Division leaders clash in the Rockies as Nuggets host Cavs
Basketball Betting Lines
01/08/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The injury-plagued Denver Nuggets are hoping to be closer
to full strength when LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers enter the Pepsi
Center this evening for an interconference clash between division leaders.
Denver has played its last three games without leading scorer Carmelo Anthony
due to a bruised right knee, while valued point guard Chauncey Billups has sat
out eight of the team's last nine contests with a groin strain. In addition,
key reserve forward Chris Andersen missed Tuesday's 123-122 win over Golden
State with a sprained left ankle, while rookie guard Ty Lawson left that game
in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury of his own.
Billups, whose 17.2 points per game trails only Anthony for the team lead, is
expected to be back in the lineup tonight. Anthony was able to participate in
part of Thursday's practice, although it's unclear as to whether the star
forward will play against the Cavaliers.
Lawson, who had 21 points and eight assists before exiting Tuesday's triumph,
is also a question mark for tonight, while Andersen is likely to miss at least
two more games.
The Nuggets still had some talent on hand in their last outing, in which J.R.
Smith sank 2-of-3 free throws after being fouled on a desperation shot with
0.4 seconds left to provide the winning points.
Golden State took a 122-121 lead on Monta Ellis' layup with 15.2 seconds left
and Denver's Joey Graham missed a three-point attempt on the other end, but
the Nuggets were able to get possession back on a jump ball with 1.4 seconds
to go.
Smith was then inexplicably fouled by Ellis on a heave from near half-court to
give Denver a chance for the victory.
"I was walking to the locker room. I didn't think they were going to call it,"
Smith said. "Then I saw the referee's hand and I was just thankful he did call
it."
Kenyon Martin posted team bests of 27 points and 13 rebounds for Denver, which
began this current three-game homestand with a 108-105 loss to Philadelphia on
Sunday. The Nuggets are a strong 14-3 as the host so far this season.
Cleveland starts up a five-game trip against Western Conference foes tonight
and has won five in a row as the visiting team. The Cavaliers are 14-6 on the
road this season and are in a virtual tie with Boston for the best record in
the East.
The Cavs tuned up for their cross-country jaunt by routing the Gilbert Arenas-
less Washington Wizards Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena, with James compiling
23 points, eight assists and seven rebounds to lead the way in a 121-98
verdict.
Shaquille O'Neal netted 17 points and Anthony Parker scored 16 in Cleveland's
eighth win in nine games. The 121 points was the team's highest offensive
output of the season.
"I thought tonight we had some good possessions where we reversed the
basketball," said Cavs head coach Mike Brown. "We've talked many times about
getting teams to move (defensively) with a purpose. I thought we had multiple
drives and kicks on some single possessions."
The Cavaliers swept the two-game season series with Denver in 2008-09 and
stopped a string of three straight losses at the Pepsi Center with last
season's 105-88 decision.
<< Blazers aim to continue home dominance over Lakers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers step into a venue where they haven't
come away with a victory in nearly four years when the reigning world
champions visit Portland's Rose Garden tonight for a matchup with the Trail
Blazers.
The La
<< South Florida fires Leavitt
Tampa, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of South Florida has reportedly
fired head football coach Jim Leavitt in the wake of allegations that he
struck a player during a game this season.
Fanhouse.com, which originally broke t
<< Hornets and Nets collide in the Big Easy
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Success in the Big Easy is nothing new for the Hornets, as
they play host to the New Jersey Nets tonight from New Orleans Arena.
The Hornets have won five straight and 11 of their last 12 home games to
improve to 13-3 by t
<< Hapless Wolves host Pacers at Target Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - So much for that season high two-game winning streak for
the Minnesota Timberwolves, who will try to put the brakes on a five-game
slide tonight versus the Indiana Pacers at the Target Center.
The Timberwolves have the wor
<< Celtics, Hawks square off in Dixie
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Smith is averaging a modest 15.0 points per game this
season but has been ripping the nylon lately at home for the Atlanta Hawks,
who hope their young star can lead them past the Boston Celtics tonight from
Philips Arena
Warriors kick off long homestand vs. Kings >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Golden State Warriors start up a season-long seven-game
homestand when they host the Sacramento Kings tonight in a battle of the
bottom two teams of the Pacific Division.
Golden State enters tonight's clash with an unw
Roddick reaches Brisbane SFs, withdraws from 2010 Davis Cup >>
Brisbane, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - On the same day that Andy Roddick
won a quarterfinal match in Brisbane, the former world No. 1 American star
also announced that he will not play any Davis Cup tennis in 2010.
A top-seeded Rod
Devils try to extend home win streak versus Lightning >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Devils will shoot for a third straight win
when they welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning for tonight's battle at Prudential
Center.
The Devils are tops in the Eastern Conference with 61 points and are also
lead
Avalanche kick off road trip against Hurricanes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Avalanche will try to get off to a good start
on a three-game road trip when they visit the lowly Carolina Hurricanes for
tonight's interconference clash at RBC Center.
Colorado, which is one point behind Calg
Sabres seek sixth win in a row in test with Maple Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will try to extend their longest winning
streak of the season when they welcome the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs for
tonight's Northeast Division clash at HSBC Arena.
The Sabres, who are first in the N
MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.
Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.
According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).
Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.
''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.
Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.
''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''
Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.
”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.
For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
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