Raptors make a stop in Sacramento

Basketball Betting Lines

03/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The reeling Toronto Raptors aim to right the ship tonight as they resume a four-game western road trip against the Sacramento Kings.

The Raptors are now fighting for their playoff lives after dropping the opener of their trek in Los Angeles on Tuesday, their sixth loss in seven games overall. Kobe Bryant played hero again in that one, sinking the winning jumper from the right baseline with 1.9 seconds left, as the Lakers snapped a three- game skid of their own with a 109-107 victory over Toronto.

Bryant, who missed a potential winning three-pointer at the end of regulation in a 106-105 loss in Toronto on January 24, scored 32 points, dished out six assists and had six rebounds. He also missed the potential tying shot on Sunday in Orlando, but came through in a huge way Tuesday at Staples Center.

"They didn't come early at me and I got the shot off," Bryant said. "That's part of my responsibility, to close teams out. Our defense tonight was garbage. We have to focus on execution."

Chris Bosh hit the tying three-pointer with 9.5 seconds left in regulation and finished with 22 points for Toronto, which has lost eight straight on the road against the Lakers. Andrea Bargnani added 21 points and Jarrett Jack notched 18 points, seven boards and seven assists.

"It was no secret he was going to take the shot," Toronto coach Jay Triano said of Bryant's game-winner. "We ran two guys at him and he still made it."

The Raptors still stand sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff picture but are just 1 1/2 games ahead of ninth place Chicago.

The postseason is just a dream for Sacramento, which dropped its third straight game in Portland last night when Brandon Roy scored 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds as the Blazers beat the Kings for the fifth straight time, 88-81, at the Rose Garden.

Rookie of the Year candidate Tyreke Evans had 18 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Kings. Carl Landry scored 17 and Beno Udrih 13, but Sacramento was held without a point for a key three-minute stretch late in the game.

"We just didn't convert or execute down the stretch and that is something we have to learn how to do, being a young team," Landry said. "We have great talent in this locker room, we just have to learn how to execute down the stretch when the game is on the line."

Toronto has won three straight and five of its last six over the Kings, including a 115-104 win north of the border on Feb. 7.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch

Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game.

Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta.

"Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed."

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