Hawks host Raptors in key Eastern Conference matchup
Basketball Betting Lines
04/09/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third seed in the Eastern Conference is still up for
grabs and the Atlanta Hawks are in the running for it. Tonight the Hawks will
try to move closer to that goal when they shoot for an 11th straight win at
home versus the Toronto Raptors.
The Hawks are tied with Boston for the No. 3 spot in the East thanks to a 32-7
record at Philips Arena this season. However, they have lost two straight and
three of four games, including Wednesday's 90-88 setback at Detroit. Sixth Man
of the Year candidate Jamal Crawford led the way with 19 points and Marvin
Williams contributed 17 points and nine rebounds in defeat, Atlanta's sixth in
a row as the visitor.
"We put ourselves in a good position every time, playing well for 3 1/2
quarters," Crawford said. "In the last five or six minutes, for whatever
reason, we collapsed a little bit. That's something we're going to have to
work on for the playoffs."
Al Horford contributed 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Hawks,
who again played without leading scorer Joe Johnson because of a sprained
right thumb. Johnson has missed three straight games and is averaging 21.2
points this season. He is listed as questionable against the Raptors.
The banged-up and struggling Raptors are tied with Chicago for the eighth and
final postseason spot in the East, and have lost three straight and six of the
previous nine contests. Toronto and Chicago are scheduled to face each other
Sunday at Air Canada Centre. Already without All-Star Chris Bosh due to a
facial fracture, Toronto is coming off Wednesday's 115-104 home loss to
Boston.
Sonny Weems finished with a career-high 21 points in place of Bosh, while
Andrea Bargnani, Antoine Wright and Jarrett Jack each had 17 points for
Toronto, which got 14 points from DeMar DeRozan. Forward Hedo Turkoglu had two
points before leaving late in the first quarter after bumping heads with
Boston's Tony Allen. Turkoglu sustained a nasal contusion and was taken to the
hospital for a CT scan. He is questionable for tonight's game.
"I thought (our guys) played their asses off," Raptors head coach Jay Triano
said. "I thought they played as hard as they could. I commended them for their
effort after the game; they really battled."
Jack is questionable for Friday with a balky ankle. Toronto owns a 14-25 mark
away from Canada this season. Since being inserted into the starting lineup on
March 26 versus Denver, Weems is averaging 12.0 points and 4.1 rebounds.
Atlanta has won two of three meetings with the Raptors this season and six of
the previous eight matchups between the teams. Toronto is winless in its last
four visits to Dixie.
<< Celtics jockey for playoff position against Wizards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics are fighting for the third spot in the
Eastern Conference and will try to continue their recent dominance of the
Washington Wizards tonight from TD Garden.
Boston, which is tied with Atlanta for the thir
<< Cavs and Pacers clash at the "Q"
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's understandable that the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers
would rest some of their players before the postseason begins next weekend,
but it's important to establish some sort of rhythm entering the playoffs.
Cleveland w
<< Heat shoot for 10th straight win; face Pistons
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat have been beating up on the also-rans of the
NBA during their nine-game winning streak and will try to stay on track
tonight against the lowly Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Heat have beaten
<< Twins roll into Chicago for Central clash
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Francisco Liriano gets another chance to prove he is all
the way back when the Minnesota Twins begin a three-game series with the
Chicago White Sox this evening at U.S. Cellular Field.
Liriano burst upon the scene in 2006,
<< Red Sox begin early trek with stop in Kansas City
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Tim Wakefield beings his 18th big league season this
evening, when the Boston Red Sox open a three-game series with the Kansas City
Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Wakefield, who is in his 16th year with the Red Sox, was limit
Bulls resume playoff push in New Jersey vs. lowly Nets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls are still alive for the final postseason
spot in the Eastern Conference and will hit the road for two straight games
starting with Friday's bout against the New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center.
Chicago is
Bobcats make a stop in Houston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off securing the first playoff berth in franchise
history, the Charlotte Bobcats get back to work in south Texas when they face
off with the Houston Rockets.
D.J. Augustin made a key three-pointer with 15.8 seco
Ginobili, Spurs welcome Grizzlies to Alamo City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Star swingman Manu Ginobili got his new contract and he now
hopes to help his San Antonio Spurs free themselves of a log-jam in the
Western Conference playoff standings tonight when the Memphis Grizzlies visit
the Ala
Thunder host Suns at Ford Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference contenders jockey for playoff
position in Oklahoma City tonight, when the Thunder host the streaking Phoenix
Suns.
The scorching Suns have won 11 of 12 and are now deadlocked with Dallas fo
Reds play host to Cubs in series opener >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams coming off their first victories of the
season clash tonight when the Chicago Cubs visit the Cincinnati Reds in the
opener of a three-game series between National League Central foes at Great
American Ball Par
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