Utah's Sloan aims to make history vs. Thunder

Basketball Betting Lines

11/07/2008 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Utah coach Jerry Sloan stands on the precipice of history as the Jazz welcome the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder to EnergySolutions Arena on Friday.

When Mehmet Okur recorded 22 points and nine rebounds to lead Utah to a 103-96 triumph over Portland on Wednesday, Sloan recorded his 999th win with the franchise.

He is now just one victory shy of becoming the first coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games with one team.

"The NBA is for the players," Sloan said. "I've been lucky to be a coach. It's not something that I will do cartwheels over."

Currently in his 21st season as head coach, Sloan is 204 victories ahead of Red Auerbach (second all-time wins with one team) and 366 wins ahead of the only other active coach in the top five, San Antonio's Gregg Popovich (third all-time).

Sloan is also the longest tenured coach in all of major professional sports. There have been 219 coaching changes in the NBA since he was named head coach of the Jazz on December 9, 1988. Over his first 20 seasons, he has produced two conference championships, seven division titles, 16 consecutive winning seasons, 12 seasons with 50-plus wins and 18 playoff appearances.

Carlos Boozer added 20 points and eight boards for the Jazz , who moved to 4-0 on the year with the win over Portland despite missing its best player, All- Star Deron Williams. Andrei Kirilenko had 17 points and Ronnie Brewer scored 16 in the win.

Williams, who is on the shelf with a sprained left ankle, is listed as doubtful for Friday's game. Kirilenko, who missed practice Thursday with a headache, is probable.

Boston's Paul Pierce dropped a game-high 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the defending world champion Celtics topped the Thunder, 96-83, in Oklahoma City Wednesday.

Second-year star Kevin Durant scored a team-high 17, while Jeff Green and rookie Russell Westbrook contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, for Oklahoma City, which posted its first franchise win since relocating from Seattle in the offseason with Sunday's 88-85 triumph over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Thunder did not respond well in their follow up, though, as they shot a miserable 36.9 percent (31-of-84) from the floor and logged 15 turnovers.

Utah swept the four-game season series against Seattle/Oklahoma City last season.

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MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL lines


Now that the 2008 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow.  Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season.   Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2008 season, the New Orleans Saints.  These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order.  As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS.  The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens.  The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers.

MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds:

Saints +6 @ Colts -6

Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em)

Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em)

Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5

Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1

Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3

Patriots -5 @ Jets +5

Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5

Steelers -4 @ Browns +4

Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6

Bears +6 @ Chargers -6

Lions +3 @ Raiders -3

Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5

Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4

Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3

Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3

 Super Bowl line (2008)

NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5

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