Bulls resume playoff push with home tilt vs. Cavs
Basketball Betting Lines
04/08/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Time is running out on the Chicago Bulls and their chance
for a second straight postseason appearance. The quest doesn't get any easier
tonight with LeBron James and the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers in town.
The season is winding down and the Bulls are a half-game behind Toronto for
the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Chicago, which
has made the postseason four times in five years and has five games remaining,
fell to 1-1 on the residency after Tuesday's 79-74 loss versus the playoff-
bound Milwaukee Bucks. Former Bull John Salmons scored 26 points to further
damage Chicago's hopes for a postseason berth.
Luol Deng had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Derrick Rose added 12 points
and 11 assists for the Bulls, who were outscored, 28-9, in the second quarter
and lost for the third time in nine tries.
"You're not going to beat too many teams scoring 74 points," Bulls coach Vinny
Del Negro said. "It was not a solid 48 minutes for us."
After tonight's game the Bulls, who own a 22-17 home record, will play three
of their last four games as the visitor.
Cleveland has lost two straight road games, but is an NBA-best 26-13 away from
home this season. It has won four of five overall and 18 of the last 21 games,
including Tuesday's 113-101 victory over the visiting Raptors.
James had 19 points and dished out 13 assists, while Antawn Jamison scored 20
points for the top-seeded Cavaliers, who already secured homecourt throughout
the postseason and got a season-high 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists
from Anthony Parker. Mo Williams tallied 14 points and 12 assists in
Cleveland's 61st win of the season.
"We just have to keep trying to get better and keep trying to continue to
build on that edge that we have," Cavs coach Mike Brown said. "No matter who
plays, hopefully, we can continue to use these games as high-level practice
games because I think it will help us down the stretch."
The Cavs are 35-9 in the new year, and with one more win as the guest can tie
the franchise road record of 27 wins, set last season. Since the 2008-09
season, the Cavaliers are an NBA-best 53-27 as the visitor. They're also
trying to become only the second team in NBA history to put together
consecutive 65-win seasons. The only team to accomplish this feat was the
Bulls, who did it in 1995-96 (72) and 1996-97 (69).
In injury news for the Cavs, guard Delonte West is questionable for Thursday's
game with lower back spasms. West did not play in the win over Toronto and is
averaging 8.7 points and 3.1 assists this season.
Cleveland leads the 2009-10 series with the Bulls by a 2-1 count and has won
five of the past seven matchups between the teams. The Cavs, though, have lost
three of five and four of their last seven at the United Center.
<< Former NHL coach Burns hospitalized
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Former NHL coach Pat Burns has been hospitalized with complications from his lung and colon cancer.Burns was admitted on Sunday, the day of his 58th birthday. He'd been taking part in a daily sports show on Montreal radio station C
<< Palmer, Nicklaus get Masters started
Augusta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With 10 green jackets between the two men,
Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus opened the 74th Masters with their ceremonial
tee shots Thursday morning.
Palmer, a four-time champion, struck the first shot
<< Washington hopes to avoid using backup plan at QB
SEATTLE (AP) -It's a scenario that everyone at Washington hopes will remain an emergency plan during the 2010 season.But if something were to happen to quarterback Jake Locker that put the Huskies' star on the bench for more than a few downs, the jo
<< OL Justin Boren back for final year with Buckeyes
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -Justin Boren, who famously transferred from Michigan to hated rival Ohio State, is relishing his final year as a Buckeye.Three years after an ugly departure from the Wolverines, the senior figures to be an anchor on the offensiv
<< Warriors' Nelson becomes NBA's winningest coach
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -In 31 seasons on the bench, Don Nelson has clashed with players, management and ownership, leading to much debate about the legacy he will leave when he finally walks away.There is no arguing this: ol' Nelly is the NBA's winningest
Lakers eye West's top seed in Denver >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pacific Division-champion Los Angeles Lakers will try
to clinch the West's top seed when they take a trip to the Rocky Mountains
tonight to face the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.
The Lakers are 4 1/2 gam
Kings host division-rival Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference also-rans get together tonight
in California's capital, as the Sacramento Kings resume a five-game homestand
versus the Los Angeles Clippers at ARCO Arena.
