Nigel Ridgway
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NBA Playoffs
Despite spending most of the last three days in a Colorado courtroom, Kobe Bryant lifted the Lakers to a 97-78 win over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night to take the first-round series 4-1. Having by far his best game of the postseason, Bryant shot 12-of-21 along with 6 of 6 from the foul line while committing only one turnover in 41 minutes. The Lakers now meet the Spurs - between them winners of the last five NBA Championships - in the second round starting Sunday in San Antonio. The Spurs, who swept past Memphis in the first round, bring a 15-game winning streak into the best-of-7 series including a 95-89 victory over the Lakers on April 4th. The Spurs eliminated Los Angeles in the second round last spring on their way to the championship, ending the Lakers' bid for a fourth straight title, and swept the Lakers in the second round in 1999 en route to their first championship.
Join us for live betting on Sunday's game and all the playoff games this weekend, where our betting will include: Point Spread; Game Total; and Who Will Win the Quarter.
bet365 NBA Championship prices... LA Lakers 6/4, SA Spurs 5/2, MIN TWolves 5/1, SAC Kings 5/1, others on bet365 website.
bet365 NBA Western Conference prices... LA Lakers 11/8, SA Spurs 2/1, MIN TWolves 7/2, SAC Kings 4/1.
MLB
Boston and Anaheim, considered two of the American League's elite teams entering the season, did nothing but enhance their reputations by completing the sweep over New York and Oakland respectively over the weekend. The Red Sox went to Yankee Stadium and swept the Yankees for the first time since September 1999, the first time since 1988 the BoSox have won the first two series against New York. The Red Sox prevailed 3-2 in 12 innings on Saturday when they became the first team ever - or at least since first being tracked in 1974 - to win a game despite going 0-for-19 with runners in scoring position. Anaheim put up an equally impressive road show, despite playing without injured outfielder Garret Anderson, when they became the first team to sweep the Athletics in Oakland in 49 series, dating back to May 2002. Anaheim had not swept the A's in Oakland since July 1997. The Angels' weekend in the Bay Area improved Anaheim's road record to 7-3, the team's best start since 1992.
bet365 MLB American League prices... NY Yankees 13/10, BOS Red Sox 2/1, ANA Angels 11/2, OAK Athletics 10/1, others on bet365 website.
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NHL Playoffs
A spectacular breakaway goal by Alexander Mogilny sparked a three-goal, second period spurt that helped Toronto to a 4-1 win over Philadelphia on Wednesday night, cutting the Flyers' lead to 2-1 in the best-of-7 match-up. It was an impressive offensive performance from the Maple Leafs, who had been sputtering all postseason. Besides managing just one goal in each of its first two games against Philadelphia, Toronto had scored just 16 goals in nine games. Philadelphia failed to score the first goal for the first time in this postseason, and were losing for only the second time after needing only five games to eliminate New Jersey in the first round. Now it's their turn to bounce back in Game 4 on Friday in Toronto, where the Leafs have won four straight in the playoffs.
Join us on Friday night for live betting on the next game in the series, where our markets will include: Puck Line; Game Total; Next Goal Scored; Most Shots on Goal; Who Will Win the Period; and Next Period Total.
bet365 Series prices... Toronto 21/10, Philadelphia 2/5.
bet365 NHL Eastern Conference prices... TB Lightning 5/6, PHL Flyers 7/4, TOR M Leafs 7/2, MON Canadiens 40/1.
Kentucky Derby
Th May 1st - 5:00 pm EST (NBC)/22:00 BST
As the countdown continues to the 'Run for the Roses', gate positions were filled on Wednesday with the owners of Minister Eric taking the number-seven gate, the most popular choice amongst past first picks. But he is not among the favourites for the 130th running of the first leg of horse racings 'Triple Crown'. The undefeated Smarty Jones and Tapit, two of the three co-favourites for the race with us must start from outside gates (15 and 18 respectively).
