Rockets kick off homestand vs. Nets

Basketball Betting Lines

03/13/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The chances of the Houston Rockets making the playoffs seem to fade by the day. Tonight they'll have to get past the woeful New Jersey Nets at the Toyota Center in the opener of a four-game homestand and hope for some help around the league.

The Rockets finished a three-game road trip in positive fashion on Tuesday in Washington when Luis Scola totaled 23 points with 10 rebounds, as Houston held off the Wizards, 96-88.

"Big win for us," said Scola. "We needed this win to go back home and the push for the playoffs."

Kevin Martin chipped in with 21 points, Aaron Brooks totaled 14 and Trevor Ariza added 13 for the Rockets, who have alternated wins and losses over the last eight games and finished the trip, 2-1.

Houston is now 5 1/2 games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West with just 19 games to play.

New Jersey is an NBA-worst 7-58 on the season and is trying desperately to avoid finishing with the worst record in NBA history, set by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers (9-73).

The Nets have lost three in a row and fell to 1-3 on a five-game road trip following Friday's 104-102 defeat at the hands of Oklahoma City. Kevin Durant poured in 32 points and pulled down 12 rebounds in that one, his 36th 30-point game this season, breaking Spencer Haywood's franchise mark set from the 1972-73 season.

Devin Harris finished with 19 points and eight assists for the Nets while. Jarvis Hayes and Keyon Dooling chipped in 16 and 15 points, respectively, off the bench.

Brook Lopez and Terrence Williams added 14 points apiece in defeat.

"I like our effort," Harris said. "Just coming down, giving ourselves a chance to win the game in the end. The way we've been starting out...has been a little disheartening, but other than that, I like the way our bench has been coming in and really gotten us back into the game. Second halves have really been key for us."

Houston has taken seven straight from the Nets and will be shooting for a home-and-home series sweep for the fourth consecutive season tonight. New Jersey hasn't beaten the Rockets since a 90-77 triumph at the Toyota Center on March 13, 2006.

Sportcasinogamble Basketball Betting News

<< Maple Leafs host Oilers in matchup of last place clubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A battle between the bottom two teams in the NHL is on tap tonight in Toronto, pitting the Maple Leafs against the Edmonton Oilers at Air Canada Centre. Despite having won two straight and three of their last four, the Map

<< Lumberjacks look to cut down Bearkats in Southland title game
Katy, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With an NCAA Tournament bid on the line, the top- seeded Sam Houston State Bearkats will battle the second-seeded Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in the Southland Conference Tournament championship game at the Merrell

<< 49ers aim for record fifth Big West title against top-seeded Gauchos
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Long Beach State tries to raise its total of Big West Conference Tournament titles to a record five, as the 49ers clash with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the championship round of the 35th-annual event at Anahe

<< Utah State and New Mexico State battle for WAC supremacy
Reno, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Utah State tries to make it back-to- back Western Athletic Conference Tournament titles tonight as the squad clashes with the New Mexico State Aggies in the 27th-annual event at the Lawlor Events Center in

<< Tigers and Golden Lions collide for SWAC crown
Bossier City, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament Championship game will take place this evening at the CenturyTel Center, when the second-seeded Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions battle the fifth-seeded Texas S

Berkman sidelined 2-4 weeks after knee surgery >>
Kissimmee, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Houston Astros first baseman Lance Berkman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Saturday morning. The Astros said the procedure involved removing loose cartilage debris from the knee. There w

Bobcats sign Larry Hughes >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats have signed guard Larry Hughes. Hughes appeared in 31 games for the Knicks this season, then was dealt to Sacramento at the trading deadline and subsequently waived without playin

Twins sign OF Span to five-year contract >>
Fort Myers, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins announced the signing of outfielder Denard Span to a five-year, $16.5 million contract on Saturday. The deal also includes a $9 million club option for the 2015 season. Span hit .311 i

Bobcats sign G Hughes; Wallace's MRI negative >>
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -The Charlotte Bobcats have signed veteran guard Larry Hughes to help with depth in the backcourt as they attempt to reach the playoffs for the first time.Meanwhile, an MRI on forward Gerald Wallace's left ankle on Saturday reve

Rangers 2B Kinsler has sprained ankle >>
Surprise, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler will be sidelined at least a week with a high right ankle sprain. Kinsler suffered the injury in pre-game warmups on Friday and did not play in the proceeding exhibit

Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Odds

Will he or won't he?  Now that the Dallas Cowboys have a new head coach in Wade Phillips, the big question will be: Does Terrell Owens stay with the team.

Jerry Jones continues to suggest that Terrell Owens will remain with the team.

"I've said that he's back, he's here, he's under contract," Jones said. "In the interviews I've just been through (to hire a new coach), it was very clear to me how highly he's thought of and how much of an impact he had on our offensive success."

Just to be sure though, Terrell Owens cleared out his locker and removed his name plate.

Terrell Owens was among the Cowboys most productive players this past season, catching 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns.

But T.O. is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money and headaches.

Aside from the questions surrounding Terrell Owens, the oddsmakers at MySportsbook.com have concerns over starting quarterback Tony Romo's state of mind and whether he will remain a starting quarterback.  It is also not known how players will adjust to new head coach, Wade Phillips.

Here are the football odds as seen at MySportsbook.com and subject to change after February 10, 2007 if not locked in prior to that date.
Arizona Cardinals 60-1


Atlanta Falcons 50-1


Baltimore Ravens 15-1


Buffalo Bills 50-1


Carolina Panthers 18-1


Chicago Bears 10-1


Cincinnati Bengals 15-1


Cleveland Browns 100-1


Dallas Cowboys 15-1


Denver Broncos 15-1


Detroit Lions 100-1


Green Bay Packers 50-1


Houston Texans 100-1


Indianapolis Colts 6-1


Jacksonville Jaguars 30-1


Kansas City Chiefs 30-1


Miami Dolphins 40-1


Minnesota Vikings 75-1


New England Patriots 10-1


New Orleans Saints 18-1


New York Giants 20-1


New York Jets 30-1


Oakland Raiders 100-1


Philadelphia Eagles 18-1


Pittsburgh Steelers 10-1


Saint Louis Rams 60-1


San Diego Chargers 6-1


San Francisco 49ers 75-1


Seattle Seahawks 20-1


Tampa Bay Buccanneers 75-1


Tennessee Titans 40-1


Washington Redskins 50-1

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook credit cards needs.