Both Pacific Division rivals enter T
Pirates go for sweep of Dodgers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Pirates haven't had many strong finishes
over the years, but the club is starting to make a habit of good starts.
The Bucs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers once again this afternoon at PNC
Park, where the lon
Braves send Hanson to hill in finale with Cubs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Heyward has already made his presence felt during his
very brief time in the major leagues. Another of the Atlanta Braves' young
phenoms will be trying to make a quick impact when the team concludes its
season-opening t
Phils try to break the brooms out in DC >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Phillies were the National League's best
team last season, while the Washington Nationals finished at the bottom of the
pack. Not much has changed so far in 2010.
The defending league champion Phillies set
MySportsbook.com refunds all bets on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay from NFL week one.
(September 14) – Week one of NFL action saw three teams go scoreless for the first time since 1977. Another four were unable to get a touchdown and almost half of the underdogs covered the spread. Those three teams saved bettors at MySportsbook.com from losing out completely, thanks to the company’s unique NFL Shutout Rule -- which ensures that if the team you backed goes scoreless, your wager is refunded.
Sportsbook refunded tens of thousands of dollars to customers who bet on Oakland, Green Bay and Tampa Bay, the three teams that stunk up the field so badly that their fans and backers never had a chance to get up from their couches and cheer. In the spirit of the low scoring start to the season, odds makers at the world’s largest online sportsbook and casino have set odds on how many total shutouts there will be this season.
MySportsbook.com has posted updated sports betting lines for week two of the season. Ben Roethlisberger’s health status is still questionable, so Willie Parker will try to lead Pittsburgh again as they travel to Jacksonville as a one point favorite. After beating up on his little brother last week, Peyton Manning will look to lead the Colts to victory against Houston. Indianapolis is a whopping 13.5 favorite in the match-up.
Seattle, last year’s highest scoring team, showed the power of their defense with their gritty 9-6 win in Motown over the ravenous Lions. They take their act back home to the comforts of Qwest Field where they will face the resurgent Arizona Cardinals. The Seahawks are favored by a touchdown.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.
Police report: Terrell Owens hospitalized after attempt
Terrell Owens will address the media at a 3:15 p.m. ET news conference outside the Cowboys' practice facility after an internal police report indicated he tried to kill himself by overdosing on prescription pain medication, even putting two more pills into his mouth after a friend intervened.
The Dallas police report said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
Owens left the hospital late Wednesday morning, giving reporters a "thumbs up" but making no comment as he was driven away in an SUV.
Michael Irvin said that Owens denied he attempted suicide and said he was rushed to the hospital as a result of an adverse reaction to medication. And a source close to Owens told Michael A. Smith that Owens wasn't attempting suicide.
NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders said he spoke with Owens shortly before his release from the hospital and that Owens was in good spirits.
"The fact that it has been reported a suicide attempt, he's laughed at that notion. It was a case that medication that was taken wasn't accepted well in his system with the other vitamins he's on," Sanders said.
The series of events began a little before 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Owens' publicist, Kim Etheredge, said she was at Owens' home when he took pain medicine for his broken right hand. Concerned by how he began acting, Etheredge said in various interviews Wednesday with Dallas-area media that she called 911. Owens was taken to a hospital, with Etheredge saying it was an allergic reaction to the medicine.
But early Wednesday, several media outlets received a police report -- that had yet to be released by the authorities -- saying Owens had attempted suicide by overdosing on the painkillers, even putting two more pills into his mouth after an unidentified friend intervened.
The police document, first reported by WFAA-TV, said Owens was asked by rescue workers "if he was attempting to harm himself, at which time [he] stated, 'Yes.'"
When officially released by police, about half the document was blacked out, including the phrases "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication" and "a drug overdose," as well as the details of Owens having two pills pried from his mouth and Owens saying "Yes" when asked if he intended to harm himself.
Etheredge, who said she was the friend cited in the police document, told Dallas-area media Wednesday that the police got the story wrong.
The tape of the 911 call could help clear things up. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get its contents, but fire department officials said it would not be available before late Wednesday.
