Thunder host hapless Nets

Basketball Betting Lines

03/12/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The chances of the Oklahoma City Thunder posting their fifth straight home win look promising, as they will resume a three-game residency versus the miserable New Jersey Nets from the Ford Center.

The Thunder made it four straight wins as the host with Wednesday's 98-83 victory over the New Orleans Hornets in the opener of the homestand. Young star Kevin Durant, the NBA's second-leading scorer at 29.6 ppg, pumped in 29 points and his sidekick Russell Westbrook recorded a near-triple double with 17 points, nine assists and eight rebounds.

"This was a good win, we had an interesting start...but I thought the last 42 minutes our defense was about as good as it could possibly be," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said after his team improved to a season-best 15 games above .500 (39-24).

Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic each had 10 points in the win. Oklahoma City will put its 18-6 record against the East on the line Friday.

New Jersey is an NBA-worst 7-57 on the season and is trying desperately to avoid finishing with the worst record in NBA history, set by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers (9-73).

The Nets have lost two in a row and fell to 1-2 on a five-game road trip following Wednesday's 96-87 defeat at the hands of the red-hot Dallas Mavericks. Devin Harris finished with a game-best 21 points to go with seven assists for the Nets, who have dropped two straight since recording their seventh win of the season against the Knicks on March 6.

"This is a really good basketball team at home," Nets coach Kiki Vandeweghe said of the Mavs. "You've got to play a perfect game to beat them here. We played very hard, I'm not sure we could have played a lot harder than tonight. We missed some shots down the end."

Terrence Williams netted 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds off the bench in a losing effort. New Jersey will also visit Houston on the road swing and is 4-29 away from the Meadowlands this season.

The Thunder defeated the Nets, 105-89, back on December 28 this season in New Jersey. They have won 17 of the past 20 road meetings in this series.

Gambbling Basketball Betting News

<< Nuggets visit the Big Easy to take on Hornets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One slip at the controls and the Denver Nuggets will have some company atop the Northwest Division standings. They'll try to prevent that from happening tonight, when they resume a four-game road trip against the New Orleans

<< Capitals turn eye to East's top seed in meeting with Lightning
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Capitals didn't have to break a sweat in clinching their third straight Southeast Division title on Wednesday. Tonight, they'll try to move closer to locking up the top seed in the Eastern Conference when th

<< Devils try to close the gap versus Atlantic Division-leading Pens
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A key battle for the Atlantic Division crown is on tap tonight in Newark as the Pittsburgh Penguins visit the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center. The Penguins lead the Atlantic with 85 points, while New Jersey -- the

<< Lafayette and Lehigh renew rivalry in Patriot League title tilt
Bethlehem, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arch rivals Lafayette and Lehigh will collide in the championship game of the Patriot League Tournament this afternoon in Bethlehem, with the winner earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This is t

<< Blue Devils hope to avoid upset in ACC tourney clash with Cavs
Greensboro, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded and fourth-ranked Duke Blue Devils begin their quest for another ACC Tournament title today, as they take on the ninth-seeded Virginia Cavaliers in the quarterfinal round at Greensboro Coliseum.

Desperate Grizzlies welcome Knicks to Memphis >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies are still alive in the Western Conference playoff race, but time is running short. Tonight they'll begin a three-game homestand versus the New York Knicks at FedEx Forum with hopes of gaining ground in t

Sabres try to run win streak to four games versus Wild >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres will aim for a fourth consecutive victory when they welcome the Minnesota Wild for an interconference clash at HSBC Arena. The Sabres' three-game winning streak is the club's longest since a season- bes

Spurs, Wolves square off in Twin Cities >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Antonio Spurs will try to continue their mastery of the Minnesota Timberwolves when the two Western Conference inhabitants get together tonight at the Target Center. San Antonio has won 10 straight and 15 of the pa

Playoff-bound Cavs make a stop in south Philly >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A large lead atop the Central Division and playoff berth already sewed up has allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to give LeBron James some rest for the stretch run. The reigning NBA MVP is expected to return from his two-gam

Rangers and Thrashers both try to end slides in Atlanta >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of four-game losing streaks have made a possible road to the postseason a bit harder for the Rangers and Thrashers. Only one team will be able to reverse its misfortunes tonight. Atlanta will try to sweep the season

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.