Heat take winning streak into Minnesota
Basketball Betting Lines
04/03/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat will try to push their season-high winning
streak to eight games and clinch a playoff spot tonight, when they close out a
three-game road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.
Miami has won seven in a row and five straight on the road, including Friday's
hard-fought 105-96 victory at Indiana. Dwyane Wade scored eight of his 43
points in overtime and also grabbed nine rebounds and dished out six assists
for the Heat, who improved to 20-18 away from south Florida and are aiming for
their second straight postseason appearance and sixth in seven years. A win or
a loss by the Chicago Bulls tonight will do the trick.
Michael Beasley added 12 points and seven rebounds, as the Heat outscored the
Pacers, 16-7, in the extra session and have won seven in a row for the first
time since winning nine straight from February 28-March 16, 2007. Miami also
completed a season sweep of the Pacers for the first time since joining the
NBA as an expansion franchise in 1988-89.
"(On sweeping the Pacers) This is a tough team to guard," said Wade, who has
scored 30 or more points in three of his last four games. "You have to have
your thinking cap on. They fight the whole game. We made the plays at the end
to win it."
The Heat are currently fifth in the Eastern Conference, just a half-game ahead
of the sixth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
Minnesota will wrap up a three-game homestand Saturday and is coming off a
monumental victory versus the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday in the Twin
Cities. Al Jefferson paced six Timberwolves in double figures with 19 points
and 12 rebounds, helping the team end its gaudy 16-game losing streak.
Corey Brewer also tallied 19 points, while Darko Milicic ended with 15 points
and 10 boards, and Kevin Love contributed 12 points and 11 rebounds for the
Timberwolves, who are 1-1 on the residency and 10-27 at home. They won for the
first time since February 23 at Miami.
"We just have to come to work every day with the same mind set," said rookie
Jonny Flynn, who ended with 18 points and eight assists. "It's tough to go
through a stretch like that and stay positive. But we have a good locker room.
Our coaches keep us together and help us out."
Minnesota avoided what would've been a franchise-record 17th-straight loss,
and beat the Heat, 91-88, back on February 23 in Miami. The T'Wolves have won
two straight and three of four matchups with the Heat.
<< Durant, Thunder conclude trip in Big D
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - MVP candidate Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder
are nearing the franchise's first postseason appearance since the 2004-05
campaign, and will close out a three-game road trip tonight against the Dallas
Maveric
<< Nuggets host Clippers in Rocky Mountains
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Still jockeying for position in the jumbled Western
Conference and Northwest Division, the Denver Nuggets will play host to the
Los Angeles Clippers tonight from the Pepsi Center.
Denver is only a half-game be
<< Playoff-bound Blazers pay a visit to Kings
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Having already locked up a postseason spot for a second
straight season, the Portland Trail Blazers will try to get back on track when
they resume a three-game road trip tonight against the Sacramento Kings.
Portland
<< Sixers host Raptors in matinee affair
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto has eight games remaining to state its case for the
eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors kick off
that key stretch this afternoon in the City of Brotherly Love against a
moribun
<< Suns go for 11th straight win in Milwaukee
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The playoff-bound Phoenix Suns will shoot for their 11th
straight win when they close out a five-game road trip tonight against the
Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center.
Phoenix has won 10 in a row and is on i
Pens host Thrashers in key matinee battle >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Penguins weren't very impressive the last time they
took the ice. Luckily for them, they face a Thrashers team Saturday afternoon
that they should to be able to snap out of their current funk against given
recent history.
Streaking Sens visit Islanders >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The playoff-bound Ottawa Senators will try to record their
seventh victory in a row this afternoon against the New York Islanders at
Nassau Coliseum.
The Senators stretched their current win streak to six games with Thursd
Red Wings welcome Preds for important West clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Predators have been doing their best to hold off the
Red Wings in the race for the Western Conference's fifth seed. Today, they get
another chance to take matters into their own hands.
Nashville will try to snap Detroi
Sliding Devils kick off road trip in Raleigh >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Devils will try to end a three-game slide
when they begin their final road trip of the regular season with tonight's
test at RBC Center against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Devils are 0-1-2 in their last thr
Rangers continue playoff push in Florida >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Rangers will aim to further their playoff
chances with a third straight victory when they visit the Florida Panthers
tonight at BankAtlantic Center.
The Rangers are tied with Atlanta for ninth place in the Eas
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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Sportsbook betting odds favor Europe in Ryder Cup
September 19, – Despite holding a decided edge in the all-time series, with 24 wins, 2 ties and 10 losses, Team USA is the underdog again heading into the Ryder Cup in Kidare, Ireland this weekend, according to MySportsbook.com. The Europeans have captured four of the past five editions, including their largest victory ever, an 18 ½ to 9 ½ thumping in Michigan in 2004. Current Ryder Cup betting odds favor the Europeans to continue their winning ways; they are a 4-5 bet to take the title, compared to 6-5 for the Americans.
Despite being knocked out in the first round of World Match play by Shaun Micheel, Tiger Woods is predicted to lead the US charge and be their highest point scorer for the week, with odds listed at 9-4 that he outpoints all other American players, including Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco to name a few. Team USA has four relatively unknown players on the roster but all four are 2007 tournament winners and have posted some of season’s best performances, each earning over $1.5 million on the PGA TOUR. They include Zach Johnson, Vaughan Taylor, JJ Henry and Brett Wetterich.
The experienced European squad includes the likes of Luke Donald, Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Jose Maria Olazabal and Darren Clarke, who’s emotions will be tested after the passing of his wife to a battle with cancer. Donald and Garcia are in particularly good form and each is a 5-1 bet to lead the European squad in the points race. Donald has proven he can go head to head with Woods at a major event after a run for the $1.2 million purse at the PGA Championship. Garcia’s Ryder Cup credentials prove he’s ready for battle too.
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Ryder Cup Odds
Europe
Tie
USA |
4-5
10-1
6-5 |
Ryder Cup Top US point scorer
Tiger Woods
Jim Furyk
Phil Mickelson
Chris DiMarco
David Toms
Stewart Cink
Chad Campbell
Scott Verplank
Zach Johnson
Vaughan Taylor
JJ Henry
Brett Wetterich |
9-4
4-1
5-1
7-1
8-1
12-1
15-1
15-1
25-1
30-1
30-1
50-1 |
Ryder Cup Top European scorer
Sergio Garcia
Luke Donald
Padraig Harrington
Colin Montgomerie
Darren Clarke
David Howell
Lee Westwood
Paul Casey
Henrik Stenson
Jose Maria Olazabal
Paul McGinley
Robert Karlsson |
5-1
5-1
6-1
13-2
8-1
9-1
9-1
11-1
12-1
12-1
20-1
25-1 |
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com
|