Bryant lifts Lakers past Thunder

Basketball Betting Lines

02/25/2009 - Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 36 points, as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 107-93, at Ford Center.

Bryant moved into 19th place on the NBA's career scoring list, ahead of Adrian Dantley. During the Lakers' 111-108 victory at Minnesota on Sunday, Bryant passed Elgin Baylor for 20th.

Paul Gasol added 14 points, eight rebounds, and six assists for the Lakers, who have won five in a row. Derek Fisher poured in 12 points, while Luke Walton ended with 11 points, five boards, and four helpers. Jordan Farmar added 10 points off the bench.

Oklahoma City was paced by Kevin Durant, who finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Kyle Weaver added 16 points off the bench for a struggling Thunder team, who have dropped six straight. Russell Westbrook ended with 14 points, while Jeff Green poured in 10 points and pulled down nine boards in defeat.

After going on an 8-2 surge to end the third frame, the Thunder rallied off six consecutive points to start the final frame. Nick Collison's hook shot topped off the spurt and cut the home team's gap to just one, 75-74.

Trailing 81-80 with under nine minutes to play, Bryant essentially lifted his team to victory by scoring six unanswered points to give the Lakers a five- point cushion.

LA, ignited by Bryant, used that energy to control the remainder of the game. Oklahoma City never got closer than five points the rest of the way.

Walton spurred the Lakers on a 14-4 run to begin the contest. He tallied seven points during the surge and topped it off with a layup with under 7 1/2 minutes left.

Los Angeles was comfortably ahead for the remainder of the first quarter, and took a 32-22 lead into the second period.

Ahead 34-27 early in the second frame, LA ripped off 10 straight points to go up 44-27. Farmar's 18-foot jumper capped off the run with just over 7 1/2 minutes until the half.

The Thunder were able to cut into the Lakers lead somewhat, but Los Angeles took a 56-44 advantage into the locker room.

Trailing 73-60 late in the third frame, Oklahoma City finished the final 3:04 of the period on an 8-2 spurt to cut the Lakers' lead to seven, 75-68. Durant's three-pointer culminated the surge. The Thunder carried their momentum into the final 12 minutes of action.

Game Notes

The Lakers shot 52.6 percent from the field, while the Thunder hit 41.8 percent of their shots...LA went 7-of-15 from beyond the arc, compared to Oklahoma City which shot 5-of-15 from three-point land...The Lakers owned the boards, 45-30...LA handed Oklahoma City a 105-98 loss on February 10 at Staples Center and has won eight straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings.

Wwwchipshot Basketball Betting News

<< Rockets trip up Blazers, continue home success
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ron Artest poured in 21 points and Luis Scola recorded his fifth consecutive double-double to help the Rockets stave off a late rally from the Trail Blazers to record a 98-94 victory at the Toyota Center.

<< Nash paces Suns past Bobcats
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Nash had 22 points and five assists to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Charlotte Bobcats, 112-102, at US Airways Center. Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Richardson scored 20 points apiece, with O'N

<< Tigers claim a share of SEC regular-season title with win over Gators
Baton Rouge, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Marcus Thornton scored a game-high 32 points, as 18th-ranked LSU clinched at least a share of the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship by beating Florida, 81-75, at Pete Maravic

<< Fish advances; Hewitt loses in Florida
Delray Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded American Mardy Fish won his opening-round match, while former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt came up a first- round loser Tuesday at the $500,000 Delray Beach International Tennis Champio

<< Souray leads Oilers over Lightning in Edmonton
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sheldon Souray tallied twice and the Edmonton Oilers recorded their first win over Tampa Bay in seven years with a 5-3 decision at Rexall Place. Erik Cole, Jason Strudwick and Andrew Cogliano also score

Robredo advances in Acapulco; Nalbandian upended >>
Acapulco, Mexico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian dropped his opening-round match, while third-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo prevailed at the $1.226 million Mexican Open. Nalbandian was ousted by Austrian qua

Venus staves off Vives; Pennetta rolls in Acapulco opener >>
Acapulco, Mexico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Top-seeded American Venus Williams overcame a challenge from Spaniard Nuria Llagostera Vives, while reigning champion Flavia Pennetta was an easy first-round winner Tuesday at the $220,00

Spartans continue quest for Big Ten title >>
East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Iowa Hawkeyes are clearly underdogs as they take on the ninth-ranked Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing this evening. It has been over two months since Iowa has won back-to-back games, something

Wildcats face Tigers in Big 12 tussle >>
Columbia, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Kansas State Wildcats are playing inspired basketball, and they will collide with the 11th-ranked Missouri Tigers this evening in what should be a highly entertaining Big 12 Conference clash. Kansas State

Lone Star State rivals collide in Austin >>
Austin, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 25th-ranked Texas Longhorns will try to build off their biggest win of the campaign tonight, as they host the reeling Texas Tech Red Raiders in a Big 12 battle at the Frank Erwin Center. On Saturday, the Hor

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.