Basketball Betting
 

Basketball Betting


NFL Football
NCAA Football
NCAA Basketball
MLB Baseball
NHL Hockey
Soccer
Auto
Horse Racing
Golf
Tennis
 

NBA Basketball Betting

Allen hits seven from beyond arc, gives Celtics lead at half

Basketball Betting Lines

06/06/2010 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ray Allen made his first seven three-point shots in the first half on the way to an incredible 27-point effort, boosting the Celtics to a 54-48 advantage over the Los Angeles Lakers at halftime in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Allen's effort has already tied a single-game Finals record for most three- pointers in a game. He went 7-of-9 in the series-clinching Game 6 against the Lakers two years ago. Kenny Smith (HOU, 1995) and Scottie Pippen (CHI, 1997) are the others with seven three-pointers in one NBA Finals game.

The old record for most three-balls in one half of a Finals game is six, last done by Allen on June 17, 2008.

Boston is 8-for-11 from beyond the arc, while the Lakers are just 1-for-9, but Kobe Bryant has the defending NBA champions back in the game after Los Angeles trailed by as many as 14 points.

Andrew Bynum was one of the few bright spots for the Lakers in the first half with 11 points and four blocks. Bryant, who also has 11 points, three fewer than teammate Pau Gasol, made a couple of steals in the waning seconds, sinking a three-pointer on one of the attempts with 0.2 seconds left to account for the difference at the half. LA scored the final seven of the half.

Allen's performance is already a sharp contrast to his 12-point effort in the opener on Thursday, when the Lakers came away with a 102-89 victory. He had 12 points on 3-of-8 shooting in that game.

Boston's Kevin Garnett was forced to sit for a big portion of the first half after picking up two fouls less than three minutes into the game and his third with 8:09 left in the half.

Gasol's jumper provided the Lakers with a 21-20 lead with nearly four minutes left in the opening quarter, but Rasheed Wallace's three-ball gave Boston the lead and started a 9-1 spurt to end the period. He capped it with another jumper inside the final minute for the 29-22 advantage.

Allen's sharp long-distance shooting widened the gap in the second. He made four attempts from beyond the arc in less than a four-minute span for a 45-32 lead. Every time the Celtics seemed to get the ball in the post, Allen was open, and the 34-year-old kept sinking shot after shot. The 13-point lead was attained after a make from the left corner with under six minutes left.

Bynum went 1-of-2 at the foul line, but Pierce then drained two from the charity stripe for a 47-33 difference.

The Lakers were within 10 when Bryant was whistled for an offensive foul for lowering the shoulder into Allen with 3:20 left in the half. Allen was called for a similar infraction at the other end.

Allen's pull-up from the right wing went in for a 52-39 lead, making him 7-for-7 from long distance. He finally missed with about a minute left.

Bryant's late surge, combined with Boston's 18 personal fouls in the first half, allowed the Lakers back into the game.

Despite being behind at halftime, history is on the side of the Lakers. When Phil Jackson wins Game 1 of any playoff series, best-of-five or best-of-seven, his teams are 47-0, having gone 24-0 with Chicago and 23-0 with the Lakers. When Jackson's teams begin a series with a 2-0 lead, he is 36-0 all-time. And when holding a series lead of any kind, his squads are 54-1.

The Lakers also have a 12-game home-court winning streak in the playoffs.

There was a moment of silence prior to the singing of the national anthem to honor former UCLA coach John Wooden, who passed away Friday at the age of 99. Ex-UCLA players Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton spoke about Wooden and the special qualities that made him one of the greatest coaches in the history of college basketball. Wooden coached the Bruins from 1948-1975 and claimed 10 national championships over a 12-season stretch, including a record seven straight from 1967 to 1973.

<< Allen sets NBA finals record with 8th 3-pointer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen has set an NBA finals record with eight 3-point field goals in Game 2 against the Los Angeles Lakers.Allen's 3-pointer with 4:42 left in the third quarter Sunday night allowed him to break the mark he

<< Chicago dominates Philadelphia in first period of Game 5
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brent Seabrook, Dave Bolland and Kris Versteeg all scored in the opening period, giving Chicago a healthy 3-0 lead over Philadelphia after 20 minutes of the Stanley Cup Finals' Game 5. If there were any questio

<< Mackenzie captures 1st Canadian Tour win
Victoria, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brock Mackenzie birdied the 18th hole Sunday to shoot a four-under 66 and capture his first Canadian Tour win at the Times Colonist Open. Mackenzie finished with a 14-under 266 on the Uplands course to edge pa

<< Song earns 1st Duramed Futures title
Cedar Rapids, IA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Christine Song shot a flawless five-under 67 to capture her first professional win Sunday at the Ladies Titan Tire Challenge on the Duramed Futures Tour. Song finished three rounds on the Hunters

<< Napoli helps Angels complete sweep of Mariners
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Napoli's two-run homer in the seventh broke a tie, and the Los Angeles Angels swept the Seattle Mariners in three games with a 9-4 win at Safeco Field. Napoli matched career-highs with four hits

Blackhawks answer Flyers' attack to maintain large lead in Game 5 >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dustin Byfuglien scored his first goal of the Stanley Cup Finals with 4:15 left in the second period to give the Chicago Blackhawks a 5-2 lead over the Philadelphia Flyers after 40 minutes of play in a pivotal Gam

Ray Allen sets NBA Finals record for three-pointers >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston guard Ray Allen set an NBA Finals record by sinking his eighth three-point shot of the game with 4:40 left in the third quarter Sunday night. Allen made his first seven three-point shots in the first

Allen's three-point display in Game 2 helps Celtics earn split in LA >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ray Allen set an NBA Finals record by making eight shots from beyond the arc on the way to a 32-point night, as the Celtics evened the championship series with a 103-94 Game 2 win over the Los Angeles

Byfuglien powers Blackhawks to Game 5 win >>
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dustin Byfuglien finally broke out, scoring two goals and adding two assists, and the Chicago Blackhawks moved one step closer to a championship with a 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5 of the Sta

No 4th quarter heroics for Kobe in Lakers' loss >>
LOS ANGELES (AP) -For once, the fourth quarter didn't belong to Kobe Bryant.The Los Angeles Lakers superstar picked up his fifth foul early in the final period, when Bryant's defensive matchup, Rajon Rondo, carried the Boston Celtics to a 103-94 vic

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

Bet on NFL

Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

Bet on NFL

Mysportsbook.com online online sportsbook accepts Visa & Mastercard