Sliding Bulls make a stop in Memphis

Basketball Betting Lines

03/16/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fading Chicago Bulls hope to put the brakes on season- long seven-game skid and improve their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff picture when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.

Chicago's losing streak is its longest since dropping eight in a row from Dec. 20, 2005-Jan. 4, 2006, and if the postseason started today, the Bulls, who are one game behind Toronto for the eighth playoff spot in the East, would be left out of the party.

Most recently the banged-up Bulls fell to 0-2 on a four-game road trip in Miami on Friday when Quentin Richardson made 7-of-11 three-pointers on his way to 23 points while pulling down seven rebounds, as the Heat handled Chicago, 108-95.

James Johnson and Jannero Pargo each finished with 20 points for the Bulls, who played without a host of key contributors. Brad Miller tallied 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Flip Murray registered 15 points off the bench.

Defensive stalwart Joakim Noah (plantar fasciitis) has missed each game during the Bulls slide and he has been joined on the sidelines by forward Luol Deng (calf) and All-Star point guard Derrick Rose (sprained left wrist).

Meanwhile, guard Kirk Hinrich was ejected after two technical fouls against Miami and made contact with a referee while arguing the second technical, resulting in a one-game suspension that will be served tonight.

"The bottom line is you have to do it on the court," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "You have to play and keep battling."

Rose and Deng figure to be game-time decisions tonight but Noah will assuredly stay on the bench with Hinrich.

The Grizzlies, meanwhile, saw a three-game win streak halted on Saturday when J.R. Smith scored 16 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, as the Denver Nuggets used a huge final period to defeat Memphis, 125-108, at FedEx Forum.

O.J. Mayo finished with 25 points for the Grizzlies, who are now five games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

Zach Randolph tallied 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Marc Gasol added 17 points, seven boards, and six assists in defeat.

"It's 85-85 going into the fourth, and they just went on a tear on us," Mayo said. "Then we kind of dropped our heads too soon. We played hard for 36 minutes, then let the fourth quarter get away from us."

Memphis will be shooting for a home-and-home season sweep of the series after taking a 105-96 win in the Windy City earlier this month. The Grizz haven't swept the Bulls since the 2003-04 season.

Wwwfllottery Basketball Betting News

<< Struggling Bruins visit Hurricanes
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Bruins will fight to hold onto their playoff spot when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes tonight at RBC Center. The Bruins are currently eighth in the East with 72 points and are just one point ahead of the New

<< Heat resume homestand vs. Spurs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams battling for playoff positioning get together tonight in south Florida, as the Miami Heat continue a six-game homestand versus the San Antonio Spurs at AmericanAirlines Arena. The Heat have won the first three te

<< Cavs closing in on Central title; visit Pistons
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA's best road team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, will pay a visit to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The playoff-bound Cavs have won 14 of their last 19 road games and are 23-11 away from

<< Hawks visit lowly Nets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Hawks will hit the road for two straight games starting with tonight's showdown against the lowly New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center. Atlanta will visit Toronto as well and is 16-16 as the guest this season. It

<< Bobcats aim for franchise-record 7th straight win in Indy vs. Pacers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Charlotte Bobcats will try to stretch their winning streak to a franchise-high seven straight games tonight, when they take on the Indiana Pacers on the road at Conseco Fieldhouse. Charlotte has won six in a ro

Nuggets hope to have Karl back vs. Wizards >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets hope to have head coach George Karl back on the bench tonight when the Western Conference power kicks off a three-game homestand against the woeful Washington Wizards. Karl announced last Friday that

Thrashers try to end skid in clash with Sabres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Atlanta Thrashers could be in much worse shape than they are when it comes to the Eastern Conference playoff race. Still, the club will not be able to improve their postseason chances until they end a lengthy losing strea

Habs aim for sixth straight win versus playoff-hopeful Rangers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The streaking Montreal Canadiens will shoot for a sixth straight victory tonight when they visit the New York Rangers in a battle between Original Six clubs at Madison Square Garden. The Canadiens and Rangers are both figh

Sens try to regain swagger against Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Ottawa Senators have found it hard to recapture their earlier success upon returning from the Olympic break. The playoff hopefuls hope a visit from the Eastern Conference's last-place team will help end those struggles.

Playoff-hopeful Suns welcome Wolves to the desert >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The playoffs are likely a foregone conclusion for the Phoenix Suns, who resume a season-long seven-game homestand tonight against the Western Conference's worst team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Suns improved

FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

NFL Betting Lines

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