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Howard, Magic invade Big Easy to face Hornets

Basketball Betting Lines

02/26/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Orlando's Dwight Howard hopes to follow up on a game for the ages when he leads his first place Magic into the Big Easy to take on the New Orleans Hornets.

Howard recorded his NBA-leading 46th double-double of the season with 30 points on 11-of-11 shooting and 16 rebounds on Wednesday, as Orlando handled the Houston Rockets, 110-92, at the Toyota Center.

The All-Star center, who also leads the NBA in both rebounding and blocked shots, became the first NBA player to record 30-plus points and 15-plus rebounds without missing a field goal since the legendary Wilt Chamberlain did it during the 1968-69 season (34 pts, 27 rebs. on Mar. 11, 1969 vs. Detroit).

Howard also set a new Orlando franchise record with his 19th consecutive double-double, eclipsing a mark set in 1993 by Shaquille O'Neal and matched last season by Howard.

"I don't think this is just a stretch. I think his game has matured," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "He's had stretches where he's played well, but he's changed the way he plays now. He's not forcing his way to the basket. If you take away his move across the middle, he'll counter. If you take that away, he'll come back again. He's not going to force through double teams.

"I'm not saying he's going get 30 (points) and 16 (rebounds) every night or go 11-for-11, but he'll play great. And he'll play consistently well and he'll play at a high level most of the time."

Jameer Nelson added 17 points and nine assists for the Magic against Houston. Vince Carter donated 16 points, seven assists, and five rebounds while Rashard Lewis chipped in 13 points for the Southeast Division leaders, which has won two in a row and six of eight overall.

The Hornets, meanwhile, come in on a bit of a down note after dropping a 113-95 decision to the Bucks in Milwaukee on Wednesday. Andrew Bogut scored 26 points and pulled down 13 rebounds in that one.

Rookie Marcus Thornton totaled 25 points for New Orleans, which has lost back- to-back contests and is now three games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Fellow freshman Darren Collison contributed 22 points and nine assists, while David West ended with 19 points and nine boards.

"We just didn't have enough fight," Collison said. "We weren't in it on the defensive end."

Orlando will be in search of a home-and-home season sweep tonight. The Magic topped the Hornets in central Florida, 123-117, on Feb. 8.

<< Suns, Clippers clash in the desert
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Phoenix Suns aim for their seventh consecutive victory over the Pacific Division-rival Los Angeles Clippers tonight from US Airways Center. Phoenix is 2-0 so far in the 2009-10 season series and has won 17 of the prev

<< Nuggets hope to solve recent woes vs. Pistons
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Detroit Pistons hope to continue their recent dominance of the Denver Nuggets when the two clubs clash tonight at the Pepsi Center. Detroit defeated Denver, 101-99, back on December 10 and has won seven straight and 16

<< Spurs and Rockets meet in Texas tussle
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Southwest Division rivals collide Friday night in Houston, where the Rockets play host to the San Antonio Spurs at the Toyota Center. The Rockets are caught in a funk and have lost three straight and six of their

<< Butler goes after perfect Horizon League ledger
Valparaiso, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Owners of a 17-game winning streak, the 15th-ranked Butler Bulldogs will attempt to complete a perfect Horizon League campaign in tonight's regular-season finale against the Valparaiso Crusaders. Butler hasn

<< NFL conducts coin flips to determine draft order
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The National Football League set the order for the first round of the 2010 draft with three tiebreaking coin flips. The Jacksonville Jaguars won a flip with the Denver Broncos for the 10th pick in April's d

Surging Jazz shoot for 8th straight road win in Sacramento >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Utah Jazz will shoot for an eighth straight road win when they take on the flailing Sacramento Kings on Friday. The Jazz bounced back from a 105-100 home loss to Atlanta on Monday by besting Charlotte in Salt L

Sixers finish road trip against Kobe, Lakers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant returns to the floor at Staples Center for the first in three weeks on Friday when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Philadelphia 76ers. After missing five contests and the All-Star Game with a sprained left ankl

Cavs head up north to battle Raptors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Coming off one of their most impressive performances of the season, the Cleveland Cavaliers wrap up a short road trip with tonight's clash against the Toronto Raptors from the Air Canada Centre. The Cavaliers head to Canad

Mavs hope to extend win streak in clash with Hawks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Mavericks have been on one of their best runs of the season, but that winning streak figures to be tested when the Southwest Division frontrunners head to Atlanta's Philips Arena tonight for an interconference matc

Struggling Knicks shoot for another win over Wizards >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks hope to put an end to their longest losing streak of this season when the badly-struggling club takes on the only team it has beaten in February, the Washington Wizards, this evening at the Verizon Center.

Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.