Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Lakers begin their playoff run, the Sharks look for a playoff win, and the Cubs and Cards do battle under the lights.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA playoffs continue on Sunday, with Game 1’s in Los Angeles, Orlando, Atlanta, and Denver. The Lakers are the biggest chalk out of that group to make it to the second round of the postseason, as Kobe Bryant and company are listed at -2500 to dispatch Utah. Los Angeles is an 11-point home favorite on Sunday, and they managed to beat the Jazz 125-112 at home when they met on Tuesday.
The closest series is expected to be Heat/Hawks, with Atlanta a slim -135 favorite to win the best-of-seven set. The Hawks begin this series at home on Sunday, where they’ve been listed as a 5-point favorite. Orlando is a 9-point favorite to beat Philly at home on Sunday, and -900 chalk in the series. As well, Denver is favored by 6 points at home against New Orleans, and -240 in the set.
Goodbye sportsbooks…
The top baseball handicapper GodsTips led by Grandmaster sports handicapper Joe Duffy is doing yet again winning with underdogs and small favorites. They are 6-2 this weekend with MLB plays, four underdog winners, three Dandy Dogs. Dandy dogs are moneyline dogs of 140 or more (includes runline getting back 140 or more). Today’s card is loaded in the NBA and MLB.
The LateInfo line says the cute things falling asleep would be the sportsbooks. “Big Red” is a major figure and pioneer in offshore betting. He has unique access to professional oddsmakers and gamblers. All his bets are based on consulting with elite handicappers, pro bettors and linesmakers. These are linesmakers who spend 50-70 hours a week making the lines and elite sports handicappers with years of experience beating those betting odds. He has one that rises to the level of a Special Release on the Jazz/Lakers as the LateInfo goes to 18-5 the last 23 years. Click now to purchase
Meeting up on the diamond . . .
The Cubs will host the Cardinals in baseball’s Sunday nighter, with St. Louis righthander Todd Wellemeyer (1-1, 4.50 ERA) taking on Chicago lefthander Ted Lilly (2-0, 3.86 ERA). Lilly is coming off a stellar outing against the Rockies in which he tossed 6 2-3 shutout innings, allowing one hit and fanning eight. Wellemeyer gave up one run in seven innings against the D-Backs last time out.
Rounding out the Senior Circuit’s schedule for Sunday: Milwaukee at the Mets, Atlanta at Pittsburgh, San Diego at Philadelphia, Florida at Washington, Cincinnati at Houston, Colorado at the Dodgers, and Arizona at San Francisco. Giants lefthander Randy Johnson (0-2, 11.42) seeks better results in that contest.
The Junior Circuit offers up a seven-game slate on Sunday, with Cleveland at the Yankees, Oakland at Toronto, the White Sox at Tampa Bay, the Angels at Minnesota, Kansas City at Texas, Detroit at Seattle, and Baltimore at Boston. Orioles right-handed starter Koji Uehara is now 2-0 in his major league career, but he was knocked around for seven earned runs by the Rangers last time out.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
After a two-day break the Ducks and Sharks will continue their first-round playoff series in San Jose on Sunday night. Anaheim upset top-seeded San Jose 2-0 in the series opener on Thursday night, with Jonas Hiller making 35 saves in the shutout victory. Scott Niedermayer and Ryan Getzlaf picked up goals in that win.
There are also three Game 3’s on the NHL’s playoff schedule for Sunday, with Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, Vancouver at St. Louis, and New Jersey at Carolina. The Penguins and Canucks both lead their series 2-0 after picking up wins on Friday night; Pittsburgh beat Philly 3-2 in OT, and Roberto Luongo and the Canucks blanked the Blues 3-0. The Hurricanes and Devils find their best-of-seven set knotted up at 1-1; Carolina pulled out a 2-1 overtime victory on Friday.
Rounding out the Roundup . . .
Finally, Formula 1 continues its Asian swing on Sunday with the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Jenson Button won the first two races of the F1 season in Australia and Malaysia, and he holds a 15-10 lead on second-place (and Brawn-Mercedes teammate) Rubens Barrichello in the drivers championship. Toyota drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock sit third and fourth in the current standings, with Lewis Hamilton back in 10th place with just one point after a slow start to the year. Hamilton, though, claimed the Chinese Grand Prix last season (in October).