Artest scores 36 to lead Kings past Bucks

Basketball Betting Lines

01/25/2007 - Sacramento, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ron Artest scored 36 points to lead Sacramento to a 114-106 victory over the Bucks, sending Milwaukee to its fifth consecutive defeat.

Kevin Martin added 18 points for the Kings, who beat the Bucks for the 10th time in the last 12 meetings. Kenny Thomas contributed 14 points and nine rebounds, while Brad Miller totaled 14 points, seven boards and eight assists, as Sacramento won its second straight.

Earl Boykins poured in 36 points for Milwaukee, which again was shorthanded. The Bucks played without forward Charlie Villanueva (right shoulder tendinitis), and guards Michael Redd (strained patellar tendon in left knee) and Mo Williams (sprained left shoulder).

Ruben Patterson had 21 points and 12 rebounds, but the Bucks fell for the 10th time in 11 games.

Martin got into the act early for the Kings with a three-pointer and alley-oop layup on consecutive trips down the floor for an 18-8 Sacramento lead. Artest's layup made it 31-15 and the Kings were on top 37-27 going into the second.

A Patterson free throw had the Bucks within 46-45 with 3:35 remaining until halftime, but Sacramento took control with the next 12 points. Miller's three in the final minute ended the flurry, and the Kings took a 58-47 cushion into the locker room.

A three-pointer from Boykins pulled Milwaukee within 72-69 with under three minutes remaining in the third, but later in the period the Kings pulled away again. Thomas' emphatic slam made it 81-71 going into the final period.

Sacramento led by double digits most of the final quarter, but Patterson's finger roll had Milwaukee within 93-86 midway through the stanza. Shareef Abdur-Rahim responded with a pair of free throws, and after a Boykins turnover, Artest drove in for a layup for another double-digit lead for the Kings.

One last push by the Bucks had them within 101-95 with 3 1/2 minutes remaining, but that was as close as they could get.

Game Notes

Milwaukee has lost six of eight at Sacramento...Mike Bibby had 11 points and eight assists for the Kings...Charlie Bell scored 18 and Ersan Ilyasova ended with 13 for the Bucks.

Freeporm Basketball Betting News

<< Badgers cruise past Wolverines for 16th straight victory
Madison, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alando Tucker and Brian Butch scored 16 points each, and No. 2 Wisconsin cruised past the Michigan Wolverines, 71-58, at Kohl Center. Kammron Taylor and Marcus Landry added eight points apiece for Wiscon

<< Late heroics by Jones lift Grizz over Jazz
Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eddie Jones nailed a jumper as time expired in overtime to give the struggling Memphis Grizzlies a wild 132-130 win over the Utah Jazz. Two Jones' free throws with 18.8 seconds left in the extra

<< Serena into final at Aussie Open
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - American Serena Williams continued her march toward a possible third Australian Open title, reaching the final with a thrilling 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 win over 10th-seeded Czech Nicole Vaidisova. Williams, who

<< Sooners stay perfect in conference play with win over ISU
Norman, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Courtney Paris scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead No. 6 Oklahoma to a 69-49 victory over Iowa State at Lloyd Noble Center. Chelsi Welch scored 13 points and Leah Rush added 12 points for

<< No. 11 Memphis takes down Tulsa
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joey Dorsey posted 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, as the 11th-ranked Memphis Tigers downed the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, 72-59. Robert Dozier posted 12 points and eight rebounds and Jeremy

Ellis' jumper lifts Warriors over Nets in Oakland >>
Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Monta Ellis drained a long jump shot as time expired, as Golden State picked up its first win since the big trade, edging New Jersey 110-109 at ORACLE Arena. Ellis ended with 20 points and six assists whi

Randolph leads Blazers over T-Wolves in OT >>
Portland, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Zach Randolph scored 22 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers edged the Minnesota Timberwolves, 101-98, in overtime. Sergio Rodriguez scored 18 points, while Brandon Roy and Mart

Sharapova vs. Serena in Aussie Open final >>
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It'll be Russian Maria Sharapova versus American Serena Williams for the title at the Australian Open after both won semifinal matches Thursday. Williams continued her march toward a possib

Federer downs Roddick to reach Australian Open final >>
Melbourne, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending champion Roger Federer advanced to the final of the Australian Open on Thursday after easily defeating Andy Roddick in a blockbuster semifinal. The top-seeded and current

This Week in Golf on the Nationwide Tour >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - MOVISTAR PANAMA CHAMPIONSHIP, Panama Golf Club, Panama City, Panama - For the fourth straight year, the Nationwide Tour will begin its season in Panama. This is the 18th year for the Nationwide Tour, which b

MySportsbook.com and Kentucky Derby Offer Bonuses
The 2008 Kentucky Derby has announced a $1-million bonus for this weekend’s 134th ‘Run for the Roses’ and MySportsbook.com is doing the same.

Well, not quite $1 million, but MySportsbook.com is offering a 75% rebate for Kentucky Derby lines. Check out the exclusive horse racing bonus for all the details.

According to MySportsbook.com, the favorites for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky are: Curlin (+250); Street Sense (+500); Scat Daddy (+700); Circular Quay (+750); and Nobiz Like Shobiz (+800).

Derby organizers announced this week that there will be a $1-million bonus at the 2007 Kentucky Derby odds if the first-place horse wins by more than 6 1/2 lengths – the margin of Barbaro's victory last year. The bonus would be divided Saturday among the winning trainer, jockey, owner and a charity, with each receiving 25 percent. The designated charity is the Barbaro Memorial Fund.

''It's certainly creative, it's certainly fun and it has something for the horsemen, which we always want to embrace,'' Churchill Downs president and chief executive Robert Evans said at a news conference. ''What's really cool is it will force us to remember Barbaro.''
    
Meanwhile, the Derby favorite – Curlin – is going against the odds this year. It's been 125 years since Apollo won after skipping his 2-year-old season, and not since Regret in 1915 has such a lightly seasoned horse worn the blanket of red roses.

Arkansas Derby winner Curlin – unbeaten in three career races – tries to overcome both those obstacles in Saturday's 133rd Derby.

''We're not running against history,'' trainer Steve Asmussen said Monday. ''We're running against who they load up.''

Six other horses have run in the Derby without benefit of 2-year-old races and with three or fewer starts. The best any of them managed was a sixth-place finish by Showing Up last year.
   
Asmussen dismissed suggestions that Curlin's lack of racing experience could keep him from the winner's circle.

”He exudes confidence and he's got a great presence about him,'' the trainer said. ''I feel great about the position we're in. He's not worried about anything, why should you be?''
   
The Kentucky Derby is at 4:04 p.m., ET Saturday.

For complete odds on the Kentucky Derby, visit MySportsbook.com. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.