Bobcats hand cold-shooting Lakers second straight loss

Basketball Betting Lines

03/05/2010 - Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stephen Jackson scored 21 points, and the hot-shooting Bobcats trounced the Lakers, 98-83, dealing Los Angeles its second straight defeat.

Gerald Wallace added 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Bobcats, who had lost five of their previous six games. Charlotte has been one of the few teams to have recent success against the Lakers, winning seven of its last 10 encounters with the defending champions.

Tyrus Thomas contributed 14 points and nine boards for Charlotte, which shot a very efficient 51.4 percent from the field. In addition, the team went 6-of-12 from three-point range in the win.

Conversely, the Lakers, who were led by Kobe Bryant's 26 points, shot just 36.3 percent in their second loss in as many nights. Andrew Bynum added 14 points and 10 boards, but Los Angeles will have just one more opportunity to get a win on its three-game road trip -- Sunday in an NBA Finals rematch at Orlando.

Jordan Farmer posted 12 points, while Pau Gasol had 11 with 13 rebounds, as the Lakers shot just 3-of-18 from long distance in defeat. It was the lowest point total for Los Angeles since scoring 79 in a loss to Denver on November 13.

Bynum recorded eight points and seven boards in the first quarter, and Los Angeles grabbed a 26-23 lead after 12 minutes, but Charlotte quickly erased its deficit and moved in front for good.

The Bobcats scored the first five points of the second quarter to move in front, and Thomas capped a 6-0 burst a short time later for a 34-29 edge.

Charlotte was able to increase its lead to six, 49-43, at halftime. The hosts then opened the second half on a 10-0 burst, as Wallace drilled a pair of threes for a commanding 59-43 advantage.

The Lakers never recovered and trailed, 75-63, heading to the fourth. The Bobcats' lead reached as high as 20 in the final quarter, as they coasted to the victory.

Game Notes

The teams split the season series, 1-1...Raymond Felton finished with 13 points for the Bobcats, who got 12 points from D.J. Augustin...Tyson Chandler, who missed the last seven games with a foot injury, scored six points and grabbed four rebounds in 15 minutes. Nazr Mohammed (back) did not play...Each team had 41 rebounds and 20 turnovers.

Iwonvegas Basketball Betting News

<< Bogut boosts Bucks over Wizards
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Andrew Bogut had 19 and 10 rebounds to pace the Milwaukee Bucks past the Washington Wizards, 102-74, at the Verizon Center. Carlos Delfino also had 19 and six rebounds, while John Salmons added 17, f

<< Raptors upend Knicks, halt four-game slide
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sonny Weems poured in half of his career-high 20 points in the fourth quarter and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Toronto to a 102-96 win over the New York Knicks. Jose Calderon also thrived off the benc

<< Cornell clinches Ivy League, first team into NCAA Tournament
Providence, RI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jon Jaques scored 20 points, going 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, and Cornell hit 20 shots from beyond the arc and clinched the Ivy League crown with a 95-76 victory over Brown. Louis Dale, Ryan Wittman a

<< Garnett, Celtics handle Sixers
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Garnett scored a team-high 22 points to go with eight rebounds, and Rajon Rondo chipped in 16 points and 11 assists to pace the Celtics to a 96-86 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Ray Allen post

<< Horizon League Tournament Recaps
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eli Holman scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the seventh-seeded Detroit Titans beat the third-seeded Green Bay Phoenix, 62-53, in the second round of the Horizon League Tournament. Xavier K

Helm scores twice in Detroit's win over Nashville >>
Detroit, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Darren Helm scored a pair of goals, as the Detroit Red Wings handled the Nashville Predators, 5-2, in a battle between Central Division foes at Joe Louis Arena. Pavel Datsyuk had a goal and an assist

Connolly's OT tally pushes Sabres past Flyers >>
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Connolly scored 2:31 into overtime to lift the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at HSBC Arena. In the extra session, Philadelphia goaltender Michael Leighton stopped Toni Lydman'

Josh Smith leads Hawks over Warriors >>
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Josh Smith put in a season-high 29 points and Al Horford came up with 27 and 15 rebounds, as Atlanta overcame a poor defensive effort to top a short-handed Golden State squad, 127-122, at Philips Arena.

James, Cavaliers down Pistons; Stuckey taken to hospital >>
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LeBron James dropped 40 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and handed out six assists to lead Cleveland in a 99-92 win against Detroit at Quicken Loans Arena. Antawn Jamison added 17 points and Anderson Vareja

Report: Giants sign S Rolle after release from Arizona >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One day after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals, safety Antrel Rolle has reportedly agreed to terms with the New York Giants on a five-year contract. According to the New York Daily News, Rolle

El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

Additional baseball lines and World Series odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.