Celtics start local events early vs. Memphis

Basketball Betting Lines

02/05/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics own an amazing 17 championships, the most by an NBA franchise.

Their neighbors across the way, the NFL's New England Patriots, can capture their fourth Super Bowl title Sunday night against the New York Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Before possibly having some snacks and beverages watching the Patriots-Giants game, the Celtics have their own work to do and will host the Memphis Grizzlies in a matinee affair from TD Garden. The Celtics look to stay unbeaten on their current five-game homestand and improved to 2-0 on the residency thanks to a 91-89 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday in a rematch of a Christmas Day affair. New York won that game, 106-104.

Ray Allen scored nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter of the most recent encounter with the Knicks and Paul Pierce ended with 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Boston, which has won 10 in a row at home over the Knicks and three straight overall. Pierce described the intensity of the Atlantic Division showdown.

"Both teams were just fighting for it," Pierce said. "Was like a summer game where whoever won the game would make the NBA."

Boston has fought for seven wins in its last eight games and got 15 points and eight boards from Kevin Garnett. Garnett also grabbed the 10,000th defensive rebound of his career early in the second quarter, becoming just the third player in NBA history to reach that mark. Rajon Rondo had seven points, seven assists and five rebounds in his return to the lineup after missing eight games with a right wrist injury. The Celtics are 8-6 at home and will also welcome the Bobcats and despised Lakers to Beantown.

The Celtics sit four games behind Philadelphia for the division lead and are winless against the Western Conference this season (0-4). On the milestone watch, Pierce is 30 points shy of tying Larry Bird (21,791) for second on the team's all-time scoring list. John Havlicek has a comfortable spot at the top with 26,395 points. Pierce is probable for today's game with a strained hip and so is center Jermaine O'Neal (sore knee).

Memphis was sent back to the loss column with Friday's 101-94 setback at Oklahoma City and had a two-game winning streak stopped. Thunder superstar Kevin Durant poured in 36 points and hit the go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute.

"He's a great player. I mean that's all you can say -- he's a great player. He made great plays and great shots down the stretch," Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins said about Durant. "He took over the game. He's going to be one of the all-time greats if he stays healthy."

Marc Gasol had 24 points and Rudy Gay ended with 23 for the Grizzlies, who have lost five of seven games since a season-high seven-game winning streak. Oklahoma City recorded 29 points off of Memphis' 19 giveaways, while the Grizzlies scored 26 points on 17 Thunder turnovers.

Former Celtics guard Tony Allen scored 17 points and O.J. Mayo added 13 in a reserve role. The Grizzlies are 1-1 on a three-game road trip, 5-8 as the visitor and three games behind San Antonio for the lead in the Southwest Division. They'll start a five-game homestand Monday versus the Spurs.

Gay has scored 20-plus points in three straight games and is averaging 17.9 points in nine career games against Boston. The Grizzlies and Celtics have split a home-and-home series in back-to-back seasons, but Boston has won 14 of the past 20 meetings between the teams. Pierce has recorded 21.5 ppg in 24 career matchups with Memphis. Garnett is averaging 19.6 points and 10.8 rebounds in 50 career games against the Grizzlies.

The Celtics possess an all-time record of 18-13 against Memphis, winners of four straight against Eastern Conference opponents.

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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.

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