Nuggets aim to stay hot vs. Raptors
Basketball Betting Lines
01/27/2012 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The streaking Denver Nuggets aim for a sixth straight win
tonight when they host a Toronto team that expects to be without leading
scorer Andrea Bargnani.
The Nuggets are fresh off a brilliant 5-0 road trip that was capped with a
122-93 blowout win in Sacramento on Wednesday. Danilo Gallinari led seven
players in double figures with 23 points in that one as Denver recorded its
first perfect five-game trek since joining the NBA prior to the 1976-77
season.
Gallinari, who signed a contract extension earlier Wednesday, went 8-of-12
from the field and added five assists. Nene notched 16 points and Andre Miller
had 15 and 10 assists.
"We made a point not to settle for jumpers because that is a team that's
struggling defensively with their identity," said Nuggets forward Al
Harrington. "There were so many open things, so we just tried to pick one of
them and really attack and that was the rim."
Denver's ultra-quick point guard Ty Lawson left in the second quarter against
the Kings after spraining his left ankle and is expected to miss tonight's
game. He hopes to return Sunday against the LA Clippers.
Denver, which is 6-2 at the Pepsi Center this season, will finish a quick two-
game homestand against the Clips.
The Raptors, meanwhile, are coming off back-to-back impressive road wins.
Toronto improved to 2-1 on a five-game trek on Wednesday when Bargnani and
Linas Kleiza, an ex-Nugget, scored 25 points apiece as the Raptors snapped a
12-game losing streak against the Utah Jazz with a 111-106 win in double-
overtime.
It was Toronto's first win in the series since December 22, 2004.
Bargnani, who played his second game after missing the previous six with a
strained calf, scored all of his points in regulation. He played 3:55 in the
first overtime before sitting the rest of the game after aggravating the
injury, however.
"This time it's bad," Bargnani, who is averaging 23.5 ppg this season, said.
"I'm pretty sure I'm going to be out for a while."
Jose Calderon knocked down a three-pointer with 13.3 seconds remaining in
regulation for Toronto, tying the game, while Paul Millsap buried a three with
3.0 seconds left in the first overtime to knot the contest for Utah.
The back-breaker in the second overtime was Calderon's three-pointer from 10
feet behind the arc to beat the shot clock, giving Toronto a six-point lead
with 86 seconds left.
It was the second time in two days that the Raptors snapped a long losing
streak to another team. They beat Phoenix, 99-96, in Bargnani's return on
Tuesday for their first win over the Suns since February 10, 2004.
DeMar DeRozan scored 17 for Toronto, Leandro Barbosa added 13 and Calderon had
12.
"Everybody that got on the court tonight contributed and fought to win a
double-overtime game," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey.
Toronto, which has lost eight straight and 13 of 14 vs. Denver, hasn't won
three consecutive on the road since Dec. 11-18, 2007. The Raptors have dropped
seven in a row and nine of 10 contests in the Rockies.
<< Blazers welcome Suns to Rip City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Blazers haven't been much of a threat away from Rip
City this season but things have been far different when they are hitting the
hardwood in the Pacific Northwest.
Portland will shoot for its sixth straight win a
<< Thunder, Warriors collide in Oakland
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Western Conference-leading Thunder will kick off a
three-game road trip tonight when they visit Oakland to take on the Golden
State Warriors.
The Thunder (15-3) won their third straight game and for the 11th
<< Improved Pacers try to pass another test in Boston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Indiana Pacers try to follow up their biggest win of
the season tonight when they head to Boston to face the Celtics at TD Garden.
Indiana picked up a big win over the Eastern Conference-leading Chicago Bulls
on Wednes
<< Magic try to rebound against Hornets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - For three quarters last night it appeared the Orlando Magic
had erased all the memories of their worst shooting performance in franchise
history in a rematch with the Boston Celtics.
But a lousy final period sent the Magic
<< Wizards try to pick up road victory in Houston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards have had trouble the past two
seasons playing well on the road and look to avoid an 0-8 start as the guest
tonight against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center.
The Wizards will play two straight
Mavs hope to rebound with Jazz in town >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celebrations don't seem to be agreeing with the Dallas
Mavericks and the reigning NBA champs are probably glad they can put the
ceremonies in the rearview mirror as they get ready to host the Utah Jazz.
The Mav
Cavs and Nets meet at The Q >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Jersey Nets have yet to win consecutive games this
season. The Cleveland Cavaliers have done it just once.
Both teams will be trying to put together win streaks this evening at Quicken
Loans Arena.
The Nets have
Bogut-less Bucks visit Bulls >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It has been a season of frustration for Bucks center Andrew
Bogut and his latest setback will keep him out of action indefinitely. That
leaves Milwaukee a big hole in the middle this evening as it visits a Chicago
Bulls club
Wolves welcome Spurs to the Twin Cities >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Timberwolves were able to snap a 16-game
losing streak to the San Antonio Spurs when the two clubs met in early January
and shoot for a rare win streak in the series tonight at the Target Center.
The Timberwo
Sixers try to bounce back vs. bumbling Bobcats >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers try to bounce back from a rare loss
at home this evening when they welcome the hapless Charlotte Bobcats to the
Wells Fargo Center.
Philadelphia lost for only the second time in 10 tries in front of
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Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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