Grizzlies take road winning streak to Boston

Basketball Betting Lines

03/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies will attempt to keep the longest road winning streak in franchise history intact when they visit a place they've historically struggled over the years, Boston's TD Garden, for tonight's matchup with the Atlantic Division-leading Celtics.

Memphis heads to Beantown having prevailed in each of its last six outings as the visitor, with the team's last road loss coming at Minnesota on February 6. That success has kept the surprising Grizzlies in the Western Conference playoff race, where the club currently trails Portland by four games for the eighth and final postseason seed.

The Grizzlies haven't been nearly as successful in their own building as of late, but did manage to halt a string of eight straight defeats at FedExForum with Monday's 107-101 triumph over New Jersey. Rudy Gay and Mike Conley each scored 21 points for Memphis, with Gay coming down with 10 rebounds on the evening.

Marc Gasol also recorded a double-double as the Grizzlies posted their third win in their last four overall games, finishing with 19 points and 13 boards to help offset the absence of Zach Randolph, Memphis' leading scorer and rebounder this season.

Randolph, who's averaging 20.8 points and 11.8 rebounds in 2009-10, sat out the contest with a stiff back but is expected to play this evening.

The Grizzlies could use the services of the talented forward as they try to halt a six-game losing streak in this series. Memphis has not defeated the Celtics since a 98-96 decision at the Garden on December 6, 2006 and has fallen in four of its last five trips to Boston, where the team is 5-8 all- time.

The Celtics had won four in a row prior to last night's narrow loss at resurgent Milwaukee, which rallied late in the fourth quarter to come through with an 86-84 victory.

Boston had taken a 77-72 midway through the final period on a three-point play from Rajon Rondo, but the Bucks answered with a 14-2 run to take a seven-point lead with under three minutes to go.

A Kevin Garnett jump hook with 53.2 seconds left pulled the Celtics within 86-84, and Boston had a final chance to tie or win after Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings missed a three-point shot in the final moments. Paul Pierce's jumper from the right wing would clank off the rim as time expired, however.

"[The Bucks] just made big plays down the stretch and we didn't," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "I thought all the 50-50 plays in the game was going to be the difference in the game -- loose ball, offensive rebounds. I thought they won that battle."

Rondo ended with 20 points and six assists while Kevin Garnett compiled 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Ray Allen, coming off a 25-point performance in Sunday's 86-83 home win over Washington, was limited to a mere three points on 0-of-3 shooting for the Celtics.

Pierce, Boston's leading scorer at 17.6 points per game, struggled as well. The All-Star forward finished with 12 points, but made just 3-of-13 shots from the field.

Despite Tuesday's loss, the Celtics own a comfortable eight-game lead over Toronto for first place in the Atlantic Division and are 2 1/2 back of Orlando for the Eastern Conference's No. 2 playoff seed.

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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)

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