Heat looking healthier, but pain remains for Iverson

Basketball Betting Lines

02/08/2007 -

Playing hurt has never bothered Allen Iverson. Playing poorly is a different story.

And now Iverson might not play at all for a few days.

The Denver Nuggets lost again Wednesday night, but the news out of the locker room was the more troubling part. After Iverson struggled to a 9-for-21 night, he said he could be headed back to the bench until his injured ankle allows him to play at full speed - the only way he knows.

``I can't help us out there like this,'' Iverson said. ``I tried as hard as I can tonight, but it just wasn't me. I couldn't move the way I wanted to move and I couldn't get to the basket the way I normally do. I felt at times like I had to settle for jumpers because I couldn't get there all the way. Rather than hurt my team, I am going to re-evaluate the situation. I can't play if I feel like this.''

Another injury is the last thing the Nuggets need, with center Marcus Camby already missing Denver's 114-112 overtime loss to New Orleans with a strained groin.

The injury outlook is much better for Miami. The Heat won their fifth in a row, extending Boston's franchise-record losing streak to 16 games with a 91-79 victory over the Celtics.

After playing most of the season without Shaquille O'Neal and dealing with occasional injuries to Dwyane Wade and Jason Williams, the Heat are enjoying a strong stretch that has pulled them within 4 1/2 games of first-place Washington in the Southeast Division.

``We are defending champs, so we've got some talent. And if we get healthy and guys get together and get in decent shape, then we're a pretty good team,'' Heat coach Ron Rothstein said. ``We didn't exactly beat them with our effort, we beat them with our talent.''

In other games, it was: New Jersey 87, Atlanta 85; Toronto 113, Orlando 103; Seattle 103, Indiana 102; San Antonio 110, Washington 83; Philadelphia 92, Charlotte 83; Cleveland 94, the Los Angeles Clippers 77; Minnesota 121, Golden State 93; and Dallas 113, Memphis 97.

At Boston, Wade had 30 points and nine assists as Miami went on a 19-2 run to erase a 12-point, first-quarter deficit. O'Neal scored nine points while playing 25 minutes as he recovers from knee surgery.

``That's a team who's very hungry to get a win, and the world champions come in and you expect nothing but the best from them early on. So they came out the way we expected,'' Wade said. ``We just had to weather the storm.''

Adding injury to insult, the Celtics lost Wally Szczerbiak to a sprained ankle. They're already without leading scorer Paul Pierce because of an elbow injury that has landed him in the hospital with an infection.

After missing four games, Iverson acknowledged he returned too soon to help the struggling Nuggets. He scored 22 points, but wasn't good enough to help Denver avoid a seventh loss in eight games after Desmond Mason's basket at the overtime buzzer.

``I don't want this bothering me for the rest of the season,'' Iverson said. ``My speed is a big part of my game and when I can't move by people the way I want to I know something is wrong.''Mavericks 113, Grizzlies 97

Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 of his 38 points in the first quarter, and Dallas matched a franchise record with its 16th consecutive home victory.

Pau Gasol had 29 points and Mike Miller 21 with five 3-pointers for Memphis, which lost for the sixth time in seven games and dropped to 3-21 on the road.Spurs 110, Wizards 83

Tony Parker and Tim Duncan scored 20 points apiece for San Antonio. The visiting Spurs never trailed, shot 62 percent in the first half and led by double digits for all but the first 4:05 of the game.

Gilbert Arenas scored 29 points but made only 10 of 24 shots for the Wizards, who fell to 1-3 since Antawn Jamison was sidelined with a knee injury.Nets 87, Hawks 85

At Atlanta, Vince Carter made the go-ahead layup with 7.6 seconds remaining, grabbed a critical rebound on Atlanta's final possession, and New Jersey stopped a four-game losing streak.

Josh Smith led Atlanta with 20 points, but fouled out midway through the fourth.Raptors 113, Magic 103

At Toronto, Chris Bosh scored a career-high 41 points and outplayed Dwight Howard in a matchup of All-Star big men as the Raptors won their season-high fourth straight.

Bosh also had eight rebounds for the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors, who have won nine of 11. Howard had 32 points on 13-for-14 shooting for the Magic, who have lost 11 of 14 to fall to .500 (25-25) for the first time since early November.SuperSonics 103, Pacers 102

Ray Allen scored 33 points and rookie Andre Brown made the go-ahead basket with 23 seconds remaining as Seattle snapped a 15-game road losing streak.

Jamaal Tinsley, who received a smattering of boos after he was allegedly involved in a bar scuffle after Monday night's game against Golden State, led Indiana with 25 points.76ers 92, Bobcats 83

At Philadelphia, Andre Iguodala scored 27 points as the 76ers won for the seventh time in 11 games.

Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor each scored 16 points for the Bobcats. Charlotte (18-31) now has only two fewer losses than the Eastern Conference rival Sixers (17-33).Cavaliers 94, Clippers 77

At Cleveland, Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 16 points with a season-high 16 rebounds, Larry Hughes scored 15 points and the Cavaliers hardly needed LeBron James in an easy victory.

