Celtics look for third straight win against Pacers

Basketball Betting Lines

11/01/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After opening the season with two impressive wins at home, the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics try their luck on the road for the first time in 2008-09 as they travel to Indiana for the Pacers' home opener.

Kevin Garnett posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds to help lead the Celtics in a 96-80 rout of the Chicago Bulls at TD Banknorth Garden on Friday.

Garnett, who became the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career games against the Bulls, was 7-of-11 from the field while Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen each contributed 14 points.

Pierce had nine boards and Rondo dished out six helpers for Boston, which celebrated its championship from last season before Tuesday's season-opening 90-85 home victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Indiana wasn't as lucky in its opener. Detroit's Tayshaun Prince finished with a team-high 19 points to lead the Pistons to a 100-94 win over the Pacers on Wednesday.

Budding star Danny Granger, who signed a contract extension on Friday, had a game-high 33 points and Troy Murphy brought down 15 boards to go with 13 points for the Pacers, who last season finished just 36-46.

T.J. Ford, who came to Indiana in an offseason trade with Toronto that sent former Pacers mainstay Jermaine O'Neal to the Raptors, totaled 10 points and five assists.

Indiana stayed close in the game despite the absence of its second leading scorer from a year ago, sharp-shooter Mike Dunleavy. Dunleavy is sidelined with knee tendinitis and will also miss tonight's contest.

The Celtics swept the season series with Indiana a year ago, winning all three games.

Saturdays contest is the second leg of a brutal season-opening stretch for the Pacers. After playing the two Eastern Conference finalists in the first two games, Indiana moves on to face two more serious playoff contenders next week, the Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Footbll Basketball Betting News

<< Sixers to test Hawks in Atlanta
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers head to Dixie to take on Atlanta in the Hawks' home opener at Philips Arena Saturday. The Sixers opened the season by splitting a pair of home games. After a lackluster loss to Toronto in the season-

<< Kjeldsen leads after round two of Volvo Masters
San Roque, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Soren Kjeldsen managed an even-par 71 on Saturday to finally complete the weather-plagued second round of the season- ending Volvo Masters. Kjeldsen finished 36 holes at six-under 136 and is two clear

<< In-Kyung Kim takes over lead in homeland
Incheon, South Korea (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - South Korean In-Kyung Kim posted a three-under 69 Saturday and took a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Hana Bank - KOLON Championship. Hee-Won Han also carded a 69 Saturday to move into a share

<< Canucks win wild one in 13th round of shootout
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mattias Ohlund scored in the 13th round of the shootout to lift the Vancouver Canucks to a 7-6 win over the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center. Anaheim went first in the shootout, but Roberto Luongo stopped Teemu

<< Roy, Blazers edge Spurs
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Roy scored 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting to help the Portland Trail Blazers hold off the San Antonio Spurs for a thrilling 100-99 triumph at the Rose Garden. LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 points on 1

Kings, Magic both shoot for first win in Orlando >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams off to disappointing starts meet in the Magic Kingdom on Saturday when the Sacramento Kings pay a visit to Orlando at Amway Arena. In the midst of a tough four-game road trip to start the season, the Kings

Brown looks for first win as Bobcats welcome Heat to Charlotte >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat will attempt to secure their second win in as many nights when they travel to Charlotte to face the Bobcats in Larry Brown's home debut as the head coach. Miami superstar Dwyane Wade had 20 points, eight

Nets entertain Warriors in home opener >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After opening the season with a win on the road, the New Jersey Nets kick off the home portion of their schedule by welcoming the Golden State Warriors to the Izod Center. Vince Carter scored 21 points and had six assists,

Gone dry: Oilers try to halt skid in road test with Hurricanes >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After opening the season with four straight wins, the Oilers have gone cold at both ends of the ice. Edmonton will attempt to halt a five-game losing streak this afternoon in a test with the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Cen

Bruins return home to face Stars >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins begin a three-game homestand tonight, when they welcome the Dallas Stars to TD Banknorth Garden. Boston is returning home from what can be considered a successful three-game road trip. Netminder Tim Thoma

Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com

For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.