Spurs continue Rodeo Road Trip in Philly
Basketball Betting Lines
02/08/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Antonio Spurs were able to get their annual Rodeo Road Trip off to a promising start, but must face a pesky Philadelphia 76ers squad that hasn't backed down from any team tonight at Wells Fargo Center.
San Antonio kicked off the nearly 8,000-mile trip with an 89-84 triumph in Memphis on Monday, as Tony Parker led the Spurs with 21 points and Tim Duncan recorded his team-high seventh double-double with 19 points and a season-high 17 rebounds. Tiago Splitter added 14 points in a reserve role for the Spurs, winners in five straight.
"All our young guys are playing well. It's going to help us down the road," Parker said.
The Spurs are only 4-8 away from the Alamo City, but have improved tremendously on the road after losing there first five games there. They will also visit the Nets, Pistons, Raptors, Clippers, Jazz, Blazers and Nuggets on the nine-game trek. After starting the season with nine of 13 games at the AT&T Center, the Spurs are currently in the midst of playing 16 of 21 games on the road. San Antonio, which is on top of the Southwest Division, doesn't return home until opening a seven-game residency versus Chicago on Feb. 29.
Duncan, who also swatted a season-best five shots in Memphis, passed Charles Oakley with his rebounding effort against the Grizzlies and is one of the top-20 rebounders of all-time. The future Hall of Famer also recorded his second double-double in a row after he posted 13 points and 15 rebounds Saturday in a home win over Oklahoma City. He is averaging 18.0 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in his last five games.
Philadelphia has turned heads so far in this condensed season and recorded its sixth win in seven tries with Monday's hard-fought 95-90 victory over Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the opener of a three-game homestand.
The Atlantic Division-leading Sixers used a 14-2 run late in the game to erase an 86-79 deficit and received a big lift from reserve Lou Williams. Williams scored seven straight at one point during the spurt and finished with 24 points for the 76ers, who pushed their home record to 13-3 and were coming off of Saturday's road win at Atlanta. Jrue Holiday scored 13 points and Andre Iguodala had 12 in the win.
"That was an amazing win for us. I didn't know how we were going to battle through their size," Philadelphia head coach Doug Collins said. "Lou [Williams] got hot at the right time for us."
Collins' club, which is 5-3 against the West this season, had a season-low four turnovers, a floor record for any team since Wells Fargo Center opened back in 1996. The Sixers will close out the residency versus the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night. Sixers forward Elton Brand missed his second straight game with a sprained right thumb and is questionable for Wednesday.
Sixers center Spencer Hawes is doubtful with a sore Achilles.
Tonight, the Sixers are trying to win two straight over the Spurs for first time since sweeping the home-and-home series back in 2003-04 (11/14/03-1/3/04). San Antonio has lost four in a row at Philadelphia, last winning there Jan. 21, 2007 in a 99-85 decision.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hurricanes forward Jeff Skinner is starting to find his groove again after missing time with a head injury. Hopefully the club's cross country road trip won't derail his momentum. Carolina begins its three-game journey ton
<< Bucks and Raptors meet at ACC
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks try to avoid a fourth straight loss
this evening when they open a brief two-game road trip against the Toronto
Raptors at Air Canada Centre.
The Bucks played hard on Tuesday to no avail, as they overcam
<< Clippers continue road trip in Cleveland minus Billups
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Clippers eye a third straight win this
evening, but their thoughts may be with their fallen veteran, as they continue
a long road trip in Cleveland.
Los Angeles will be without Chauncey Billups for the rest
<< Motoring: Red Wings seek 18th straight home win vs. Oilers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings will put the NHL's longest home
winning streak since the mid-1970s on the line tonight, as they welcome the
Edmonton Oilers for a battle at Joe Louis Arena.
It's been over three months since the Red W
<< Penn State comes calling on No. 11 Michigan State
East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams at opposite ends of the Big Ten
Conference standings meet in East Lansing this evening, as the Penn State
Nittany Lions challenge the 11th-ranked Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin
Center.
P
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Staring at a two-week long road trip, the San Jose Sharks would love to pick up four big points before leaving the friendly confines of HP Pavilion. They'll look to accomplish step one of that plan this evening and extend
Nuggets entertain Mavs at Pepsi Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference contenders mired in losing
streaks square off in the Rockies tonight when the Denver Nuggets play host to
the reigning NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.
The Nuggets dropped their third in a r
Heat and Magic battle for Sunshine State bragging rights >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Since their heart-to-heart meeting among players and
coaches following a loss at Milwaukee last week, the Miami Heat haven't
suffered defeat and hope to continue that trend tonight against the Orlando
Magic in the opener of a
Blue Jackets sign Prospal for another season >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets signed veteran
forward Vinny Prospal to a one-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Prospal, who turns 37 later this month, leads the team with 24 assists and
ranks second w
Pistons and Nets kick off home-and-home set in Jersey >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Only one of Detroit's six wins this season has come on the
road and the Pistons would like to change that as early as tonight, when they
pay a visit to the New Jersey Nets in the opener of a home-and-home set.
The Pistons
Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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