Durant, Thunder try and even series vs. Lakers

Basketball Betting Lines

04/24/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The upstart Oklahoma City Thunder hope to deadlock their Western Conference quarterfinals series with the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

The Thunder got back in the set on Thursday when Kevin Durant scored 29 points and pulled down 19 rebounds, pacing Oklahoma City to a 101-96 win over the Lakers in Game 3.

On a night Oklahoma City's Scott Brooks was handed the award as the league's top head coach, the Thunder garnered their first playoff win as a franchise since moving from Seattle. The last postseason triumph came in 2005 when the SuperSonics played San Antonio in the Western Conference semifinals.

Russell Westbrook tallied 27 points and eight rebounds in the win. He and Durant combined for 22 of Oklahoma City's final 23 points, and the Thunder defense held superstar Kobe Bryant to 2-of-10 shooting in the last period.

Durant had a lot to do with that, guarding Bryant for most of that fourth quarter.

"He missed some shots he'd normally hit," Durant said. "I was praying they'd bounce off the rim. I just tried to play my hardest, use my length to disturb his shot. My teammates did a great job helping me out."

James Harden scored 18 points off the bench for the eighth-seeded Thunder.

Bryant had 24 points and eight assists, but went just 10-of-29 from the field for the defending champs, who still hold a 2-1 series lead. Pau Gasol ended with 17 points and 15 rebounds before fouling out. Derek Fisher also scored 17 for the Lakers, who went 10-of-31 from beyond the arc.

Despite the loss, Bryant (4,465) passed the legendary Jerry West (4,457) for first on the Lakers' all-time playoff scoring list.

Andrew Bynum tallied 13 points and seven boards, while Ron Artest scored 11 in defeat as LA sent Oklahoma City to the foul line 34 times (27 makes), while the Lakers converted 10-of-12 at the charity stripe.

"The key factor is the free throws," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They shot 41 percent, but we even shot better than they did. But you can't beat a team when you stick them on the line 34 times. That has to go with their aggressiveness."

Last Sunday's Game 1 marked Oklahoma City's return to the playoffs for the first time since the then-SuperSonics won the Northwest Division back in the 2004-05 campaign.

Since the NBA changed its playoff format in 1984, there have only been three occasions when a No. 8 seed has shocked a No. 1. The last time an eight topped a No. 1 was in 2007 when Golden State upended Dallas.

Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Tuesday back in LA.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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