Smarty Jones showed his well-being with a brilliant 58 second workout over 5-furlongs at Churchill on Saturday, but his pedigree and the way he wasn't drawing off at the end in the Arkansas Derby, suggests 1 1/4 miles could stretch his stamina. Tapit is trying to win the race off only four career starts - not since 1918 has the Derby winner had that profile - but then again he is trained by the 'mad genius' and miracle worker Michael Dickinson! Our other co-favourite, The Cliff's Edge, is coming off a career top after winning the Blue Grass Stakes last time out, but there is always a chance he might regress after that, while only three winners of this race in the past twelve years had won their final prep.
At these prices a chance is taken with Lion Heart, whose trainer Patrick Biancone describes as 'a lamb when he works and a lion when the gate opens'. As long as he breaks well, he's clearly got the controlling speed, and he's never been worse than second in five starts. He could lead for a long way and if the better closers find traffic trouble he might just hang on and gasp home first!
The $500,000 Kentucky Oaks, considered the "derby of fillies," goes to the post Friday at Churchill Downs with a field of 12. Madcap Escapade, the undefeated winner of the Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, is the 3-1 morning-line favourite, ahead of Ashado (4/1), and last year's juvenile filly champion Halfbridled at 9/2.
bet365 Kentucky Derby prices... The Cliff's Edge 5/1, Smarty Jones 6/1, Tapit 5/1, Lion Heart 10/1, Imperialism 12/1, others on bet365 website. Each Way ¼ odds 1.2.3.
HP Classic of New Orleans, English Turn, LA
Th Apr 29 - 4:00 pm EST (USA)/19:00 BST
Fr Apr 30 - 3:00 pm EST (USA)/18:00 BST
Sa May 1 - 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/18:00 BST
Su May 2 - 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/18:00 BST
With electrical storms forecast for the final three days of this week's PGA Tour event in Louisiana, we could again be in line for another Monday finish. This could play into the hands of those players who did not compete in last week's rain affected Houston Open, which brings in the likes of Phil Mickleson, amongst others. Mickleson is still likely to be on a high after his Masters triumph, and with the course set-up perfect for him it is not difficult to imagine him improving on his second place here back in 2001. His price is a little prohibitive, however, and a better each way bet may be Kirk Triplett, who was carrying on a good year when finishing sixth in the Masters last time out, one of three times he's finished sixth in 2004! What's more he has played the weekend in 11 of 12 appearances in New Orleans and is on a streak of 16 straight rounds of par or better. Kevin Na is making his debut at English Turn - normally a negative - but he has shown enough in his limited Tour outings to date to merit an each way pick this week.
bet365 pre-tournament prices... Singh 11/2, Mickleson 6/1, Verplank 20/1, Choi 20/1, Appleby 20/1, Triplett 33/1, Na 66/1. Each-way 1/4 odds 1.2.3.4.5. Bet IN-RUNNING subject to TV coverage.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, Auto Club 500
Su May 2 - 3:00 pm EST (FOX)/20:00 BST
For this week's race we go out West, to Fontana, California. This wide sweeping course is one of the newest on the circuit, and is very similar to Las Vegas and Michigan. On Vegas form, the Jack Roush cars of Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch should go well. Last week's winner Jeff Gordon will be keen to follow-up in his native state, and he has the best record of all the current drivers on the Californian Speedway. However, this could be a good opportunity for rookie Kasey Kahne to finally get the win he deserves. His No9 car has always run well here, while the aerodynamics on the new Dodge are proving to be well suited to this type of course.
bet365 Auto Club 500 prices... Busch 7/1, Gordon 8/1, Kahne 8/1, Johnson 9/1, Earnhardt Jr 9/1, Kenseth 10/1, Stewart 10/1, others on bet365 website. Each way 1/5 odds 1.2.3.
Be lucky!
Nigel.
NIGEL RIDGWAY, an experienced punter and betting shop owner of many years, believes that "The key to successful gambling is getting value for money." Nigel was once forced by local bookmakers, to stop writing a tipping column in a UK newspaper, because he was costing them a fortune. Find out what offers and lines are hot at bet365.com
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