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NBA Basketball
4 Units on Sacramento Kings -1½ -110
If this is the best the Dallas Mavericks' improved defense can do, the Sacramento Kings might have an easier time in the Western Conference semifinals than they did last year. After the Kings dominated the series opener, the Mavericks try to avoid dropping the first two games on their home court when the teams meet in Game 2 on Thursday night. Sacramento easily won last year's series in five games, averaging 112.8 points and shooting 47 percent. Because of that, Dallas made improving its defensive play a priority for this season. The Mavericks did get better, allowing 95.2 points per game after yielding 101.0 last season to rank 28th in the league. But that improved play was nowhere to be found in Game 1.The Kings shot 55 percent from the floor and put six players in double figures in their 124-113 victory Tuesday night. Sacramento scored 33 points in the first quarter and 36 in the third of a game that even Mavericks coach Don Nelson said wasn't as close as the final score. Though they had three players finish with 20 points and scored 10 points more than their league-leading season average of 103.0 points, the Mavs know they have no chance of winning if they don't do a better job of defending the Kings. Unfortunately for Dallas, Sacramento might the toughest team in the league to defend. Besides the 50 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists they got from starting forwards Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic, the Kings also received double-figure scoring from two other starters and two reserves. Sacramento had 31 assists and made nine 3-pointers.
MLB Baseball
2 Units on Tampa Bay Devil Rays +1½ -110 (Lohse - R, Brazelton - R)
Minnesota's 10-game run against Tampa Bay is the fourth-longest current winning streak against one club in the majors. The Twins have beaten Detroit 15 straight times, the New York Yankees have won 13 in a row against Minnesota, and Arizona has won 11 straight over Cincinnati. A.J. Pierzynski hit a grand slam and Bobby Kielty also homered Wednesday as Minnesota beat Tampa Bay 11-6. Pierzynski had a career-high five RBIs as all nine Twins starters contributed to the 17-hit barrage. Outfielder Jacques Jones continued his success against Tampa Bay with two hits. Jones is batting .519 (14-for-27) against the Devil Rays this season with four doubles, two homers and four RBIs. The AL Central champions have won seven of eight to climb two games over .500.Tampa Bay teammate Aubrey Huff has also been swinging the bat well. Huff went 2-for-5 with a double on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Huff has hit safely in six straight games, batting .346 (9-for-26) with four home runs and six RBIs over that span. A loss against the Twins on Thursday would tie Tampa Bay's club record for consecutive losses against one team. The Devil Rays lost 11 in a row to Boston in 2001 and to the Yankees in 1998 and 1999.
3 Units on Baltimore Orioles +1½ -170 (Helling - R, Asencio - R)
The Royals were undefeated at home -- and on the verge of tying the 92-year-old record of 12 consecutive wins at home to start a season -- before dropping the final two games of their series with the Boston Red Sox. On Wednesday, Kansas City put up six runs in the sixth inning before watching the Red Sox rally for eight unanswered runs in a 9-6 loss. ``When you have a big inning like that, good teams need to go out and make sure the other team doesn't come back,'' shortstop Desi Relaford said. The Royals have a good chance to rebound against the Orioles, who have lost four straight, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Detroit Tigers. The sweep was Detroit's first on the road since 2001 and the losing streak has dropped Baltimore below .500 for the first time since April 26. Baltimore was outscored 22-11 against the Tigers, who came into the series with a .195 team batting average but went 34-for-109 (.309) against Orioles pitching. ``Obviously, we're disappointed,'' second baseman Jerry Hairston said. ``You never want to get swept by anybody, whether it's the Yankees, Boston, Twins or Tigers. You knew those guys weren't going to hit .180 all year, and unfortunately, they got hot against us.'' One bright spot for the Orioles during their slump has been the play of David Segui, who was 3-for-3 with a home run in Wednesday's loss. Segui, who missed two weeks at the end of April with a strained right hamstring, is hitting .385.
