Bryant's free throw shooting helps Lakers down Utah

Basketball Betting Lines

02/27/2007 - Salt Lake City, UT (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kobe Bryant scored 21 of his 35 points at the free throw line, lifting the Los Angeles Lakers over the Utah Jazz, 102-94, at EnergySolutions Arena.

Smush Parker added 24 points and Lamar Odom had 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists for the Lakers, who have won three straight, including two road games on consecutive nights.

Derek Fisher had 23 points and eight assists to lead Utah, which had a two- game win streak halted. Matt Harpring added 14 points and Carlos Boozer had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz, who played without their starting point guard Deron Williams.

Williams is suffering from a right wrist and groin injuries and his absence was felt down the stretch.

With the game tied at 78, Parker put the Lakers ahead with a three-pointer near the six-minute mark. Then, leading 85-84, Los Angeles ran off nine straight points to take a 10-point lead. Odom scored four points during the surge, which Bryant ended with one of only seven of his field goals from the field for a 94-84 lead.

Utah later drew within 97-94 after Fisher connected on a three-pointer with 20.4 seconds left, but that was as close as the Jazz could get. LA hit all six free throws down the stretch and LA escaped with the win.

Andrei Kirilenko and Gordan Giricek each had 12 points for the Jazz, who trailed 25-20 after one quarter and 55-50 going into halftime. LA, though, scored just 15 third-quarter points and Utah went into the fourth tied at 70.

Game Notes

Bryant ended 21-of-24 at the line...LA shot 32-of-36 from the charity stripe for the game...Utah hit 18-of-26 free throws...LA has won two of the three meetings so far this season against Utah...The Jazz fell to 22-7 at home...LA improved to 13-16 at home.

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Football Betting Lines

The 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite.

Bet NFL Sports Lines

Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense.

Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively.

A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season.

Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back.

Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick.

And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below.

2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win

Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1

Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1

Donald Brown (IND) 5/1

Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1

Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1

Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1

Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1

Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1

Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1

Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1

Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1

Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1

Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1

Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1

Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1

Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1

Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1

LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1

Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1

Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1

Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1

Jason Smith (STL) 40/1

Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1

Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1

Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1

Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2

Pat White (MIA) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 9/1

Betting Line

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