Reeling Celtics visit OKC
Basketball Betting Lines
02/22/2012 - (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 together on Monday as Oklahoma City held off the New Orleans Hornets to earn their 10th straight home victory with a 101-93 decision.
Durant and Westbrook netted 31 points apiece to lead the Thunder, who recorded 10 straight wins at home for the first time since a 12-game win streak from February 22-April 2, 1998, when the team was known as the Seattle SuperSonics.
"I thought we came out with great energy," Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. "It was such an emotional game [on Sunday], and our guys came out and responded well."
The Thunder, who will host the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday in their final game before the All-Star break, are 13-1 in their building this season.
Oklahoma's terrific home play will be put to the test tonight against the Celtics, who have won all three games at Chesapeake Energy Arena since the Thunder relocated from Seattle. In all Boston has won four straight and six of nine on the road in this series.
The Celtics, though, enter tonight's tilt riding a four-game losing streak after dropping an 89-73 decision to the Dallas Mavericks on Monday.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 20 points, while Ray Allen contributed in 15 in defeat. Avery Bradley added 12 points in place of Rajon Rondo, who was suspended two games by the NBA "for throwing a ball at an official and striking him in the chest" during Sunday's setback against the Pistons.
Boston was also without Kevin Garnett due to personal reasons. To make matters worse, the Celtics were also without Brandon Bass (knee) and lost starters Jermaine O'Neal (sprained left wrist) and Chris Wilcox (right adductor strain) in the third quarter.
"They were two men down without Rondo and K.G., so a different ball club," Terry said. "They tried to junk up the game and I thought we did an excellent job of being patient and getting what we wanted on the offensive end."
Rondo will finish serving his suspension tonight, while the statuses of Garnett, Bass, O'Neal and Wilcox are up in the air.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Clippers aim to halt a two-game skid and head into the NBA's All-Star break atop the Pacific Division when they host the Denver Nuggets tonight. The Clips lead their Staples Center co-tenants, the L
<< Lakers carry recent baggage into Big D
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Lakers will attempt to put some off-the-court turmoil
behind them tonight when they visit the impetus for much of the acrimony, the
Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavs dethroned the Lakers last season, sweeping them out of
<< Jazz, Wolves square off at Target Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Northwest Division rivals meet at Target Center
tonight when the Utah Jazz and Minnesota Timberwolves both try to get back to
the .500 mark on the season and stay out of the cellar in the division.
Oklahoma C
<< Pacers pay a visit to Bobcats
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indiana Pacers try to make it four straight wins this
evening when they visit the hapless Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable
Arena.
The Pacers continued their recent winning ways on Tuesday, as Roy Hibbe
<< Kings take losing ways to Washington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Sacramento Kings try to put the brakes on a six-game
slide this evening when they visit the Washington Wizards in the final game
before the All-Star break for both teams.
Sacramento's losing ways continued on Wed
(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
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
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
Blues try to extend home streak vs. struggling Bruins >>
(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
Howard, Magic visit Deron and the Nets >>
(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
Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards
Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.