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03/07/2010 - Orlando, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vince Carter scored a team-high 25 points, and Dwight Howard added 15 points and 16 rebounds, as the Orlando Magic escaped with a 96-94 win over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers in a rematch of last season's NBA Finals.
Jameer Nelson finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for Orlando, which has won five straight and seven of its last eight overall. Rashard Lewis hit four three-pointers and ended with 12 points and six boards.
Kobe Bryant, who missed a potential game-tying shot at the fourth-quarter buzzer, led all scorers with 34 points to go along with seven rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers, who have dropped three straight -- all on the road -- for the first time since January 23-27, 2008. Pau Gasol donated a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds in defeat.
LA, which earned a 98-92 victory over the Magic on January 18 at Staples Center, defeated Orlando for the NBA title in five games last year. It was the Lakers' 15th title in franchise history.
Trailing, 74-64, after three quarters, Bryant hit a pair of jumpers to ignite an 8-0 run and get LA to within two, 74-72, with 8:35 remaining. Orlando answered with a 7-2 burst to grab a 81-74 after a Howard dunk a short time later. On the play, Gasol was issued a flagrant foul, but Howard missed both free throws.
Then, with the Magic up 94-89 in the final minute, Bryant drained a corner three with 26.4 seconds on the clock. After Nelson was fouled and made 1-of-2 from the stripe, Bryant hit a long jumper from the top of the arc with 12.9 ticks left to cut LA's deficit to one.
The shot was originally ruled a three before the officials briefly reviewed it, and the replay clearly showed Bryant's foot was on the line. Carter was then fouled and made 1-of-2 with 9.7 seconds to go before Bryant's medium-range jumper was off the mark as time expired.
The Magic had a 31-24 lead after the first 12 minutes, then went up by double- figures, 38-28, after Mickael Pietrus hit a three-pointer in the early stages of the second quarter.
Orlando continued to hold the lead throughout the period, but Gasol's dunk got the Lakers to within 52-48 heading into the break. A layup and jumper from Matt Barnes and Jason Williams, respectively, allowed the hosts to build a 71-59 lead with 2:27 left in the third quarter, and the Magic settled for a 10-point lead after three.
Game Notes
Despite the loss, the Lakers have won 17 of the last 23 matchups with the Magic and hold a 31-12 advantage in the all-time series...Howard's double- double was hit 50th of the season, which leads the NBA...Orlando will also face the Clippers and Chicago Bulls on its three-game homestand...The Magic shot 41.1 percent from the field, while LA shot only 37.5 percent...Barnes finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
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Morgan, Spartans earn share of Big Ten title with rout of Michigan >>
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rival M
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Cooke, who is known for his physical nature, caught an un
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Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Browns added a pair of free
agents in linebacker Scott Fujita and offensive lineman Tony Pashos on Sunday,
signing both to multi-year contracts.
Fujita played last year for the Super Bow
Lavender leads Ohio State to Big Ten title >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jantel Lavender posted 35 points and 10
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After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
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