NBA Playoffs Betting
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Despite spending most of the last three days in a Colorado courtroom,
Kobe Bryant lifted the Lakers to a 97-78 win over the Houston Rockets
on Wednesday night to take the first-round series 4-1. Having by far his
best game of the postseason, Bryant shot 12-of-21 along with 6 of 6 from
the foul line while committing only one turnover in 41 minutes. The Lakers
now meet the Spurs between them winners of the last five NBA Championships
in the second round starting Sunday in San Antonio. The Spurs, who swept
past Memphis in the first round, bring a 15-game winning streak into the
best-of-7 series including a 95-89 victory over the Lakers on April 4th.
The Spurs eliminated Los Angeles in the second round last spring on their
way to the championship, ending the Lakers' bid for a fourth straight
title, and swept the Lakers in the second round in 1999 en route to their
first championship.
Join us for live betting on Sunday's game and all the nba playoffgames
this weekend, where our betting will include: Point Spread;Game Total;
and Who Will Win the Quarter.
MLB
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Boston and Anaheim, considered two of the American League's elite teams
entering the season, did nothing but enhance their reputations by completing
the sweep over New York and Oakland respectively over the weekend. The
Red Sox went to Yankee Stadium and swept the Yankees for the first time
since September 1999, the first time since 1988 the BoSox have won the
first two series against New York. The Red Sox prevailed 3-2 in 12 innings
on Saturday when they became the first team ever - or at least since first
being tracked in 1974 - to win a game despite going 0-for-19 with runners
in scoring position. Anaheim put up an equally impressive road show, despite
playing without injured outfielder Garret Anderson, when they became the
first team to sweep the Athletics in Oakland in 49 series, dating back
to May 2002. Anaheim had not swept the A's in Oakland since July 1997.
The Angels' weekend in the Bay Area improved Anaheim's road record to
7-3, the team's best start since 1992.
Sportsbook.com
MLB American League prices
NY Yankees 13/10, BOS Red Sox 2/1,ANA Angels
11/2, OAK Athletics 10/1, others on bet365 website.
NBA/Baseball Bonus
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NHL Playoffs
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A spectacular breakaway goal by Alexander Mogilny sparked a three-goal,
second period spurt that helped Toronto to a 4-1 win over Philadelphia
on Wednesday night, cutting the Flyers' lead to 2-1 in the best-of-7 match-up.
It was an impressive offensive performance from the Maple Leafs, who had
been sputtering all postseason. Besides managing just one goal in each
of its first two games against Philadelphia, Toronto had scored just 16
goals in nine games. Philadelphia failed to score the first goal for the
first time in this postseason, and were losing for only the second time
after needing only five games to eliminate New Jersey in the first round.
Now it's their turn to bounce back in Game 4 on Friday in Toronto, where
the Leafs have won four straight in the playoffs.
Join us on Friday night for live betting on the next game inthe series,
where our markets will include: Puck Line; Game Total;Next Goal Scored;
Most Shots on Goal; Who Will Win the Period;and Next Period Total.
Kentucky Derby
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Th May 1st 5:00 pm EST (NBC)/22:00 BSTAs the countdown continues to
the 'Run for the Roses', gate positions were filled on Wednesday with
the owners of Minister Eric taking the number-seven gate, the most popular
choice amongst past first picks. But he is not among the favourites for
the 130th running of the first leg of horse racings 'Triple Crown'. The
undefeated Smarty Jones and Tapit, two of the three co-favourites for
the race with us must start from outside gates (15 and 18 respectively).
Smarty Jones showed his well-being with a brilliant 58 secondworkout
over 5-furlongs at Churchill on Saturday, but his pedigreeand the way
he wasn't drawing off at the end in the Arkansas Derby,suggests 1 1/4
miles could stretch his stamina. Tapit is tryingto win the race off only
four career starts not since 1918 hasthe Derby winner had that profile
but then again he is trainedby the 'mad genius' and miracle worker Michael
Dickinson! Ourother co-favourite, The Cliff's Edge, is coming off a career
topafter winning the Blue Grass Stakes last time out, but there isalways
a chance he might regress after that, while only threewinners of this
race in the past twelve years had won their finalprep.
At these prices, a chance is taken with Lion Heart, whose trainerPatrick
Biancone describes as 'a lamb when he works and a lionwhen the gate opens'.
As long as he breaks well, he's clearlygot the controlling speed, and
he's never been worse than secondin five starts. He could lead for a long
way and if the betterclosers find traffic trouble he might just hang on
and gasp homefirst!
The $500,000 Kentucky Oaks, considered the "derby of fillies,"goes to
the post Friday at Churchill Downs with a field of 12.Madcap Escapade,
the undefeated winner of the Ashland Stakes atKeeneland, is the 3-1 morning-line
favourite, ahead of Ashado(4/1), and last year's juvenile filly champion
Halfbridled at9/2.
HP Classic of New Orleans, English Turn, LA
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Th Apr 29 4:00 pm EST (USA)/19:00 BST
Fr Apr 30 3:00 pm EST (USA)/18:00 BST
Sa May 1 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/18:00 BST
Su May 2 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/18:00 BST
With electrical storms forecast for the final three days of this week's
PGA Tour event in Louisiana, we could again be in line for another Monday
finish. This could play into the hands of those players who did not compete
in last week's rain affected Houston Open, which brings in the likes of
Phil Mickleson, amongst others. Mickleson is still likely to be on a high
after his Masters triumph, and with the course set-up perfect for him
it is not difficult to imagine him improving on his second place here
back in 2001. His price is a little prohibitive, however, and a better
each way bet may be Kirk Triplett, who was carrying on a good year when
finishing sixth in the Masters last time out, one of three times he's
finished sixth in 2004! What's more he has played the weekend in 11 of
12 appearances in New Orleans and is on a streak of 16 straight rounds
of par or better. Kevin Na is making his debut at English Turn - normally
a negative - but he has shown enough in his limited Tour outings to date
to merit an each way pick this
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, Auto Club 500
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Su May 2 3:00 pm EST (FOX)/20:00 BST
For this week's race we go out West, to Fontana, California. This wide
sweeping course is one of the newest on the circuit, and is very similar
to Las Vegas and Michigan. On Vegas form, the Jack Roush cars of Matt
Kenseth and Kurt Busch should go well. Last week's winner Jeff Gordon
will be keen to follow-up in his native state, and he has the best record
of all the current drivers on the Californian Speedway. However, this
could be a good opportunity for rookie Kasey Kahne to finally get the
win he deserves. His No9 car has always run well here, while the aerodynamics
on the new Dodge are proving to be well suited to this type of course.
Be lucky!
Nigel.
Please be aware that prices are subject to change. All timesare subject
to change. Check local listings for TV coverage onthese events.
NIGEL RIDGWAY, an experienced punter and betting shop ownerof many years,
believes that The key to successful gambling isgetting value for money.
Nigel was once forced by local bookmakers,to stop writing a tipping column
in a UK newspaper, because hewas costing them a fortune. Find out what
offers and lines arehot at Sportsbook.com