Jazz visit Thunder in key Western Conference matchup

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03/14/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the Western Conference's top teams jockey for playoff position in Oklahoma City Sunday as Kevin Durant and the Thunder welcome the Utah Jazz to town.

The Jazz are currently the fourth seed in the jumbled West, 1 1/2 games ahead of No. 5 Oklahoma City.

Utah fell to 2-1 on a four-game road trip Friday in Milwaukee when John Salmons scored 24 points and hit a pair of important free throws with less than 20 seconds to go, as the Bucks continued an impressive homestand with a 95-87 win over the Jazz.

Carlos Boozer paced the Jazz with 26 points and 14 boards before being ejected in the final seconds, and Utah had a four-game win streak snapped. Mehmet Okur contributed 20 points and 11 rebounds, and C.J. Miles had 17 points in a reserve role.

Deron Williams scored 11 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed six boards for Utah.

"They made us hurry on a couple things, they forced us out on the floor," Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan said of the Bucks. "They did a great job, they played extremely well and they made the shots they had to win the ball game."

Utah played most of the second half against the Bucks without forward Andrei Kirilenko, who strained his left calf, while Williams aggravated a left shoulder injury.

Kirilenko is questionable for tonight's game but Williams is expected to play for Utah, which hasn't lost back-to-back games since a three-game losing streak from Dec. 31-Jan. 4.

The Thunder, meanwhile, were a bit lackadaisical in their last affair but came out on top of a 104-102 decision over the hapless New Jersey Nets on Friday. Kevin Durant poured in 32 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in that one.

Durant's 30-point game was his 36th this season, breaking Spencer Haywood's franchise mark set from the 1972-73 season.

Jeff Green had a season-high 27 points to go with six rebounds for the Thunder, who have won four in a row overall. Russell Westbrook tallied 11 points and 10 assists. Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison each registered 10 points for Oklahoma City, which has also won five straight on its home floor.

"He's unstoppable," Durant said of Green. "He's so strong going to the basket, he can shoot the three. He has one of the best pump-fakes in the game, so that allows him to get to the rim as well. He's so athletic too, so he did a great job of getting us going early today."

The Thunder have won both games against the Jazz so far this season, including an 87-86 thriller on Dec. 31 at the Ford Center.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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