Gasol's thriple-double leads Lakers over Hawks

Basketball Betting Lines

02/18/2009 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pau Gasol had his third career triple- double with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists, and despite Kobe Bryant's lowest point total in over a year, the Los Angeles Lakers dominated Atlanta, 96-83, at the Staples Center.

Coming off his co-MVP performance with ex-Laker Shaquille O'Neal in the All- Star Game, Bryant totaled just 10 points on 4-of-12 shooting in nearly 29 minutes of court time. It's his lowest point total since February 5, 2008, when he scored six at New Jersey.

Lamar Odom scored 15 and had a season-high 20 rebounds for the Lakers, who won for the eighth time in nine games. They headed to the All-Star break with a 113-109 loss at Utah, but have now won 12 of their last 14 contests, also moving to 25-4 at home.

"We were rusty in the first half," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson. "And then our young guns came in and bailed us out. Obviously we had a lot of support with Lamar getting 20 rebounds. We started playing in rhythm and passed the ball well."

Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar each scored 10 for Los Angeles, which dominated by a 67-39 count on the glass and forced the Hawks to shoot 36.9 percent from the field.

Joe Johnson had 14 points, Josh Smith scored 13 and Marvin Williams 10 for the Hawks, who came into the post All-Star break having won four of their last five games. But this was the continuation of an arduous road trip for the Hawks, who won at Detroit right before the All-Star game. They're on a stretch of playing six straight and nine of 11 games on the road.

"We played well for a quarter and a half," said Atlanta coach Mike Woodson. "Then they hit us in the mouth and we shut it down. LA's defense was solid and they shot it well. They were good tonight."

Zaza Pachulia had 12 rebounds for Atlanta, which has dropped 16 of its last 19 at the Lakers.

Ahead by nine at the half, the Lakers opened the third quarter on a dominating 16-2 spurt. Bryant and Fisher hit consecutive three-pointers, and Fisher's runner with under eight minutes left moved LA to a 61-38 bulge.

The margin stood at 85-60 going into the fourth, and the Lakers were on cruise control over the final 12 minutes, even getting new acquisition Adam Morrison into the game.

The Hawks scored six of the game's first seven points and managed a 24-23 lead after 12 minutes, but the Lakers used a 12-2 spurt midway through the second, expanding to a 40-32 lead following a Josh Powell jumper to cap the flurry.

Fisher's three-pointer represented the final offensive push for the half, leaving the hosts with a 45-36 lead.

Game Notes

The Lakers have won eight of the last 12 meetings...Morrison, who was traded from Charlotte on February 7, played his first game as a member of the Lakers...Atlanta plays at Sacramento Wednesday, while the Lakers are on the road versus Golden State the same night.

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NFL Football Betting : Odds on NFL Division to Win the Super Bowl

NFL Super Bowl Betting

The AFC South and the NFC East are the favorite divisions to have the next Super Bowl champ among them in the NFL betting odds. But more down to the point, these football odds are in favor of the Indianapolis Colts, by far the strongest team in the AFC South, and the Dallas Cowboys of the NFC East.

Most sports fans would agree that these two teams top the list to win it all before the season even begins. In the BetUS Sportsbook football futures, the Colts are +800 in the odds to win the Super Bowl, while the Cowboys are sitting at +1000 and the Super Bowl XLIV champions New Orleans Saints at +900. In the AFC South, the Colts won the division for five straight years after the 2002 realignment, before the Tennessee Titans won it in 2008. But the Colts came back strong in 2009 to win the division again en route to the Super Bowl. The Cowboys are the favorite to win the NFC East, as well as to advance far into the post season. The Cowboys won the division last season before their horrendous loss in the NFC Divisional playoff to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. But the ‘Boys will take that loss humbly and be ready for the playoffs this time around.

The NFC South is also very strong, at +600 in the NFL futures, considering that it is home to the defending Super Bowl champions. However, some predictions have the Atlanta Falcons with possibilities of claiming the divisional title this season in place of the Saints, as no team has won back-to-back division championships since the division realignment took place. Let’s not overlook the AFC North at +500. As TO goes to Cincinnati to join Chad OchoCinco and Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, this team looks to claim the division title again. And it is likely they will do so. The Bengals lost in the AFC Wild Card spot in a hard-fought battle against the New York Jets last season. Lest not forget the Pittsburgh Steelers, the XLII Super Bowl Champions… All these teams present interesting odds and matchups for the upcoming season, but the safest and surest bet seems to be with the Colts in the AFC South and the Cowboys in the NFC East. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win.

To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs.