Gentry's Suns welcome Celtics to town
Basketball Betting Lines
02/22/2009 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Phoenix Suns interim head coach Alvin Gentry is off to a
hot start in the desert and will try to guide the team to a fourth consecutive
win tonight versus the Boston Celtics at US Airways Center.
Gentry is 3-0 since taking over for Terry Porter and the Suns have responded
in a big way by scoring no less than 140 points in each of the last three
games. Gentry won his debut on Tuesday in a 140-100 pounding of the Clippers
before a 142-119 victory the following night in the back end of a home-and-
home series.
The Suns then recorded a 140-118 triumph versus Oklahoma City on Friday in the
opener of a three-game homestand, as Leandro Barbosa scored a career-high 41
points in the absence of All-Star forward Amare Stoudemire. Stoudemire
underwent successful eye surgery on Friday to repair a partially detached
retina and he's expected to miss about eight weeks. Stoudemire is averaging
21.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 53 games this season.
Jason Richardson had a season-high 34 points for the Suns, who are 16-10 as
the host this season. The win also allowed Gentry to become just the second
coach in franchise history to begin his tenure 3-0, joining Scott Skiles, who
started his career in Phoenix with a team-record four straight wins.
Shaquille O'Neal ended with 22 points and nine boards for the Suns, who have
won three in a row overall and four straight at home. They will also host the
Charlotte Bobcats on the current residency.
Meanwhile, the Celtics will continue a six-game road trip Sunday and are 2-1
on the trek after suffering a 90-85 loss at Utah on Thursday. Star center
Kevin Garnett suffered a strained right knee while going up for a basket in
the closing minutes of the first half and immediately limped off the floor and
into the locker room. Garnett scored eight points in limited action and is
reportedly expected to miss the next two to three weeks due to a posterior
muscle strain of his right knee. In 53 games this season, Garnett is averaging
16.3 points and 8.8 rebounds.
Paul Pierce scored 20 points and grabbed nine boards, while Rajon Rondo added
15 points and seven assists for the C's, who will also visit the Nuggets and
Clippers, and are 20-8 away from Beantown this season. Kendrick Perkins and
Ray Allen added 12 points apiece in defeat.
The Celtics defeated the Suns, 104-87, on January 19 this season at TD
Banknorth Garden, but Phoenix has won 10 of the last 14 meetings. Boston has
lost three straight after winning its last two trips to the desert.
<< Nuggets close out trip in Milwaukee
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Northwest Division-leading Denver Nuggets will close
out an eight-game road trip this evening versus the Milwaukee Bucks at the
Bradley Center.
Denver is 5-2 so far on the trek and 17-12 away from the Pepsi
<< Knicks in Canada to face Raptors
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Knicks will try for their third straight win
today when they close out a home-and-home series against the Atlantic
Division-rival Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre.
New York posted its second win in a
<< Colonials visit Musketeers in A-10 action
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 16th-ranked Xavier Musketeers will try
to shake off their recent struggles and get back on track today, as they
entertain the George Washington Colonials in Atlantic 10 play at the Cintas
Center.
After
<< State bragging rights on line as Sun Devils host Wildcats
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 14th-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils will try
to cap a perfect three-game homestand tonight, as they host the Arizona
Wildcats in key Pac-10 matchup at Wells-Fargo Arena.
The Sun Devils own a 10-2 record on t
<< Wildcats challenge Orange at Carrier Dome
Syracuse, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 24th-ranked Syracuse Orange will go for
win number 20 today, as they host the 12th-ranked Villanova Wildcats in Big
East play at the Carrier Dome.
Under legendary head coach Jim Boeheim, Syracuse has poste
Rockets resume homestand vs. Bobcats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets will continue their six-game homestand
Sunday versus the Charlotte Bobcats at the Toyota Center.
Houston has won the first three tests of the residency and four of five
overall, including Friday
Magic host rival Heat in Orlando >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Southeast Division-leading Orlando Magic will host the
rival Miami Heat this evening at Amway Arena.
Orlando has alternated wins and losses over its last nine games and posted a
92-80 triumph at Charlotte on Frida
Tsonga tops Llodra for Marseille crown >>
Marseille, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga earned a straight-set
victory over fellow Frenchman Michael Llodra to capture the Open 13 tennis
event.
The fourth-seeded Tsonga posted a 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) victory in Sunday's final
Blazers try to extend home win streak vs. Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers will shoot for their eighth
straight home win tonight when they close out a three-game residency versus
the Los Angeles Clippers from the Rose Garden.
Portland has won the first two test
Lakers carry top record into Minnesota >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers will take the NBA's best record to
the road for two straight games, starting with Sunday's tilt against the
Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center.
The Lakers are an impressive 45-10
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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