Kings edge Celts

Basketball Betting Lines

02/21/2007 - Sacramento, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Martin scored 22 points as the Kings held off a late Boston rally to beat the Celtics, 104-101, and continued their domination in the series.

Ron Artest contributed 18 points, eight rebounds and four steals for Sacramento, which snapped a three-game skid, but beat the Celtics for the 12th time in the last 14 meetings. The Kings beat Boston for the 11th straight time at home.

"We're hustling off the bench and playing good defense," Sacramento's Francisco Garcia said.

Paul Pierce had 26 points for Boston, which was back to its old tricks in the first game after the All-Star break. The Celtics ended a franchise-record 18- game losing streak with a victory against Milwaukee last Wednesday, but couldn't overcome the Kings and lost their ninth straight on the road.

Delonte West added 23 with six rebounds and seven assists for the Celtics, but his three-point shot at the buzzer came up short.

Brad Miller, who played in his first game since February 8, hit two free throws with 1:37 left that represented the game's final points. Artest then blocked a shot from Al Jefferson, but Martin missed a jumper with nearly a minute remaining.

Rajon Rondo then missed a jumper and a follow shot for the Celtics, and Brian Scalabrine failed to save the ball in bounds, giving it back to the Kings with 45.7 seconds left.

John Salmons and Artest missed three-pointers on the other end, and West then raced up the court, but his shot fell shy of the basket.

"Del made a good choice because he did see an opening," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He actually had a good look."

Miller ended with 12 points, Kenny Thomas 11 and Mike Bibby 10 for the Kings.

Jefferson had 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Ryan Gomes scored 10 before fouling out for Boston.

The Kings led 34-26 after one quarter, but Boston rallied to close the gap in the second. Sebastian Telfair's three-pointer had the Celtics within 55-51 and it was 66-62 in favor of the home team at the half.

A Pierce three had the Celtics within 68-67, but Boston could never take the lead in the final 24 minutes. Miller's two free throws capped 12 straight Sacramento points for an 89-71 margin with 3:42 left in the quarter.

It was 91-81 going into the fourth and it was 102-94 with 6:05 left before the Celtics rallied to get within one at 102-101 on Rondo's jumper with 1:57 to go.

Game Notes

Boston is 0-8 against the Pacific Division...The last time the Celtics defeated the Kings on the road was on February 16, 1996...Boston's last road win was January 5 against Memphis...Gerald Green, who won the NBA All-Star dunk title on Saturday, was limited to four points. He had five fouls...Miller had been out with a partially torn fascia in his left foot...Boston's Wally Szczerbiak sprained his left ankle...The Kings now head to the road for four games in five nights against Washington, New Jersey, Indiana and Philadelphia.

Teantalk Basketball Betting News

<< Sedin leads Canucks past Ducks in OT
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Daniel Sedin scored 2:19 into overtime, as the Vancouver Canucks won their fifth straight game with a 3-2 decision over the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center. Kevin Bieksa and Markus Naslund also scored fo

<< Happy Returns: Nash leads Phoenix over Clips
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Nash scored 13 points and dished out 12 assists before spending a large chunk of the second half enjoying his return to the lineup from the bench, as Phoenix cruised from the outset in a 115-90

<< Billups leads Pistons past Bucks
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chauncey Billups scored 19 points, as the Detroit Pistons held on for an 84-83 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee's Mo Williams missed a driving layup in the final seconds of regulation, and

<< Third-quarter drought dooms Hawks
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta went through the definition of futile in the third quarter, ending the period without a field goal, as the Chicago Bulls widened a halftime edge and rolled to a 106-81 rout of the Hawks at the United

<< No. 23 Louisville explodes in second half to crush St. John's
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Angel McCoughtry scored 21 points and ripped down 14 rebounds as 23rd-ranked Louisville crushed Big East foe St. John's, 91-62. Helen Johnson also scored 21 points while Jazz Covington tallied 17 for t

Red Wings put home streak on the line against Blackhawks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Red Wings shoot for their 13th consecutive victory on home ice when the rival Chicago Blackhawks enter Joe Louis Arena tonight for a matchup between Central Division foes. Detroit has been tremendous in the Mot

Sharks hope to end skid vs. struggling Caps >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of struggling teams meet this evening in the nation's capital, where the Washington Capitals host the San Jose Sharks at the Verizon Center. The Capitals have dropped four games in a row, while the Sharks come into

Louisville seek 20th victory of the season >>
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 20th-ranked Louisville Cardinals gun for their fourth straight win tonight, as they host the St. John's Red Storm in Big East play from Freedom Hall. The Cardinals moved into the Top-25 this

Red-hot Cavs take on Hurricanes in Sunshine State >>
Coral Gables, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A set of teams at completely different ends of the ACC standings collide at the BankUnited Center tonight, as the 24th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers take on the Miami-Florida Hurricanes. The C

Tide rolls into Knoxville >>
Knoxville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 25th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide and Tennessee Volunteers will do battle in an SEC contest tonight in Knoxville. Alabama carried a two-game losing skid into Saturday's game a

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.