Basketball : NBA 2007/2008

sports betting news

LA Lake. 14.5 : Kobe Bryant said he'll definitely play Wednesday in Game 5 at Staples Center, where the Lakers are 16-3 against the Jazz since the arena opened before the 1999/2000 season. The Los Angeles Lakers' star tweaked his back in the opening minutes of Sunday's 123-115 overtime loss at Utah that tied the Western Conference semifinals 2-2. "Quite a bit (of pain), but it's a lot better than it was yesterday... It'll be fine," said Bryant Tuesday.

Detroit 13.5 : Chauncey Billups said his right hamstring was not healthy enough to help the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of their second-round series with the Orlando Magic. "I'm getting better, but I'm not quite ready yet." the All-Star point guard said Tuesday. Billups was hurt early in Game 3 and did not play the following game, which the Pistons won to take a 3-1 lead in the second-round series.

Clevela. 11.5 : Forward Ben Wallace was in the starting lineup for Game 3 against the Boston Celtics on Saturday and will attempt to play despite occasional dizziness caused by an inner ear infection. Wallace missed the morning shootaround, and following the workout coach Mike Brown said his best interior defender "most likely will not" play against the Celtics. However, Wallace had no problems while warming up, and about one hour before tipoff said he would try to play.

Detroit 10.5 : Guard Chauncey Billups will miss Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Pistons coach Flip Saunders says Billups wouldn't be effective because of a sore hamstring. The All-Star strained it on Thursday after getting tied up under the basket with an Orlando player. Rookie Rodney Stuckey was effective in Game 3 and is expected to start in place of Billups, who is third in career playoff scoring for the franchise.

Clevela. 10.5 : Cavaliers forward Ben Wallace is doubtful for Game 3 because of allergies and a left inner ear infection. Wallace started but played less than 4 minutes in Thursday's game before he became dizzy and asked to come out. The team said the defensive stopper could be upgraded but it was "best case, 50-50" that Wallace would play Saturday in Game 3. Wallace joined the Cavaliers in a trade from Chicago in February. He missed several regular-season games because of back spasms.

Detroit 9.5 : Chauncey Billups said Thursday he was still sore, a night after he was forced to leave the Pistons' loss to Orlando in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals because of a strained right hamstring. The All-Star guard was injured when his feet got caught up with Magic guard Jameer Nelson on a drive to the basket four minutes into the game. Billups said he isn't sure if he will be ready to play in Game 4 on Saturday in Orlando.

LA Lake. 6.5 : Kobe Bryant has won his first MVP award after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. He averaged 28.3 points while playing all 82 games despite tearing a pinkie ligament in February. Bryant entered the season as the league's two-time defending scoring champion. He had finished as high as third in the MVP voting twice, after the 2002/03 season, when he averaged 30 points for the first time, and last year when Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki won. Bryant was followed in the voting by Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James.

Atlanta 4.5 : Marvin Williams isn't sure he'll be able to play Sunday in Game 7 of Atlanta's first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics after spraining his left knee. "It's pretty sore right now," said the forward, who led the Hawks with 18 points in Game 6. "As of right now, the trainers list me as doubtful." However, coach Mike Woodson remains hopeful that Williams, who was hurt in the fourth quarter of a win Friday, will be on the court. Besides his offensive contributions, he's a key part of the Hawks' defensive package, usually assigned to Boston star Paul Pierce.

Atlanta 3.5 : Hawks forward Marvin Williams sprained his left knee in Game 6 of the Atlanta-Boston series Friday night and missed most of the fourth quarter. He bumped into Paul Pierce as the Celtics' star was driving toward the hoop, the knee twisting awkwardly. The Hawks originally said Williams would not be able to return, but he re-entered to play defense with 20 seconds left. When Williams left, he was the team's leading scorer with 18 points.

Dallas 1.5 : Coach Avery Johnson has been relieved of his duties following the Dallas Mavericks' first-round playoff embarrassment for the second consecutive season. The Mavericks lost Game 5 Tuesday, 99-94, and the Hornets won the first-round series, 4-1. The final mark during Johnson's tenure: 194-70 in the regular season, 23-24 in the playoffs. It was not immediately known who would be named as his successor.

Detroit 28.4 : Antonio McDyess was active for Game 4 against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday, but not in the starting lineup a day after he had surgery to repair a broken nose. The Pistons forward wore a mask to protect the nose broken in the third quarter of Game 3. McDyess returned to Detroit on Saturday for surgery to fix the nose and returned later that night.

Phoenix 27.4 : Grant Hill will miss Game 4 against San Antonio because of a nagging groin injury. The Phoenix Suns forward aggravated the injury late in the regular season and scored only 11 points in 68 minutes in the three games. Boris Diaw will take Hill's place in the starting lineup.

Philadel. 24.4 : Larry Brown resigned as Philadelphia's executive vice president Thursday with the intent to pursue a coaching job at the NBA or college level. The 67-year-old has been a winner at almost every team from the ABA to the NBA to the college ranks, yet hasn't coached since a bitter split with the Knicks and then-team president Isiah Thomas after one dismal season in New York in 2005/06.

Washing. 21.4 : Gilbert Arenas is expected to play in Game 2 of the Wizards' series against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday despite a sprained right wrist. The Washington Wizards guard scored 24 points in the opener, but apparently hurt his wrist in the fourth quarter while fouling LeBron James. Arenas, who already missed 69 games during the regular season after having surgery on his left knee, participated in Monday's shootaround with a wrap on his wrist.

playoffs series on 13.5.2008

last results

home win - draw - away win (1-x-2)

NBA : 61% - 0% - 39%