Celtics handle Grizzlies, earn fourth straight win

Basketball Betting Lines

02/05/2012 - Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Garnett had 24 points and nine rebounds as the Boston Celtics handled the Memphis Grizzlies, 98-80, at TD Garden.

Paul Pierce added 21 points while Ray Allen and Chris Wilcox each netted 12 as the Celtics won their fourth straight game and remained perfect in a five-game homestand.

Rudy Gay had 21 points and seven rebounds to pace Memphis, which wrapped up a three-game road trip with a 1-2 record by dropping its last two contests.

After an 8-2 spurt by the Grizzlies put them up, 12-6, in the first quarter, the Celtics reeled off 10 straight points to jump ahead and held a 24-16 lead after the opening frame.

Memphis then came out hot in the second, opening the quarter with a 16-3 run that included five consecutive Boston turnovers and eight points by O.J. Mayo to take a 32-27 lead with less than seven minutes to go in the half.

The Celtics, though, responded with their own 16-3 swing to close out the half and owned a 43-35 advantage at the break.

Neither team shot well from long distance in the first half, as Memphis went 1-for-7 from three-point range and Boston connected on 1-of-10 shots from beyond the arc. Both teams also had 10 turnovers apiece in the first 24 minutes.

But Boston found its three-point stroke in the third quarter, converting on 5- of-8 shots from long distance -- three from Allen -- as the Celtics led by no less than five points and by as many as 12 en route to a 69-61 lead at the end of three quarters.

The game was never in doubt in the fourth, with Boston leading by double digits for the majority of the quarter.

Game Notes

Boston improved to 9-6 at home this season while Memphis fell to 5-9 on the road...The Celtics will also host Charlotte and the Los Angeles Lakers in the homestand...Boston recorded its first win of the season against a member of the Western Conference. The Celtics had been 0-4 against Western Conference foes...Pierce sits nine points shy of tying Larry Bird (21,791) for second on Boston's all-time scoring list...Mayo finished with 15 points for the Grizzlies.

Jackpor Basketball Betting News

<< Serbs overcome Belgians to reach Fed Cup SFs
Charleroi, Belgium (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Serbia got a tie-clinching doubles win from Bojana Jovanovski and Aleksandra Krunic on Sunday in order to reach the 2012 Fed Cup semifinals. The Serbs won their best-of-five quarterfinal against host Be

<< Cologne snaps skid at Kaiserslautern
Kaiserslautern, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cologne snapped a three-game losing streak Sunday as Odise Roshi scored in the 72nd minute of a 1-0 Bundesliga win over 10-man Kaiserslautern at Fritz-Walter-Stadion. Cologne had lost its last three

<< Borini's brace powers Roma past Inter
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A goal in each half from Fabio Borini helped Roma to a comfortable 4-0 win over Inter Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday. Juan put Roma in front after 13 minutes when he headed home Francesco Tott

<< United rallies to claim draw at Chelsea
London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Manchester United fell two points back of Manchester City on Sunday, but Sir Alex Ferguson's side did well to claim a point at Stamford Bridge as the club rallied from three goals down to snatch a 3-3 dra

<< Penny signs with Japanese club
Fukuoka, Japan (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Veteran pitcher Brad Penny has signed a contract to play with the SoftBank Hawks of Japan's Pacific League, the team announced on its website. Penny spent last season with the Detroit Tigers, pitchi

Serena leads U.S. past Belarus >>
Worcester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Serena Williams recorded a Sunday singles victory to move the United States into the Fed Cup World Group Playoffs. The 2011 U.S. Open runner-up Williams improved to 2-0 this week by overcoming Anastasia Y

No. 9 Michigan State defeats No. 23 Michigan >>
East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Draymond Green had 14 points and 16 rebounds, as No. 9 Michigan State earned a convincing 64-54 win over No. 23 Michigan on Sunday. Keith Appling and Branden Dawson both added 10 points for the

Thomas lifts Bruins over Capitals >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Thomas stopped 35 shots to lift the Boston Bruins to a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. Brad Marchand and Rich Peverley each had a goal and an assist while Milan Lucic a

Kovalchuk leads Devils past Pens >>
Newark, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and two assists on Sunday, leading the Devils to a 5-2 win over the Penguins. Kovalchuk now has 10 points in his last four games -- all New Jersey victories. Z

Rangers continue dominance of Flyers >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Artem Anisimov had a goal and two assists to lead the New York Rangers to a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers. Marian Gaborik had a goal and an assist while Michael Del Zotto, Brandon Dubinsky and R

NFL Football Office Pool Printable Schedules
MySportsbook.com , leading online sportsbook, offers free NFL football office pool printable sheets! Run your own NFL Football Office Pool. Create your own pool, invite your friends to join. Compete with your with co-workers, friends or family for bragging rights every week. Exchange some hard hits without risk of injury -- Trash Talk with your fellow co-workers.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football sportsbook needs.

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.