Elton Brand led Los Angeles with 21 points and Shaun Livingston added 19 for the Clippers, who have dropped three in a row.Timberwolves 121, Warriors 93

At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett had 17 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, and Minnesota snapped a four-game losing streak with its biggest margin of victory this season.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Jazzspirts Basketball Betting News


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<< NCAA Div. II Basketball Regional Rankings
1. West Liberty State 17-2 16-22. California, Pa. 14-4 14-33. Limestone 14-3 9-34. Millersville 13-3 12-35. Barton 15-4 13-16. Wheeling Jesuit 13-5 13-57. West Virginia State 13-4 8-48. District of Columbia 10-5 9-29. Alderson-Broaddus 14-4 12-310.

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Wednesday's Major College Basketball Scores >>
Albany, N.Y. 71, Maine 55Colgate 54, Lafayette 51Delaware 78, UNC Wilmington 69Duquesne 111, La Salle 105Navy 70, Lehigh 65Northeastern 65, Towson 55Pittsburgh 60, West Virginia 47St. John's 66, South Florida 62Temple 109, St. Bonaventure 70Wisconsi

Wednesday's College Basketball Scores >>
Albany, N.Y. 71, Maine 55Albright 70, Widener 66Babson 82, Wheaton, Mass. 72Bethany,W.Va. 80, Waynesburg 68Bloomfield 76, Sciences, Pa. 67CCNY 76, Brooklyn 43Clarion 62, Indiana, Pa. 60Clark U. 55, Coast Guard 53Colgate 54, Lafayette 51DeSales 81, F

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PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. (AP) -The 23-year-old son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid tested positive for heroin after he caused a traffic accident last week that left another motorist injured, police said Thursday.Garrett Reid, the oldest son of t

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FOOTBALL BETTING

Sportsbook Betting

After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.

Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.

Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.

So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.

In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.

For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.

The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.

The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.

NFL Betting Lines

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.

2007 Academy Award Betting : Oscars odds

The 79th Annual Academy Awards odds , which will air February 25th, is sparking an interest throughout the nation with the announcement of its nominees. As the public chooses their favorites, sportsbooks are creating odds for one of the biggest entertainment betting nights of the year.

Whether its at a “Oscar Party” or in an on line sportsbook, entertainment gambling on award shows represent a huge increase in betting. As the public speculation mounts, MySportsbook.com, the largest and most respected sportsbook on the web, posted odds on who is going home with a “Golden Best Friend.”

“ We see a majority of our entertainment wagers come from the Academy Awards,” said MySportsbook.com spokesperson, Tim Dalton. “This is a competition that applies to everyone. These are the people that entertain us on a daily basis and you want to see them win.”

MySportsbook.com posted the following odds for Academy Awards:

Odds to win the Achievement in Directing:

Alejandro González Iñárritu "Babel": 8/1

Martin Scorsese "The Departed": 2/17

Clint Eastwood "Letters From Iwo Jima: 4/1

Stephen Frears "The Queen": 12/1

Paul Greengrass "United 93": 15/1

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:

Leonardo DiCaprio in "Blood Diamond": 11/1

Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson": 20/1

Peter O’Toole in "Venus": 16/5

Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happyness": 16/1

Forest Whitaker in "The Last King of Scotland": 1/11

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role:

Penélope Cruz in "Volver": 18/1

Judi Dench in "Notes on a Scandal": 15/1

Helen Mirren in "The Queen": 1/50

Meryl Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada": 10/1

Kate Winslet in "Little Children": 20/1

Best Animated Feature Film:

"Cars": 1/3

"Happy Feet": 2/1

"Monster House": 20/1

Best Foreign-Language Film of the Year:

"Water" – Canada: 22/1

"The Lives of Others" – Germany: 7/2

"After the Wedding" - Denmark: 24/1

"Days of Glory (Indigenes)" – Algeria: 23/1

"Pan's Labyrinth" - Mexico: 1/10

Odds to win the Best Live-Action Short Film:

"Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)": 6/5

"Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)": 7/2

"Helmer & Son": 5/2

"The Saviour": 6/1

"West Bank Story": 7/2

Odds to win the Best Original Screenplay:

"Babel": 7/4

"Letters From Iwo Jima": 3/1

"Little Miss Sunshine": 21/20

"Pan's Labyrinth": 11/4

"The Queen": 5/4

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

"Babel": 11/4

"The Departed": 1/2

"Letters from Iwo Jima": 15/2

"Little Miss Sunshine": 17/10

"The Queen": 20/1

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role:

Alan Arkin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 11/10

Jackie Earle Haley in "Little Children": 10/1

Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond": 9/1

Eddie Murphy in "Dreamgirls": 2/5

Mark Wahlberg in "The Departed": 5/1

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role:

Adriana Barraza in "Babel": 14/1

Cate Blanchett in "Notes on a Scandal": 11/1

Abigail Breslin in "Little Miss Sunshine": 2/1

Jennifer Hudson in "Dreamgirls": 1/8

Rinko Kikuchi in "Babel": 11/1

Film To Win Most Oscars:

Dreamgirls: 2/3

Pans Labyrinth: 6/5

The Departed: 6/1

The Queen: 11/1

Babel: 15/1

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest: 11/1

Little Miss Sunshine: 15/1


Additional sports and entertainment odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.