Jazz continue hectic stretch in NOLA

Basketball Betting Lines

02/13/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Utah continues a grueling three games in three nights road stretch tonight in the Big Easy when it visits the struggling New Orleans Hornets.

The Jazz snapped a three-game skid in Memphis last night with an impressive 98-88 win over the Grizzlies.

Gordon Hayward scored 23 points and handed out five assists in that one while Al Jefferson chipped in with a double-double of 21 points and 15 rebounds. Paul Millsap added 16 and eight for the Jazz, who won the battle in the paint, 54-40, and shot 51 percent from the field.

"We were aggressive," Jazz head coach Ty Corbin said. "The guys played hard."

Utah, which is now 3-7 away from Salt Lake City, will finish it's only back- to-back-to-back this season in Oklahoma City on Tuesday.

The Hornets, meanwhile, have lost eight straight and 23 of 25 overall since starting the season 2-0. Their most recent setback came on Friday when Portland escaped the Bayou with a 94-86 triumph.

Trevor Ariza led New Orleans with 23 points and nine rebounds. Emeka Okafor netted 13, while Al-Farouq Aminu and Marco Belinelli each scored 12 as the Hornets fell to 0-3 on a four-game homestand.

"When I look at this game, I see guys who fought, who competed, who were put in a tough situation and battled all night," Hornets head coach Monty Williams said. "Right now, I'm proud to be around a group of guys who fight no matter what the situation."

Injuries continue to be a major problem in New Orleans. Starting guard Jarrett Jack did not play against the Blazers with soreness in his left knee. Jack aggravated the injury against Chicago on Wednesday after missing the previous three games and has already been ruled out for tonight's contest.

Meanwhile, centers Chris Kaman (sprained left ankle) and Jason Smith (concussion) are both questionable for tonight, while high-scoring Eric Gordon (sore right knee) and forward Carl Landry (sprained left knee) remain on the sidelines.

Utah has won five of its last six games in NOLA.

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MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.


Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson

JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.

Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.

MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .

''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''

Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.

He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.

''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''

Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.

Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.

With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.

Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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