Get in the Game - with Nigel Ridgway of bet365 *US Edition*
Nigel Ridgway
NBA Conference Semi Finals
Live betting (Saturday) - LA Lakers v SA Spurs (series score 2-2)
Th May 13 - 8:00 pm EST (ABC)/May 14 - 00:00 GMT
Sa May 15 - 10:30 pm EST (TNT)/May 16 - 02:30 GMT
After having dropped the first two games to the Spurs in San Antonio, LA tied the series at two games a piece with a 98-90 victory on Wednesday night to make it a best of three series. There was a remarkable performance on the night from Kobe Bryant, who apparently unfazed by his daytime court appearance in Denver and showing no signs of jet-lag, scored 42 points, many on spectacular circus shots or with multiple defenders challenging him. Game 5 is in San Antonio on Thursday with game 6 Saturday in LA. A seventh game would be played May 19 in San Antonio, if needed.
Live betting (Saturday) - MIA Heat v IND Pacers (series score 2-2)
Sa May 15 - 8:00 pm EST (TNT)/May 16 - 00:00 GMT
Tu May 18 - 8:00 pm EST (ESPN)May 19 - 00:00 GMT
A 2-2 scoreline would have seemed less probable at the start of the Pacers/Heat series, but tell that to the Heat who pulled level with 100-88 victory on Wednesday, their 18th straight home win. After having looked overmatched in the first two games, the Heat handled the best of the Pacers in Game 4, and in the process ended their streak of not scoring 100 points in the postseason at 38 games, an NBA record. But for the Heat to get out of the second round of the playoffs, they'll have to win on the road - something they haven't done in the postseason. Game 5 is Saturday at Indiana, while Game 6 is Tuesday back in Miami.
Live betting (Sunday) - SAC Kings v MIN TWolves (series score 2-2)
Fr May 14 - 9:30 pm EST (TNT)/May 15 - 01:30 GMT
Su May 16 - 3:30 pm EST (ABC)/19:30 GMT
The Kings get one back at home on Wednesday with an 87-81 win against the T-Wolves. Chris Webber hit his first six shots and finished with 28 points in guiding Sacramento to a crucial victory. Kevin Garnett finished with 19 points and 21 rebounds in a losing effort. The series shifts to Minnesota on Friday night, where the T-Wolves will look to maintain home-court advantage. The Kings will not want to be reminded that since the NBA expanded the playoffs to 16 teams in 1984, a No. 4 seed has never won the championship.
Live betting (Sunday) - NJ Nets v DET Pistons (series score 2-2)
Fr May 14 - 7:00 pm EST (TNT)/23:00 GMT
Su May 16 - 8:00 pm EST (ESPN)/May 19 - 00:00 GMT
Not to be outdone, the Nets, who looked down and out after the first two games in Detroit, evened their series with a 94-79 win on Tuesday night. Jason Kidd led the way with a triple-double (22 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists), the seventh in his playoff career. The action now shifts back to Detroit, where the Pistons will look to straighten things out on Friday. This series could go down to the Pistons having the home court advantage they earned during the regular season, particularly if it goes seven games as expected.
Join us for live betting on all the playoff games this weekend, where our betting will include: Point Spread; Game Total; and Who Will Win the Quarter.
bet365 Western Conference prices … Spurs 7/5, Lakers 23/10, TWolves 7/2, Kings 5/1.
bet365 Eastern Conference prices … Pacers 4/6, Pistons 9/5, Nets 13/2, Heat 33/1.
bet365 NBA Championship prices … Spurs 9/5, Lakers 10/3, Pacers 5/1, T-Wolves 21/4, others on bet365 website.
MLB
Live betting - BOS Red Sox vs. TOR Blue Jays
Fr May 14 - 7:05 pm EST (RSN)/23:00 GMT
The Red Sox are coming off a loss to the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. Jody Gerut posted three hits and extended his career-high hitting streak to 15 games while Tim Laker homered, as the Tribe downed Boston, 6-4, in the rubber match of their three-game set at Fenway Park. Curt Schilling is again likely to take the mound for the Boston Red Sox in this second of a four-game series in Toronto at SkyDome. Schilling notched his first complete game of the season in last Saturday's 9-1 victory over Kansas City, and is 1-2 with a 3.68 ERA and one complete game against Toronto. The Red Sox have taken four of six from Toronto this season and are 39-24 against the Blue Jays since the start of the 2001 season.
