Spurs strive for another home win over Warriors

Basketball Betting Lines

03/19/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Antonio Spurs shoot for their sixth straight home win tonight, when they welcome the Golden State Warriors to the Alamo City.

San Antonio is aiming for its second straight season-series sweep of the Warriors and has won the first two matchups against them in 2009-10. The Spurs are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Golden State, which has fallen in its last 23 trips to the Alamo City.

The Spurs haven't lost to Golden State at home since drafting future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan with the No. 1 overall pick in 1997. They are 24-10 at the AT&T Center this season and hope a return home will get them back into the win column. San Antonio split a two-game set in Florida, first beating the Miami Heat on Tuesday before losing at Orlando by a 110-84 score the following night.

Richard Jefferson scored 20 points to lead the Spurs, who failed to record their third five-game win streak of the season. Manu Ginobili added 18 points in the blowout loss, while Duncan went a miserable 1-for-10 from the floor for only a season-low five points.

"It was a tough game," Ginobili said. "We were coming from Miami on a back-to- back against a great team. [The Magic] started making a lot of shots. We kind of gave up in the third quarter after a good run at the end of the second, but we just couldn't hold it."

San Antonio is seventh in the jumbled Western Conference standings, just a half-game ahead of Portland and one game behind both Oklahoma City and Phoenix. Utah is three games ahead of the Spurs in the fourth spot.

The Warriors hope to put an end to their season-high 11-game road losing streak when they open a brief trek tonight against the Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies. They are 4-28 away from Oakland this season, but have won two of three games overall since a six-game slide.

In Wednesday's 131-121 victory versus the New Orleans Hornets in the finale of a four-game homestand, Anthony Tolliver registered a career-high 30 points and Monta Ellis added 28 points with a career-high tying 13 assists for the Warriors, who went 2-2 on the homestand.

"We're just relentless," Tolliver said. "I try not to use that word as much, but that's the only word I can think of that describes this team. When we're down and out, it seems like we play our best basketball."

Reggie Williams notched 22 points and Chris Hunter netted 17 in the win.

In injury news for Golden State, rookie guard Stephen Curry is questionable for Friday's test because of a sprained left ankle.

Warriors coach Don Nelson enters tonight's game five wins shy of breaking Lenny Wilkins' all-time record for victories (1,332).

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

MySportsbook.com is an online sportsbook accepts Visa Credit Cards and online sportsbook accepts Mastercard Credit Cards for easy American Idol betting lines.