Playoff-hopeful Rockets make a stop at Detroit

Basketball Betting Lines

03/07/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Houston Rockets are still fighting for a playoff spot in the crowded Western Conference. Their chances of gaining ground in the race look promising with tonight's matchup against the slumping Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Rockets are 4 1/2 games behind Portland for the eighth and final playoff berth in the conference, and they opened a three-game road trip with Saturday's 112-98 triumph at Minnesota behind a trio of high scorers. Kevin Martin led the way with 30 points, while Aaron Brooks and Luis Scola both had 25 for Houston, which improved to 14-16 as the guest. Scola also had a career- best 21 rebounds and Brooks handed out nine assists.

"That was a man's game by Luis," said Shane Battier, who posted 11 points and seven assists in the win. "He's playing great as of late. We told him that he had been sand-bagging us, but now that we know that he is capable of giving us twenty-twenty, we expect to see that a little more often."

Houston will also visit Washington on the road trip.

The Pistons will have more on their minds other than basketball after guard Rodney Stuckey's near-collapse on the bench during Friday's 99-92 road loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Stuckey was taken from Quicken Loans Arena on a stretcher late in the third quarter. During a timeout, Stuckey was seen reaching out for Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander. Kander held him seated in place with Stuckey's head resting against the trainer's chest before he was gently lowered to the floor.

Stuckey was released from a Cleveland hospital on Saturday after undergoing tests, and the team posted on its Twitter page that all medical results were "normal," and added that he will undergo further tests upon his return to Detroit. Stuckey, who had 10 assists and eight points before leaving, is not expected to play Sunday.

Tayshaun Prince had 23 points and Richard Hamilton scored 20 for the Pistons, who have dropped six straight and will try to right the ship tonight in the opener of a three-game homestand versus the Rockets, Jazz and Wizards. Detroit is 14-17 at The Palace this season.

In other injury news for the Pistons, center Ben Wallace is doubtful against Houston because of a sore right knee.

The Rockets defeated Detroit, 107-96, back on December 15 at the Toyota Center and have won three straight in the series. Detroit, however, is 11-2 in the last 13 meetings as the host.

Wwwgamehub Basketball Betting News

<< Celtics return home to face Wizards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics will face another inferior foe from the Eastern Conference tonight, when they return home to take on the Washington Wizards at TD Garden. Boston battled back in Friday's 96-86 victory over the Phila

<< Nuggets, Blazers renew rivalry in Denver
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Northwest Division rivals get together again Sunday night, when the Denver Nuggets wrap up a three-game homestand versus the Portland Trail Blazers at the Pepsi Center. The division-leading Nuggets have

<< Bruins carry impressive road streak into Pittsburgh
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One day after getting a season-long road trip off to a desired start, the Boston Bruins will try to keep up their recent success in enemy venues when they visit Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena this afternoon for a battle with the d

<< France finishes off Germany, 4-1
Toulon, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - France and Germany split a pair of dead rubbers on Sunday, as the French finished off a 4-1 victory in a first-round Davis Cup matchup. France should have its hands full with two-time defending cha

<< Flames aim for revenge against division-rival Wild
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Calgary Flames will have an opportunity to avenge a recent shutout loss to the Minnesota Wild when the two Northwest Division foes face off for the second time in less than a week this afternoon at the XCel Energy Center.

Lakers take losing streak to Orlando >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant and the suddenly-slumping Los Angeles Lakers have dropped two straight games and hope to get back on track Sunday afternoon against Eastern Conference power Orlando at Amway Arena. In a rematch of last yea

Thrashers, Canes to face off in clash of surging Southeast squads >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playing at home has been good as of late for the Atlanta Thrashers, who head back to Philips Arena tonight to take on the Carolina Hurricanes in a Southeast Division showdown. Atlanta has won its last three tests as the ho

Sabres visit Rangers seeking to stop road slide >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Buffalo Sabres hope to put their road woes to an end when the Northeast Division co-leaders pay a visit to historic Madison Square Garden tonight for a matchup with the New York Rangers. Buffalo heads to the Big Apple

Flyers head back home to take on Maple Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia Flyers return to the Wachovia Center for an important four-game homestand that begins with tonight's encounter with the road-challenged Toronto Maple Leafs. Philadelphia just completed a stretch of four co

Ducks to open crucial homestand with visit from Habs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Anaheim Ducks haven't helped their cause for inclusion in the playoffs with their performance following the Olympic break. They'll have a chance to improve those chances with a critical seven-game homestand that starts up

Terrell Owens could return for Cowboys next game
A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.

Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.

"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."

Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Mastercard needs.