Knicks and Celtics renew rivalry at TD Garden
Basketball Betting Lines
02/03/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Carmelo Anthony has battled with injuries and losing streaks since helping the New York Knicks defeat the Boston Celtics in a much- anticipated matchup on Christmas Day at Madison Square Garden.
Anthony scored 17 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter for a New York squad which blew an early 17-point lead and managed to squeeze out a 106-104 triumph in the season opener for both clubs. 'Melo and the Knicks will take their swings at the Celtics again tonight, only this time they will head north to TD Garden, where New York has dropped its last nine games.
The Knicks haven't won in Beantown since a 101-77 victory back on Nov. 24, 2006 and are just 2-12 in the past 14 matchups at Boston. The Celtics had a healthy Rajon Rondo in the first meeting with New York on Dec. 25, as the speedy point guard registered 31 points, 13 assists and five rebounds. Rondo, however, is out indefinitely with a right wrist injury and has missed the past eight games, with the Celtics going 6-2 in that span.
New York hasn't enjoyed much success lately, losing 10 of 12 games, including Thursday's 105-102 loss to the Chicago Bulls at MSG in the first of three games in as many days. Amare Stoudemire, who scored 21 points in the first encounter with Boston, racked up 34 and 11 rebounds versus the Bulls, while Anthony pumped in 26 points and Landry Fields netted 17 in defeat.
"For the most part, we played extremely hard tonight," Anthony said on the team's website. "We've got to pat ourselves on the back for something. We can go and magnify the turnovers late in the second quarter; we still had a chance to win the basketball game."
The Knicks shot 48.9 percent for the game and are playing back-to-back-to-back games for the first time since Mar. 20-22, 1999, when they beat Boston and lost to both Toronto and Atlanta. The Knicks will host New Jersey on Saturday after their trip to Beantown and own a 4-7 mark as the guest this season.
As previously noted, the Celtics have won six of eight games without Rondo in the lineup and are 7-2 in their previous nine contests. They posted their second straight win with Wednesday's 100-64 decision over the Toronto Raptors, as Paul Pierce finished with 17 points, six rebounds and eight assists. Pierce explained somewhat how Boston has succeeded without its top floor general.
"We're just starting to play better and be more consistent at home," said Pierce, who is 60 points shy of tying Larry Bird (21,791) for second on the team's all-time scoring list. "When Rondo isn't in the game we've got to be more unselfish."
Ray Allen and Chris Wilcox both added 12 points for Boston, which opened a five-game homestand on a positive note and improved to 7-6 as the host. The Celtics led by as many as 40 points in the fourth quarter, shot 12-of-24 from beyond the three-point line and added 30 assists on 39 baskets.
Pierce missed the first three games of the season with a heel injury and didn't get a chance to face the Knicks on Christmas. In 47 career games against the Knicks, Pierce is averaging 22.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists. Pierce led the Celtics with a double-double effort in three games against New York last year, averaging 26.0 points and 10.0 rebounds.
The Celtics will also host the Grizzlies, Bobcats and Lakers on the residency.
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and head coach Rick Carlisle were each fined by the NBA on Friday. Cuban was slapped with a $75,000 penalty and Carlisle was penalized $35,000. Carlisle's fine resulted
<< Rockets welcome Suns to Space City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets will try to halt a two-game slide when
they welcome the Phoenix Suns to South Texas on Friday.
After a poor start to the season, Houston crept near the top of the Southwest
Division by winning nine o
<< Nets entertain improved Wolves
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Improved play on the road has kept the Minnesota
Timberwolves respectable this season and they'll try for a third straight
victory as the guest tonight against the New Jersey Nets.
Minnesota is 5-4 away from the Twin Citie
<< Jennings, Bucks visit lowly Pistons
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fear the deer.
Opposing teams are beginning to build some trepidation for Milwaukee Bucks
point guard Brandon Jennings too. Jennings and the resurgent Bucks will hit
the road tonight to take on the lowly Detroit Pistons an
<< Nuggets entertain Lakers at Pepsi Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets shoot for a two-day sweep of Los Angeles
when they welcome a Lakers team that has struggled on the road this season to
the Rocky Mountains.
The Nuggets were in the City of Angels on Thursday and summari
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic try to string back-to-back wins together this evening when they welcome the Cleveland Cavaliers to town to wrap up a brief two-game homestand at Amway Center. Orlando snapped its season-high four-g
Belichick: No setbacks for Gronkowski >>
Indianapolis, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New England Patriots head coach Bill
Belichick told the media on Friday that tight end Rob Gronkowski had no
setbacks after practicing on a limited basis Thursday.
Gronkowski's left ankle ha
Welcome back: Sens finally return home to battle Isles >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators hope their first home game in nearly
three weeks can get them back in the win column, as the All-Star hosts welcome
the New York Islanders for tonight's battle at Scotiabank Place.
The Senators, who sta
Pacers roll into Big D >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The much-improved Pacers will shoot for a season-high
fourth straight win Friday when they visit Big D to take on their former
coach, Rick Carlisle, and the reigning NBA champion Mavericks.
Indiana opened a br
Sliding Blackhawks make a stop in Calgary >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago has not gotten its club record-tying road trip off
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sev
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
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