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Magic use balanced attack to down NetsBasketball Betting Lines03/05/2010 - East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwight Howard posted his league-leading 49th double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds, and the Orlando Magic beat the hapless New Jersey Nets, 97-87, at IZOD Center. Matt Barnes led a balanced scoring attack with 16 points -- 14 in the first quarter, and the Magic have won four in a row heading into Sunday's marquee home matchup with the Lakers. Jameer Nelson added 15 points, while Jason Williams and Vince Carter each had 13 in the win. Mickael Pietrus was the sixth Orlando player in double figures with 10 points. Devin Harris led the Nets' attack with 17 points and 10 assists, although New Jersey lost for the 55th time in 61 games this season. Brook Lopez added 18 points and eight rebounds for the Nets, who never led in the game. Terrence Williams contributed 14 points, while Kris Humphries had 12 in defeat. Orlando wasted no time jumping out to a big lead, finishing the first quarter on a 16-6 burst to grab a 32-18 advantage. Keyon Dooling hit a three shortly into the second quarter to cut New Jersey's deficit to 37-30, and that was the margin heading into halftime, as Orlando held a 50-43 lead. To start the third, Nelson and Carter each hit a three-pointer, while Barnes finished off the 7-0 burst with a free throw for a 14-point cushion. Harris got the Nets back to within nine with five consecutive points but could not get closer than eight in the remainder of the period. A Williams jumper put the Magic's lead back up to 15, 69-54, with 1 1/2 minutes to go, and the visitors carried a 72-57 edge heading to the fourth. Orlando led by double-digits for a majority of the fourth quarter until a Lopez jumper made a 90-81 game with 1 1/2 minutes to play. Pietrus quickly answered with a three for the Magic, and the Nets didn't threaten down the stretch. "That's how we play: give us a lead, and we will play poorly at both ends of the floor," said Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy. "I have no idea (how to correct it). We got the win." Game Notes New Jersey is 3-28 this season at home...Orlando swept the season series, 3-0, and has won seven of the last eight matchups between the teams...The Magic are 19-14 on the road and 13-2 against the Atlantic Division...Nobody other than Howard had more than eight rebounds in the game...Humphries recorded a season- high three blocks.
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Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) Tony Easley scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the top-seeded Murray State Racers to a 55-51 victory over the fourth-seeded Eastern Illinois Panthers in the semifinal round of the Ohio Valley
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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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