05/10/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic attempt to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Detroit Pistons at two games apiece, as the teams battle tonight at Amway Arena.
After losing Games 1 and 2 at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Orlando picked up a huge win at home. On Wednesday, Rashard Lewis scored a career playoff-high 33 points, and the third-seeded Magic took advantage of an injury to All-Star guard Chauncey Billups to pull away and beat the No. 2 Detroit, 111-86.
Dwight Howard added 20 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots for the Magic, while Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu both scored 18 in the victory. Keyon Dooling had all 10 of his points in the final quarter of the win.
Richard Hamilton scored 24 to lead the Pistons, who also got 22 points from Tayshaun Prince and 19 from rookie Rodney Stuckey. Detroit was outscored, 38-17, in the final quarter.
Billups (strained right hamstring) is questionable. He is averaging 15.8 points and 5.7 assists per game in the playoffs.
The Magic, who have never won a playoff series when they lose the first two games of the set, have lost two straight Game 3s in the postseason. Orlando is 4-0 at home in this year's playoffs.
The Pistons, who are 2-2 on the road in this year's postseason, are 8-4 in their last 12 Game 4s in the playoffs
Game 5 of this series is scheduled for Tuesday at The Palace.
This is the fourth time these teams have met in the postseason. Orlando swept the Pistons, 3-0, in the first round of the 1996 playoffs. Detroit ousted the Magic in seven games in the 2003 quarterfinals and swept Orlando, 4-0, in round one last year.
Detroit, which defeated Philadelphia is six games, 4-2, in round one, has advanced to the East semifinals for the sixth straight year. The Pistons have won this round four straight times. Their only loss during the stretch was in 2002 to the Boston Celtics, 4-1.
The Pistons have made the Eastern Conference finals five straight years. They lost in six games, 4-2, last year to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East finals. Detroit is attempting to become the first team since the 1984-89 Los Angeles Lakers to reach six straight conference finals.
Orlando knocked off the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors in five games, 4-1, in the opening round of the postseason. The Magic, who had dropped six straight playoff series heading into this year's postseason, won a first-round series for the first time since 1996 when they swept Detroit. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals that year and were swept by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, 4-0.
<< Mets, Reds to play two at Shea
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Johan Santana gets the nod for the New York Mets tonight,
when he takes on the Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a doubleheader at
Shea Stadium.
Friday's opener of a three-game series between the Reds and Mets was
<< Carlisle gets four-year deal to coach Mavs
Dallas, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Rick Carlisle has come to terms on a four-year
contract to become head coach of the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks website posted a story late Friday night that confirmed the
signing, which is expected
<< Roddick, Stepanek retire, sending Djokovic, Wawrinka to Rome final
Rome, Italy (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic and Swiss
Stanislas Wawrinka advanced to the final of the $3.5 million Italian Masters
Saturday after both their semifinal opponents retired.
Sixth-seeded American Andy
<< Red Wings aim for 2-0 lead against visiting Stars
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The top-seeded Detroit Red Wings will try to take a two
games to none lead in the Western Conference finals tonight, when they welcome
the Dallas Stars for Game 2 at Joe Louis Arena.
The Red Wings came out with a strong pe
Astros continue trek at Los Angeles >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Astros opened their 10-game road trip on a good
note, and will try to stay on track tonight in the second test of a three-game
series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.
The Astros, who have won s
Phillies take on slumping Giants again >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jimmy Rollins' return to the Philadelphia lineup sparked
his team to victory. Today, Rollins and the Phillies will resume their road
trip out west with the second installment of a three-game series against the
San Fra
Padres' Maddux goes for win No. 350 vs. Rockies >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Greg Maddux will try again for career win No. 350 when he
leads the San Diego Padres tonight in the second test of a three-game series
versus the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park.
Maddux has lost two straight starts and
Sheets, Brewers square off with Cards >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ben Sheets will try to keep his perfect record intact this
evening, when he leads the Milwaukee Brewers in the second installment of a
four-game series versus the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park.
Sheets is 4-0 wit
MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds
With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.
Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season. Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money.
This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy. A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.
Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:
| Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma) Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State) Michael Bush (RB, Louisville) Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia) Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville) Chris Leak (QB, Florida) Mike Hart (RB, Michigan) Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State) Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame) Drew Tate (QB, Iowa) Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal) Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn) Chad Henne (QB, Michigan) Kyle Wright (QB, Miami) Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State) Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama) JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU) Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State) Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina) Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech) |
5-2 7-2 7-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 18-1 18-1 20-1 30-1 35-1 35-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 |
For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.
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