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NBA Basketball
4 Units on Sacramento Kings -1½ -110
If this is the best the Dallas Mavericks' improved defense can do, the Sacramento Kings might have an easier time in the Western Conference semifinals than they did last year. After the Kings dominated the series opener, the Mavericks try to avoid dropping the first two games on their home court when the teams meet in Game 2 on Thursday night. Sacramento easily won last year's series in five games, averaging 112.8 points and shooting 47 percent. Because of that, Dallas made improving its defensive play a priority for this season. The Mavericks did get better, allowing 95.2 points per game after yielding 101.0 last season to rank 28th in the league. But that improved play was nowhere to be found in Game 1.The Kings shot 55 percent from the floor and put six players in double figures in their 124-113 victory Tuesday night. Sacramento scored 33 points in the first quarter and 36 in the third of a game that even Mavericks coach Don Nelson said wasn't as close as the final score. Though they had three players finish with 20 points and scored 10 points more than their league-leading season average of 103.0 points, the Mavs know they have no chance of winning if they don't do a better job of defending the Kings. Unfortunately for Dallas, Sacramento might the toughest team in the league to defend. Besides the 50 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists they got from starting forwards Chris Webber and Peja Stojakovic, the Kings also received double-figure scoring from two other starters and two reserves. Sacramento had 31 assists and made nine 3-pointers.
MLB Baseball
2 Units on Tampa Bay Devil Rays +1½ -110 (Lohse - R, Brazelton - R)
Minnesota's 10-game run against Tampa Bay is the fourth-longest current winning streak against one club in the majors. The Twins have beaten Detroit 15 straight times, the New York Yankees have won 13 in a row against Minnesota, and Arizona has won 11 straight over Cincinnati. A.J. Pierzynski hit a grand slam and Bobby Kielty also homered Wednesday as Minnesota beat Tampa Bay 11-6. Pierzynski had a career-high five RBIs as all nine Twins starters contributed to the 17-hit barrage. Outfielder Jacques Jones continued his success against Tampa Bay with two hits. Jones is batting .519 (14-for-27) against the Devil Rays this season with four doubles, two homers and four RBIs. The AL Central champions have won seven of eight to climb two games over .500.Tampa Bay teammate Aubrey Huff has also been swinging the bat well. Huff went 2-for-5 with a double on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Huff has hit safely in six straight games, batting .346 (9-for-26) with four home runs and six RBIs over that span. A loss against the Twins on Thursday would tie Tampa Bay's club record for consecutive losses against one team. The Devil Rays lost 11 in a row to Boston in 2001 and to the Yankees in 1998 and 1999.
3 Units on Baltimore Orioles +1½ -170 (Helling - R, Asencio - R)
The Royals were undefeated at home -- and on the verge of tying the 92-year-old record of 12 consecutive wins at home to start a season -- before dropping the final two games of their series with the Boston Red Sox. On Wednesday, Kansas City put up six runs in the sixth inning before watching the Red Sox rally for eight unanswered runs in a 9-6 loss. ``When you have a big inning like that, good teams need to go out and make sure the other team doesn't come back,'' shortstop Desi Relaford said. The Royals have a good chance to rebound against the Orioles, who have lost four straight, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the lowly Detroit Tigers. The sweep was Detroit's first on the road since 2001 and the losing streak has dropped Baltimore below .500 for the first time since April 26. Baltimore was outscored 22-11 against the Tigers, who came into the series with a .195 team batting average but went 34-for-109 (.309) against Orioles pitching. ``Obviously, we're disappointed,'' second baseman Jerry Hairston said. ``You never want to get swept by anybody, whether it's the Yankees, Boston, Twins or Tigers. You knew those guys weren't going to hit .180 all year, and unfortunately, they got hot against us.'' One bright spot for the Orioles during their slump has been the play of David Segui, who was 3-for-3 with a home run in Wednesday's loss. Segui, who missed two weeks at the end of April with a strained right hamstring, is hitting .385.