Join us for live betting on this game, where our markets will include: Game Total; Money Line; Run Line; and Most Hits In The Innings.
bet365 NBA/Baseball Bonus
With bet365's NBA/Baseball parlay bonus you can now score up to 50% more on all your NBA and Baseball parlays! The bonus applies to winnings on NBA/Baseball 3-14 team parlays, ranging from 7.5% on a winning 3-team parlay, right up to a massive 50% for winning 12, 13, and 14-team parlays on the following markets:
Basketball: Game Pointspread; Game Total; First Half Spread; Second Half Spread; First Half Total; Second Half Total; Money Line.
Baseball: Run Line; Game Total; Money Line.
Please see bet365 website for full details.
NHL Conference Finals
Calgary are now favourites for this year's Stanley Cup with us, after taking a 2-0 playoff lead against last week's deposed favourites San Jose.
Live betting (Sunday) - CAL Flames v SJ Sharks
Th May 13 - 10:00 pm EST (ESPN)/May 14 - 02:00 GMT
Su May 16 - 4:00 pm EST (ESPN)/20:00 GMT
Mo May 17 - 10:00 pm EST (ESPN)/May 18 - 02:00 GMT
The Flames are proving to be the surprise package of the Finals, after the 6th seeds took a 2-0 lead on Tuesday night in game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. For the first time ever, they have come home up 2-0 in a playoff series. It is 15 years since they last tasted playoff series victory, and seven years since they reached the playoffs, while no Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since 1993 (Montreal). Now it will seem like an entire country will be waiting for them on their return to the Saddledome for Games 3 and 4 Thursday and Sunday.
Live betting (Saturday) - PHL Flyers v TB Lightning
Th May 13 - 7:00 pm EST (ESPN)/23:00 GMT
Sa May 15 - 3:00 pm EST (ABC)/19:00 GMT
Tu May 18 - 7:30 pm EST (ESPN2)/23:30 GMT
Philadelphia continued their domination of the first period during the playoffs by striking quickly with three goals on Monday to level their series with Tampa Bay. The Flyers have outscored opponents 16-3 in the first period during the playoffs. The second period has been Tampa Bay's strongest, with the Lightning holding a 14-4 edge. The Flyers now head back to Philadelphia on Thursday night, where they are 6-0 in the playoffs, with Game 4 Saturday.
Join us for live betting on this weekend's games , 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 Stanley Cup prices … Calgary 6/4, Tampa 5/2, Philadelphia 13/5, San Jose 11/2.
PGA, EDS Byron Nelson Classic, Four Seasons Resort, Texas
Th May 13 - 4:00 pm EST (USA)/20:00 GMT
Fr May 14 - 3:00 pm EST (USA)/19:00 GMT
Sa May 15 - 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/19:00 GMT
Su May 16 - 3:00 pm EST (CBS)/19:00 GMT
This week's event is headed by the four best golfers in the world - Woods, Singh, Mickelson and Els - and with all four having previously won this tournament, choosing between them is going to be difficult. Slight preference is for Mickelson who couldn't buy a putt last week, yet only finished two shots out of a play-off. The Tour's scoring leader has suddenly become boringly consistent, with two wins and eight top-five finishes this year, and is currently on a streak of 20 straight rounds of par or better. Defending champion Singh was only the third player in his forties to win the Nelson, so history is against those looking for another old-timer to follow up 46 year-old Joey Sindelar's victory last week. If there was to be one, then 47 year-old Nick Price would be the obvious candidate. He is the leading earnings leader in this tournament, and is still dangerously judged on his four top-25 finishes this season, including a share of sixth spot in the Masters. His lack of distance off the tee is not such a factor in this tournament, played over two short par-70 courses with only two par fives. Texan Justin Leonard usually plays well in his home state, and can be fancied to make the frame this week. Leonard, tied for ninth last year, has made nine out of ten cuts here with five top-25's and three straight finishes of 15th or better.
bet365 pre-tournament prices … Woods 11/2, Singh 7/1, Mickelson 13/2, Els 9/1, Price 33/1, Leonard 66/1. Bet the tournament In-Running with bet365, subject to TV coverage.
The Preakness Stakes
Sa May 15 - 2:00 pm EST (ESPN)/18:00 GMT
The Preakness, second leg of the US Triple crown, is widely believed to be there for the taking for unbeaten Kentucky Derby hero Smarty Jones; however, his price looks certain to reflect the 'air of romance' that now surrounds him. He should have the beating of those who finished behind him at Churchill Downs, but The Cliff's Edge, who vied with him for Kentucky Derby favouritism, finished the race without his two front plates and, assuming they stay on for the whole of Pimlico's nine furlongs, has a chance of turning the form around.
Get in the game and be lucky!
Nigel.
Please be aware that prices are subject to change. All times are subject to change. Check local listings for TV coverage on these events
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
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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