von Wafer to start the period. The
Rockets, though, failed in their bid to play catch-up. McGrady's three-pointer
had the hosts within 88-84 with 1:15 remaining, but Terry then knifed through
the lane for a bucket with a minute left.
McGrady missed a three-pointer at the other end, and Nowitzki made four free
throws down the stretch.
"We won the game defensively, not giving them second opportunities," said
Terry. "Obviously, without Yao they didn't have that post presence, but our
bench did a good job of maintaining a good balance on both ends of the floor."
The Mavericks started the game on fire, scoring the first eight points, but
Houston bounced back to tie the game at 16 on an Artest layup. The Mavs
finished the quarter on a 9-2 spurt for a 31-25 lead and they were up 53-46 at
the half. The visitors held a sizeable lead throughout the third stanza.
Game Notes
Dallas will play nine of its next 11 games at home, starting Friday against
Memphis. The Mavericks are 0-4 at home for the first time since the 1993-94
season when they lost their first 19 at home. Dallas is the only team in the
league to not win a game at home this season...The Rockets play Washington
Friday in the opener of a three-game road trip...Scola and Brooks each had 15
points...The Rockets were 6-of-25 from three-point range.
<< Jazz top Bucks to extend home win streak; Boozer exits early
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - C.J. Miles scored 25 points to lead Utah
to a 105-94 comeback win over the Milwaukee Bucks, as the Jazz won their 14th
straight home game going back to last season.
Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 11
<< Raptors overcome Wade's 40-point night win in over Heat
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrea Bargnani scored a season-high 25 points,
leading the Toronto Raptors over the Miami Heat, 101-95, in a tough road test
at American Airlines Arena.
Chris Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal both posted double-doubl
<< Salmons, Kings have big fourth quarter to beat Hornets
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Salmons led five Kings in double
figures with 29 points and six assists in Sacramento's 105-96 victory over the
New Orleans Hornets.
Salmons hit a solid 13-of-18 from the floor for the King
<< Iverson helps Pistons snap Cavs' eight-game win streak
Auburn Hills, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Allen Iverson scored 23 points, had four
steals and doled out four assists to lead the Detroit Pistons in a 96-89
comeback win over the Cavaliers, snapping Cleveland's eight-game winning
streak.
<< Trio leads Demon Deacons to rout of UNCW
Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The triumvirate of Jeff Teague, James
Johnson and Chas McFarland combined for 75 points in No. 20 Wake Forest's
120-88 victory over UNC-Wilmington in an in-state mismatch.
Teague posted a caree
Burrows scores twice as Canucks double up Rangers >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Burrows had two goals and Vancouver
doubled up the New York Rangers, 6-3, at Madison Square Garden.
Kyle Wellwood, Ryan Johnson, Pavol Demitra and Daniel Sedin also scored for
the Canucks, who
No. 23 'Nova holds off Niagara >>
Villanova, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scottie Reynolds scored 19 points, including
a 9-of-10 foul shooting performance, as 23rd-ranked Villanova held off
Niagara, 77-62, in a Philly Hoop Group Classic matchup.
Corey Fisher added 15 poi
Morgan, Michigan State defeat IPFW >>
Fort Wayne, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Raymar Morgan scored 22 points and hauled in
six rebounds to lead fifth-ranked Michigan State past IPFW, 70-59.
Kalin Lucas added 17 points and doled out three assists for the Spartans
(2-0), who bega
NCAA denies Stepheson's waiver petition >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA has denied forward Alex
Stepheson's waiver petition for immediate eligibility to compete for Southern
California.
Stepheson, who transferred this fall from North Carolina, will not be e
Ball State stays perfect with win over Central Michigan >>
Mount Pleasant, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nate Davis threw four touchdown
passes and MiQuale Lewis rushed for 177 yards as the 14th-ranked Ball State
Cardinals stayed perfect on the season with a 31-24 decision over Central
Michiga
Pacific-10 Conference odds
Teams that should be in: Stanford
 Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State
 It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do:
Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.
Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.
Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.
Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
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It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.
As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.
Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.
Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.
Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.
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