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Cavs return home to host PistonsBasketball Betting Lines03/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Central Division champion and NBA-best Cleveland Cavaliers will return to the cozy confines of Quicken Loans Arena tonight, when they play host to the rival Detroit Pistons. The top-seeded Cavs have won six in a row overall, six straight as the host and 28 of their last 30 home games, averaging 105.2 points on .509 shooting in that time on the home floor. They just handed the Chicago Bulls a 92-85 loss in the Windy City on Friday, as superstar LeBron James pumped in 29 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for Cleveland, which is 12-1 in its last 13 games overall and got 18 points from Mo Williams. "We couldn't find our rhythm offensively tonight," James said one game after becoming the youngest player in NBA history to score 15,000 points (25 years, 79 days in 540 games), surpassing Kobe Bryant at 27 years, 136 days and 657 games. "We missed a lot of easy shots that we usually make. That caused them to stay in the game." Williams is posting 16.0 points over his past five games. Delonte West and Jawad Williams each chipped in 10 points in the hard-fought victory. The Cavs hope to improve their league-best 30-4 home mark this evening. After having the best home record last season at 39-2, Cleveland is trying to hold the top home ledger in consecutive seasons for only the 14th time in NBA history. Since the start of the 2008-09 campaign, the Cavaliers are 69-6 at home. Detroit faces a tall task on the road Sunday and will close out a brief road trip. It has lost four in a row overall and eight straight as the guest, including Friday's 106-102 setback at Indiana's Conseco Fieldhouse. Rodney Stuckey had a big game in his return to action, scoring 25 points off the bench. Stuckey had missed the last six games after collapsing on the bench during a March 5 game at Cleveland. Ben Gordon finished with 17 points, seven boards and six assists for the Pistons, who have dropped 11 of their past 13 contests. "I thought we fought back with the second group that came in and we did a pretty good job at the end," Stuckey said. "(It was) defense. We just came in and tried to bother them a little bit. We just came in and played hard." DaJuan Summers had 12 points in defeat, as Detroit dropped to 7-27 away from The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Cavs have won the first three meetings of the 2009-10 season with Detroit and are shooting for a series sweep tonight. Cleveland has won six in a row against the Pistons, who are winless in their last three trips to the 'Q'.
<< Spurs, Hawks tangle in Atlanta
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of playoff-caliber teams get together this evening at Philips Arena in Atlanta, where the Hawks will try to snap a seven-game losing streak to the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have also won 10 of the last 11
<< Lakers welcome Wizards to Staples Center
<< Rockets begin trip at New York
<< Durant, Thunder visit Pacers in Indy
<< Blazers make a stop in Phoenix
Kings visit Clippers without rookie Evans >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Sacramento Kings will be without leading scorer and Rookie of the Year candidate Tyreke Evans for this afternoon's game against the Pacific Division-rival Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center. Evans injured
Rangers, Bruins fight for playoff spot in Boston >>
Flames try to boost playoff chances in St. Paul >>
Sabres close road trip in Carolina >>
Panthers host Bolts in Sunrise >>
Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence Work left to do: Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8. Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday. DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ... West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule. Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games. For more March Madness odds go to MySportsbook.com For more College Basketball betting lines go to BettingExpress.com To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
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