The police report said the 32-year-old Owens told his friend "that he was depressed." Details of the police report were first reported by WFAA-TV.
The friend, who is not identified in the report, "noticed that [his] prescription pain medication was empty and observed [Owens] putting two pills in his mouth," the police report said.
Using her fingers, the friend attempted to pry them out of Owens' mouth. Owens told police he had taken only five of the 40 pain pills in the bottle he'd emptied before the incident.
Etheredge told the Star-Telegram that Owens was "fine."
Etheredge said she called 911 because Owens was groggy and lethargic. After taking some supplements "it kicked in a reaction" with the painkillers, she told the Star-Telegram.
"Here's a person whose body is so clean, it really had a negative reaction to the medication and supplements he was taking," Etheridge told The Morning News. "Thank goodness someone was there to call an ambulance."
Police Lt. Rick Watson said he could only confirm that paramedics called police to say they were taking Owens to the hospital. He said no more details would come from the police because no laws were broken.
It is not a crime in Texas for a person to attempt suicide.
"This is a high-profile person. We looked into it and we determined it is not a criminal offense," Watson said. "This a medical type of situation that occurred."
Watson and fire department spokesman Joel Lavender cited privacy laws for the lack of information they could provide. Lavender said more details could come from the 911 call. The Associated Press filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act to get the contents of the call.
"Let's just look at the tape, review the tape," Lavender said. "I'll give you an honest answer once I know something."
At the police news conference, Watson released a version of the police narrative with certain sections blacked out. The full report was obtained by several news outlets and reported first by WFAA. The AP received the full version from WFAA.
According to the police report, Dallas Fire and Rescue was called regarding someone "attempting suicide by prescription pain medication." Officers arrived to find Owens being stabilized by ambulance workers, who then took him to Baylor University Medical Center.
Owens was hospitalized late Tuesday because of what his publicist said was an allergic reaction to pain medicine he was taking for a broken hand. Doctors reportedly tried to induce vomiting.
Owens, one of the league's top receivers during his 11-year NFL career, is best known for wild stunts on the field and other publicity-seeking antics off it.
When the Cowboys signed him to a $25 million, three-year deal in March, they said their background checks indicated no red flags. In fact, team consultant Calvin Hill -- who mostly deals with troubled players -- said during training camp that his department was not involved with Owens because he didn't have a history of those kinds of problems.
He missed most of training camp, and three of four preseason games, because of a hamstring injury. He was late for work during his recovery and was fined for it, but Owens laughed it off, saying he overslept. He said it had happened before, though not with Dallas, and would probably happen again.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger during a game a week ago Sunday. The next day, doctors screwed in a plate so the bone could heal without fear of further damage. Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said last week that the pain medicine made Owens ill.
Owens had not practiced since the injury, but because Dallas had a bye this past weekend he did not miss a game. He was expected to practice Wednesday, and Parcells had said there was a chance Owens could play Sunday against Tennessee.
Owens had been especially looking forward to the Cowboys' game after that -- Oct. 8, in Philadelphia, against the team that dumped him midway through last season only months after he helped them nearly win the Super Bowl.
Owens was seen laughing and joking on the practice field Tuesday morning. He chatted briefly with reporters in the locker room in the afternoon and seemed fine. A 2-inch scar on the top of his hand was puffy but not wrapped, and he said the swelling was doing down.
While in the locker room, he took a pill from a white paper bag and looked at another medicine bottle that was in the bag. He also called a business partner about a towel-wrap venture they're starting and joked to TV cameras that he wasn't talking until Wednesday and it was only Tuesday.
"My little boy knows better than that," he said, laughing, as he plopped onto a sofa in the middle of the locker room.
Also Tuesday, Owens was involved in launching a national campaign for the National Alliance to End Abuse, an organization aimed at helping at-risk youngsters. He appeared at a high school Tuesday morning and was scheduled to visit others but had to cancel because of changes in the team's practice schedule.
Owens has played two games for the Cowboys, catching nine passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. For updated football betting lines and Dallas Cowboy Superbowl odds visit online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your VISA Sportsbook needs.
|