Lakers eye 50th win in Sacramento

Basketball Betting Lines

03/16/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The reigning NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers shoot for a third straight 50-win season tonight in California's capital against Pacific Division foe Sacramento.

The Lakers won their third straight game last night in Oakland when Kobe Bryant scored 29 points and Los Angeles held on for a 124-121 win over Golden State, their ninth straight win over the Warriors.

Pau Gasol added 26 points, while Andrew Bynum contributed 19 points and 14 rebounds, as the Lakers moved four games ahead of both Dallas and Denver for the top spot in the Western Conference. Lamar Odom totaled 17 points and 12 boards in the win.

"We let them get back into the game, but at the end of the day, we still won," Bryant said. "The only issue I am having is with my own turnovers. I turned the ball over too many times."

The Kings, meanwhile, improved to 2-1 on a five-game homestand Sunday when rookie star Tyreke Evans came just shy of a triple double, finishing with 29 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, as Sacramento routed the Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-100.

Donte Greene added 19 points and eight rebounds for the Kings, who had lost four of their previous five but snuck above the .500 mark at home with a 17-16 mark. Jason Thompson provided 15 points and eight boards, while Carl Landry had 13 points and six rebounds in the resounding win.

"What he's doing is what he's supposed to be doing," Greene said of Evans. "He's a talented player, 6-foot-6, a strong point guard, doing his thing and having fun."

The Lakers have struggled a bit against the Kings this season, needing two overtimes to win 112-103 in Sacramento on Dec. 26, and a buzzer-beating three from Bryant to roar back from a 20-point deficit on Jan. 1. Overall, LA has won four straight and seven of eight over Sacramento.

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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.

It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.

As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.

Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.

Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.

Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.