Howard, Magic visit Deron and the Nets
Basketball Betting Lines
02/22/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic will try to continue their mastery of the New Jersey Nets when the two clubs clash tonight from the Prudential Center.
Orlando has won eight in a row and 12 of the past 13 matchups between the teams, and recorded a 94-78 victory at home back on Dec. 29 this season. Dwight Howard was a force in that one with 16 points and 24 rebounds for the Magic, who are unbeaten in the previous four games in the Garden State.
The Magic will resume their five-game road trip tonight and are coming off Monday's 93-90 triumph in Milwaukee thanks to another big night from Howard, who recorded 28 points and 16 rebounds. Jameer Nelson had 15 points and Hedu Turkoglu added 13 for Orlando, which is 1-1 on the trek and 9-6 away from home this season. Orlando improved to 9-3 this month.
"Both teams played hard, but we were just able to close it out," Howard said on the team's site. "We stayed with it and stayed together and got a good win."
Orlando will also visit the Hawks and Wizards on the road swing and sits five games behind Miami for the Southeast lead. In injury news for the Magic, guards Jason Richardson (chest/ribs) and Quentin Richardson (quad) are listed as questionable for tonight. Jason Richardson has missed the last two games and is averaging 12.2 points this season. Quentin Richardson played just 4:10 against the Bucks.
New Jersey will try to string back-to-back wins together for only the second time this season (Jan. 25-27) and has prevailed in two of three games since an eight-game losing streak.
Deron Williams and the Nets deciphered the bomb that is Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks with a 100-92 victory on Monday at Madison Square Garden. Williams lit up Lin and the New York defense for a season-high 38 points and knocked down a career-best eight three-pointers. Kris Humphries added a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds for New Jersey, which got 18 points from MarShon Brooks and 11 out of DeShawn Stevenson.
"We definitely had this one circled, you know I think the whole team did," said Williams. "I know I personally did 'cause it was stuck in my mind, you know, this [Linsanity] all started with me."
The Nets will try to halt a six-game home losing streak tonight and are just 3-12 at the Rock this season. After hosting Orlando, New Jersey will return to the road for a four-game trek against Dallas, Boston, Charlotte and Miami.
New Jersey announced this week that forward Shawne Williams will undergo surgery on February 22 to remove a bone fragment from his left foot. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Martin O'Malley and Nets team physician Dr. Riley Williams III at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. A timetable for Williams' return will be decided following the operation. The former first-round pick has appeared in 25 contests this season, starting six, and is averaging 4.5 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
Nets center Brook Lopez (foot) did not play at New York after making his season debut in a loss to Milwaukee on Sunday, scoring nine points in 22 minutes. He is probable for tonight and missed the first 32 games of the season because of a broken foot suffered in the preseason.
Humphries, however, will sit out tonight with a strained left calf.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After closing out 2011 as the hottest team in the league, the new calendar year hasn't been as kind to the Bruins. The Blues have yet to drop a regulation game at home in 2012. St. Louis puts its franchise record 21-game
<< Lin, Knicks aim to bounce back vs. Hawks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sudden New York Knicks star Jeremy Lin was brought back to
reality when New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams took him to school in
a recent contest at Madison Square Garden.
Arguably one of the fanciest point guards
<< Cavs resume lengthy homestand vs. Hornets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will resume a team-record nine-game
homestand tonight versus the New Orleans Hornets at Quicken Loans Arena.
Cleveland is 4-3 on the residency and is coming off last night's 101-100 win
over the Cen
<< Caps hope to get season on track vs. streaking Sens
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With just one victory in their last six games, the
Washington Capitals are desperate to get their postseason push back on track.
The Caps hope they can bounce back tonight at Ottawa's Scotiabank Place, where
they'll try to
<< Reeling Celtics visit OKC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Oklahoma City Thunder shoot for a fourth straight win
this evening when they welcome the Boston Celtics to Chesapeake Energy Arena.
After combining for 91 points on Sunday, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook
totaled 62
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose recently made his return to the hardwood following a five-game absence due to lower back spasms. Rose and the Bulls will try to give the Central Division-rival Milwaukee Bucks a few spasms Wed
Struggling Sixers invade Space City to take on Rockets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers should consider themselves lucky to
still have a sizable lead atop the Atlantic Division standings since they're
currently mired in a season-high four-game losing streak.
The Sixers look to end their
Avs shoot for season sweep of Kings >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Last night, the Kings found the offense they have been so
sorely lacking but it still resulted in a third straight loss.
Los Angeles looks to rebound this evening and avoid a season series sweep at
the hands of the hosting
Williams signs new deal with Union >>
Chester, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Union announced on Wednesday
that the club has signed defender Sheanon Williams to a new contract.
The 21-year-old joined the club from Harrisburg City Islanders in August 2010
and has gone
Aggies seek upset of fourth-ranked Jayhawks >>
College Station, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - In one of the more lopsided series in
the Big 12 Conference, the fourth-ranked Kansas Jayhawks will try to continue
their dominance over the Texas A&M Aggies when the two square off tonight at
Reed Are
MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South
In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South. Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC. The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game. For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft. Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign? New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1. Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT. Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.
Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami
2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round. LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems. If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season. The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach. The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub. High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson.
Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season. The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age. It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot. This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.
Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season. On the clock: the NFC North
Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2
Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1
To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.