Kobe helps Lakers down Nuggets in Bynum's return

Basketball Betting Lines

04/10/2009 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant's 33-point performance was only part of the story Thursday night, as Andrew Bynum came back from a 31-game absence to score 16 points and grab seven rebounds in just over 21 minutes, as the Lakers rolled past Denver, 116-102, at Staples Center.

It was January 31st when Bynum had to be helped off the court early in a win vs. Memphis. The team originally diagnosed the injury as a sprain, however, an MRI exam later revealed the tear and derailed what was shaping up to be the 21-year-old's breakout season in his fourth in LA.

Pau Gasol added 27 points and a career-high 19 rebounds for the Lakers, who moved within a half-game of idle Cleveland for the best record in the NBA and homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.

Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 23 points, while Nene notched 17 points and 10 rebounds. Chauncey Billups donated 17 points, while J.R. Smith poured in 19 points off the bench. Denver failed to clinch the Northwest Division on Thursday, but still holds a two-game edge on Portland.

The Nuggets saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end, while the Lakers streaked to their fifth victory in a row.

The Lakers opened up an eight-point advantage in the first stanza. After a pair of Smith free throws, the Lakers ran off eight straight points, capped by two Luke Walton free throws, for a 32-21 advantage.

Los Angeles led 33-25 after the first quarter, but saw an eight-point lead disappear over the final three minutes of the half. Smith's mid-range jumper following an Anthony layup cut the deficit to 54-51, and the veteran forward stepped out to beat the halftime buzzer with a trey for a 56-56 dead heat.

The teams continued to jockey back and forth with Anthony's three-point play drawing the Nuggets within 70-69 with about six minutes left in the third. But the Lakers scored the next 12 points to take control. Gasol's slam made the margin 78-69 and Bryant's two free throws with 3 1/2 minutes left opened the 82-69 advantage.

The Lakers held an 88-81 edge entering the fourth quarter and maintained control from there. Back-to-back buckets from Bryant made the score 105-91, and Denver never put a large dent in the deficit the rest of the way.

Game Notes

The Lakers improved to 34-5 at Staples Center and have won 22 of their last 24 home games versus Denver...The Nuggets fell to 21-19 on the road...The Lakers made just 42.5 percent of their shots, but grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and shot a staggering 46 free throws, making 37...Denver made 44.4 percent of its shots, but just 5-of-21 from beyond the arc...Gasol also set a career high with 11 offensive rebounds.

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Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.

The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).

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Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds

Super Bowl XLIII, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Super Bowl XLIII is now set, the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet each other on February 1st in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium to battle it out for the coveted Lombardi Trophy. The game kicks off at 6:00pm ET on NBC with announcers Al Michaels and John Madden covering the on-field action. Super Bowl XLIII betting odds at online bookmaker MySportsbook.com have the Steelers listed as an early -6.5 against the spread favorite.Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds

Pittsburgh earned their passage to the big game by beating their division rival, the Baltimore Ravens, 23-14 in yesterday's AFC Championship Game. The Steelers jumped on Baltimore early, building a 13-0 first half lead, and never let up on their way to a fairly easy win. Although the Ravens did close to within two points in the fourth quarter, it never appeared as if they had enough offense to pull off the upset.

The Steelers dominating defense held Baltimore to a total of 198 yards while allowing them to convert just three third downs in 13 attempts. Pittsburgh also forced quarterback Joe Flacco into three interceptions, one of which safety Troy Polamalu returned fourty yards for a touchdown.

The Cardinals, by far the playoff team with the longest odds to reach Super Bowl XLIII, did so yesterday with a 32-25 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. Arizona charged out of the gates and built a 24-6 halftime lead that had the Eagles venerable defense reeling. Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did most of the damage, connecting on three first half touchdowns.

Arizona, however, could not sustain their momentum and the Eagles took a 25-24 with 10:45 left to play in the fourth. The Cardinals, with the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance hanging in the balance, mounted a fourteen play, 72 yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52 off the clock. Warner hit running back Tim Hightower on a short screen for the go-ahead, game clinching score that will forever live in Cardinal infamy.

MySportsbook.com's Super Bowl XLIII Betting Odds:

Pittsburgh Steelers -6.5 (-110), Over 46.5 (-110), -260 (Money line)

Arizona Cardinals +6.5 (-110), Under 46.5 (-110), +220 (Money line)

Matt Foust won both of his conference championship plays yesterday and he is ready to serve up plenty of Super Bowl action. Each individual play costs $15.00, however, MySportsbook.com recommends purchasing Matt's NFL Playoff Package which includes all of Matt's Super Bowl props and picks from just $45.00.

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