Suns' playoff hopes take a hit in loss to lowly Kings

Basketball Betting Lines

03/30/2009 - Sacramento, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jason Thompson was one of seven Kings in double figures, logging 21 points and eight rebounds as Sacramento dealt Phoenix's playoff chances a crushing blow in a 126-118 decision over the Suns.

Spencer Hawes tied a career-high with 20 points in addition to 10 rebounds, while Andres Nocioni and Francisco Garcia chipped in 19 points apiece for Sacramento, which had lost six straight to Phoenix and seven of eight overall coming in.

After four straight 50-plus win campaigns, the Suns find themselves in an unfamiliar situation, sitting 3 1/2 games behind Dallas for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff race with eight games to play.

Steve Nash provided a solid 31-point, 14-assist effort, but Phoenix dropped its third straight affair following a promising six-game winning streak. Shaquille O'Neal ended with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Jared Dudley contributed 17 and 11 off the bench in the inexcusable setback.

The Kings led 105-96 to open the fourth and dictated the game's pace in the final stanza. After Nash's three-pointer and Dudley's layup cut the Suns' deficit to 115-110 with under six minute left, Hawes netted a bucket after Beno Udrih corralled his own miss.

An O'Neal free throw made it a five-point game with just over two minutes left, but Rashad McCants rose over Grant Hill and hit a huge jumper from the elbow as the shot clock was winding down on the next possession.

Nash kept the Suns in it with a three to get within 123-118 with 1:23 to go, but it proved to be their last field goal, putting the club's playoff hopes on life support.

Despite Hill's 13 first-quarter points the Suns trailed 35-33 after 12 minutes of play. Nash hit a trey to end the high-scoring half and cut the visitors' deficit to 70-64.

The Kings continued with the hot hand after the break, rattling off 10 straight points late in the third to take a healthy 99-85 lead. Udrih scored six during the stretch and his jumper capped it with 3 1/2 minutes to go in the frame.

Game Notes

Hill ended with 19 points and Jason Richardson checked in with 16 for Phoenix, which made just 16-of-28 at the foul line, where the Kings went 21-of-27... Kevin Martin had 17 points, Udrih 16 and McCants 12 for Sacramento...The Suns next play at home against Houston on Wednesday.

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Super Bowl XLIV Odds

Super Bowl XLIII isn't even a week old yet and oddsmakers have already released Super Bowl XLIV odds.

Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers winning Super Bowl 43, the New England Patriots are 8/1 favorites to win Super Bowl 44.

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

With their 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers became the latest NFL champion. But believe it or not, oddsmakers from online sports book MySportsbook.com don't have the Steelers the favorites to win Super Bowl XLIV next season.

That honor belongs to the New England Patriots, who are 8/1 favorites to win despite not even qualify for the postseason in 2008. The Pats also have a major decision to make regarding what to do with Matt Cassel, who played well in Tom Brady's (knee surgery) absence last year but is also a free agent this offseason.

Ironically, the Steelers aren't even oddsmakers second choice to win Super Bowl 44, as the Dallas Cowboys are listed right behind the Patriots at 9/1 despite not making the playoffs themselves. Clearly oddsmakers think the public will hop back on the Cowboys' bandwagon considering the immense talent they have and the opening of a brand new stadium.

After Dallas, then comes Pittsburgh at 10/1, but they share those odds with the New York Giants, who won Super Bowl XLII. The Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers round out the top six teams at 12/1, while the Baltimore Ravens (14/1), Tennessee Titans (16/1), Carolina Panthers (18/1) and Philadelphia Eagles (18/1) complete the top 10.

The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals got no love from oddsmakers as they were established as a 30/1 long shot to win next year's Super Bowl. They share those same odds with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – two teams that didn't even qualify for the postseason. Other long shots are the Kansas City Chiefs (100/1), Detroit Lions (100/1), St. Louis Rams (75/1) and Oakland Raiders (75/1).

To see a complete list of all the team's odds to win Super Bowl XLIV, check below.

NFL TEAM FUTURE ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL XLIV

New England Patriots 8/1

Dallas Cowboys 9/1

New York Giants 10/1

Pittsburgh Steelers 10/1

Indianapolis Colts 12/1

San Diego Chargers 12/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1

Tennessee Titans 16/1

Carolina Panthers 18/1

Philadelphia Eagles 18/1

New Orleans Saints 20/1

Atlanta Falcons 25/1

Denver Broncos 25/1

Green Bay Packers 25/1

Jacksonville Jaguars 25/1

Minnesota Vikings 25/1

New York Jets 25/1

Arizona Cardinals 30/1

Chicago BearS 30/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30/1

Buffalo Bills 35/1

Houston TexaNS 35/1

Miami Dolphins 35/1

Washington Redskins 35/1

Seattle SeahawkS 50/1

Cleveland Browns 55/1

Cincinnati Bengals 60/1

San Francisco 49ers 60/1

Oakland Raiders 75/1

St. Louis Rams 75/1

Detroit Lions 100/1

Kansas City Chiefs 100/1

Odds as of: 2/2/09

Bet Super Bowl XLIV Future Odds

To visit this online sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.