Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Heat look to get into the win column, the Habs try to avoid the loss column, and the Sox continue their set with the Twins.
Bodog is back…
Bodog Life is Bodog again as the popular sportsbook won back its domain. Is more good news coming in the betting news world? Barney Frank is expected to take steps to end gambling prohibition this month just as Formula 1 betting is taking off the way the UFC odds did.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
Dwyane Wade and the Heat will be trying to bounce back from an embarrassing Game 1 loss on Wednesday night when they play in Atlanta for the second time in the best-of-seven series. The Hawks pounded Miami 90-64 in the opener on Sunday, with Josh Smith picking up 23 points and 10 rebounds. Wade had 19 points for Miami in the loss; the Heat are listed as 5-point underdogs in Game 2.
Along with the Heat, the Magic and Hornets are also down 1-0 in their first-round series heading into play on Wednesday. Orlando was upset 100-98 in the opener by Philadelphia on Sunday, with Andre Iguodala scoring 20 points for the Sixers. New Orleans was blasted 113-84 by Denver in Game 1 on Sunday. The Magic are favored by 10 points in Game 2 Wednesday; Denver is favored by 5.5 points.
Meeting up on the diamond . . .
The Twins and Red Sox are scheduled to play twice on Wednesday (a day/night doubleheader), as their Tuesday night matchup at Fenway Park was rained out. Also on the American League schedule for Wednesday: Oakland at the Yankees, the White Sox at Baltimore, Kansas City at Cleveland, Texas at Toronto, Tampa Bay at Seattle, and Detroit at the Angels. The Tigers will use Justin Verlander (0-2, 7.88 ERA) on Wednesday; the Angels go with Joe Saunders (2-1, 2.18 ERA).
Meanwhile, 2-0 Paul Maholm and his microscopic 0.87 ERA will take the mound for Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon in their meeting with the Marlins in one of the eight games on the NL schedule. Also on tap: Colorado at Arizona, San Diego at San Francisco, Milwaukee at Philadelphia, Atlanta at Washington, the Dodgers at Houston, Cincinnati at the Cubs, and finally the Mets at St. Louis.
The Pirates are already in for GodsTips and the world’s top baseball handicapper does have a free pick going tonight.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
The Bruins will be looking to deal a death blow to the rival Canadiens on Wednesday night, as they take a commanding 3-0 series lead into the 7:00pm ET puck drop. Boston doubled up Montreal 4-2 in Game 3 on Monday night, as Phil Kessel scored his third goal of the playoffs and Tim Thomas made 23 saves. Carey Price stopped 26 of 29 Boston shots in a losing cause for the Canadiens.
There are two other games on the NHL’s playoff schedule for Wednesday, with Washington at the Rangers and Chicago at Calgary. The Capitals cut their series deficit to 2-1 on Monday night with a 4-0 road win behind the goaltending of Simeon Varlamov. The Flames also showed some life on Monday night, topping the Blackhawks 4-2; Calgary is down 2-1 in that series heading into Wednesday.