Artest beats buzzer with put back, Lakers steal Game 5

Basketball Betting Lines

05/27/2010 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ron Artest caught Kobe Bryant's air ball and put in the winning shot at the buzzer, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers to a dramatic 103-101 win over Phoenix in the pivotal Game 5 of the Western Conference finals.

Artest missed a quick three-pointer in the closing minute, allowing the Suns to have a chance to eventually tie the game and they did when Jason Richardson banked in a three-ball with 3.5 seconds left.

Bryant then received the inbounds pass from Lamar Odom, but under heavy pressure, his three-point shot was short. Artest darted through traffic and beat Richardson to the ball, and his layup fell through as time expired, giving the Lakers their 11th straight home playoff win.

The Lakers won the first two games at Staples Center, then lost the following pair in Phoenix. The defending champions are one victory away from a third straight trip to the NBA Finals.

Bryant was just shy of a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Pau Gasol added 21 points and nine rebounds, while Derek Fisher scored 22 for LA.

Despite the incredible finish, it was a familiar script for the Lakers, who have never lost in 19 games at home of a Game 5 when a series is even. In those series, the Lakers are 17-1 all-time, with their only loss coming in the 1969 NBA Finals vs. Boston.

Steve Nash had 29 points and 11 assists for the Suns, who will try to stave off elimination Saturday night at home, where they've won seven straight playoff games against the Lakers.

Wrldwidegamble Basketball Betting News

<< Report: Two UConn assistants resign
Storrs, CT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Connecticut has called a news conference for 10 a.m. (et) Friday at Gampel Pavilion, when the school is expected to disclose its review of possible recruiting violations in the men's basketb

<< DeJesus helps Royals edge BoSox
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - David DeJesus went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, including the eventual game-winner in the sixth, as the Royals slowed down the surging Red Sox, 4-3, in the opener of a four-game set. Boston came into the game

<< Langer, Freeman share Senior PGA lead
Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - World Golf Hall of Famer Bernhard Langer fired a six-under 66 Thursday to join Robin Freeman in the lead after the opening round of the Senior PGA Championship. Langer, who has topped the Champions Tour

<< Battle of unbeatens as Crew host Galaxy
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Crew host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night in Major League Soccer action in what very well could be a preview of MLS Cup 2010. Both teams are unbeaten just under a third of the way i

<< Houston hopes to start streak vs. expansion Union
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Dynamo host the expansion Philadelphia Union on Saturday night in Major League Soccer action at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo (5-4-1) will be gunning for their first winning

Kubel's two homers power Twins over Yankees >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Kubel slugged a pair of home runs and drove in five while Nick Blackburn worked effectively over seven innings, as the Twins avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Yankees with an 8-2 win at

Mets whitewash Phillies again, complete rare shutout sweep >>
Flushing, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Pelfrey gave up just three hits in seven innings and the New York Mets blanked the Philadelphia Phillies again, 3-0, to complete a rare three-game whitewash of the NL East leaders at Citi Field. The Met

Braves outlast Marlins, rain in Florida >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Martin Prado went 3-for-6 with two runs batted in and David Ross knocked in a pair, as the Atlanta Braves handled the Florida Marlins, 8-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Sun Life Stadium. Yunel

Flyers fans still bullish on their Bullies >>
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -In an era when hockey games may as well have been held inside the squared circle, the Broad Street Bullies spilled enough blood to fill a decade's worth of Stanley Cups.They embraced their moniker as the most despised team in the

Nadal, Djokovic roll into third round at French Open >>
Paris, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were easy straight-set winners Friday in second-round play at the 2010 French Open. Nadal, the four-time champ and second seed, rolled to a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Horacio

2007 NFL Football Betting Preview


“You play to win the game!”

Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.

The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.

The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.

Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?

Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.

New York Giants betting lines

Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.

Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.

Dallas Cowboys betting lines

Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.

The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.

Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.

Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.

Oakland Raiders betting lines

This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.

First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”

The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason. 

Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football wagering needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.