Terry leads Mavs past hobbled Rockets
Basketball Betting Lines
11/20/2008 -
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Terry scored 31 points, and Dirk Nowitzki
added 24 points and 12 rebounds to pace Dallas to a 96-86 victory over the
injury-riddled Houston Rockets.
Jason Kidd contributed eight points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the
Mavericks, who won their third in a row following a five-game skid. The Mavs,
who played without second-leading scorer Josh Howard (left ankle), also beat
Houston for the 11th time in the last 14 meetings.
Rafer Alston and Tracy McGrady each scored 16 points, but the Rockets were
without center Yao Ming (sore left foot). Forward Shane Battier practiced on
Tuesday for the first time this season, but was in street clothes again as he
continues be sidelined due to offseason foot surgery.
"When you don't have Yao, you've got to move the ball and you have to create
situations," said Rockets coach Rick Adelman. "We don't have a lot of guys who
can break you down off the dribble. So the guys who can't do that, you've got
to give them some room and I thought there were times when we had the ball in
the hands of someone who could get there and our thought process was very
poor."
McGrady played despite leaving Monday's game against Oklahoma City with a knee
injury, and Ron Artest put together a solid performance with 14 points and 13
rebounds despite playing on a gimpy ankle. But Houston shot just 37.2 percent
from the field.
The Mavericks carried a 72-61 lead going to the fourth quarter, but Houston
got three-balls from Aaron Brooks and Von Wafer to start the period. The
Rockets, though, failed in their bid to play catch-up. McGrady's three-pointer
had the hosts within 88-84 with 1:15 remaining, but Terry then knifed through
the lane for a bucket with a minute left.
McGrady missed a three-pointer at the other end, and Nowitzki made four free
throws down the stretch.
"We won the game defensively, not giving them second opportunities," said
Terry. "Obviously, without Yao they didn't have that post presence, but our
bench did a good job of maintaining a good balance on both ends of the floor."
The Mavericks started the game on fire, scoring the first eight points, but
Houston bounced back to tie the game at 16 on an Artest layup. The Mavs
finished the quarter on a 9-2 spurt for a 31-25 lead and they were up 53-46 at
the half. The visitors held a sizeable lead throughout the third stanza.
Game Notes
Dallas will play nine of its next 11 games at home, starting Friday against
Memphis. The Mavericks are 0-4 at home for the first time since the 1993-94
season when they lost their first 19 at home. Dallas is the only team in the
league to not win a game at home this season...The Rockets play Washington
Friday in the opener of a three-game road trip...Scola and Brooks each had 15
points...The Rockets were 6-of-25 from three-point range.
<< Jazz top Bucks to extend home win streak; Boozer exits early
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - C.J. Miles scored 25 points to lead Utah
to a 105-94 comeback win over the Milwaukee Bucks, as the Jazz won their 14th
straight home game going back to last season.
Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 11
<< Raptors overcome Wade's 40-point night win in over Heat
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrea Bargnani scored a season-high 25 points,
leading the Toronto Raptors over the Miami Heat, 101-95, in a tough road test
at American Airlines Arena.
Chris Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal both posted double-doubl
<< Salmons, Kings have big fourth quarter to beat Hornets
New Orleans, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - John Salmons led five Kings in double
figures with 29 points and six assists in Sacramento's 105-96 victory over the
New Orleans Hornets.
Salmons hit a solid 13-of-18 from the floor for the King
<< Iverson helps Pistons snap Cavs' eight-game win streak
Auburn Hills, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Allen Iverson scored 23 points, had four
steals and doled out four assists to lead the Detroit Pistons in a 96-89
comeback win over the Cavaliers, snapping Cleveland's eight-game winning
streak.
<< Trio leads Demon Deacons to rout of UNCW
Winston-Salem, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The triumvirate of Jeff Teague, James
Johnson and Chas McFarland combined for 75 points in No. 20 Wake Forest's
120-88 victory over UNC-Wilmington in an in-state mismatch.
Teague posted a caree
Burrows scores twice as Canucks double up Rangers >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alex Burrows had two goals and Vancouver
doubled up the New York Rangers, 6-3, at Madison Square Garden.
Kyle Wellwood, Ryan Johnson, Pavol Demitra and Daniel Sedin also scored for
the Canucks, who
No. 23 'Nova holds off Niagara >>
Villanova, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scottie Reynolds scored 19 points, including
a 9-of-10 foul shooting performance, as 23rd-ranked Villanova held off
Niagara, 77-62, in a Philly Hoop Group Classic matchup.
Corey Fisher added 15 poi
Morgan, Michigan State defeat IPFW >>
Fort Wayne, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Raymar Morgan scored 22 points and hauled in
six rebounds to lead fifth-ranked Michigan State past IPFW, 70-59.
Kalin Lucas added 17 points and doled out three assists for the Spartans
(2-0), who bega
NCAA denies Stepheson's waiver petition >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NCAA has denied forward Alex
Stepheson's waiver petition for immediate eligibility to compete for Southern
California.
Stepheson, who transferred this fall from North Carolina, will not be e
Ball State stays perfect with win over Central Michigan >>
Mount Pleasant, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Nate Davis threw four touchdown
passes and MiQuale Lewis rushed for 177 yards as the 14th-ranked Ball State
Cardinals stayed perfect on the season with a 31-24 decision over Central
Michiga
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
Big East Conference odds
Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence
 Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.
Work left to do:
Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.
Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.
DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...
West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.
Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.
For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com
For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com
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