College Basketball | Kelvin Sampson's appeal is rejected by NCAA

The NCAA is finished with the latest Kelvin Sampson saga.

The NCAA on Tuesday rejected an appeal from the former Indiana coach, who was given five years of potential penalties for taking part in more than 100 impermissible calls to recruits while coaching the Hoosiers.

The NCAA said its infractions committee upheld the violations found in the case, which prompted an overhaul at the storied program and led to Sampson's departure after 1 ½ seasons. An NCAA spokeswoman said Sampson, 53, has used his only appeal, and the case is closed.

Sampson, an assistant coach for the NBA Milwaukee Bucks, is essentially barred from coaching in college until 2013.

The NCAA ruled Sampson ignored signed compliance agreements with Indiana, ignored the recruiting restrictions he was already under from a similar case at Oklahoma and deliberately lied to infractions-committee members.

In his appeal, Sampson — a former Washington State coach — claimed the penalty was too harsh, the NCAA misinterpreted evidence and that the infractions committee was biased against him.

The NCAA rejected each claim, saying "it found no basis on which to conclude that the findings of violations were contrary to the evidence."

Sampson's publicist, Chris Capo, said Sampson "will not be making any comment on the recent NCAA ruling."

A Bucks spokesman said "Sampson declined comment on the report."

Sampson defended himself in September in a statement made through his former publicist, Matt Kramer.

Serbia Drops Universiade Basketball Tourney

Miroslav Raduljica scored 16 points and added eight rebounds as Serbia defeated Canada 99-73 Monday in the last game leading up to the 2009 Summer Universiade men's basketball event.

Canada finished the four-team tuneup tournament 0-3 after losses to the United States and Russia.

Christian Upshaw led Canada with 14 points while Josh Whyte had 12.

"We knew playing three games in three days against this high calibre was going to be a real mental battle," said Canadian head coach Chris O'Rourke, who returns for his second tour of duty with the Universiade squad.

"We got real frustrated in the first half with the number of times they were going to the foul line. We didn't execute, and when you play a very good team like that they're going to make you pay for it."

The Serbian team used its significant size advantage to dominate the glass on the night, out-rebounding Canada by a 42-19 margin and putting the red and white in early foul trouble.

Serbia scored 29 points in each of the first and third quarters, including a 15-point outburst in the first three minutes following half time. The host side shot a sparkling 32-for-36 from the free-throw line after drawing 18 shooting fouls.

Serbia finished the four-team event with a perfect 3-0 record, with the U.S. following at 2-1. The American squad got past Russia 67-63 in the early game Monday night.

The Canadians begin their quest on Thursday to return to the podium after a bronze medal at the 2007 Universiade in Bangkok, Thailand. Their first game is against Italy.

With two days before their next competition, Canada will recharge and refocus on the tough test facing them in the Universiade tournament.

"We need some time to watch more film and practice and get some physical and mental rest," said O'Rourke. "There's not much time and we have a lot of fine tuning still to do.

"There's no time to dwell, that's for sure. We won't be able to see (Italy) play, so again it becomes about focusing on us and what we have to do."

Following the contest against Italy, Canada will also play China in Group C action at the Universiade tournament. The top two teams from the group phase will move on to the second round.

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Basketball-Sparks Rout Turnover-Happy Storm

Marie Ferdinand-Harris led a balanced offensive attack with 15 points, as the Los Angeles Sparks forced 22 turnovers en route to an 82-55 win over the Seattle Storm.

Betty Lennox scored 10 of her 14 points from the free throw line, while reserves Vanessa Hayden and Noelle Quinn contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively, for LA, which moved to 3-5 on the year.

No player on the Storm scored double digits, with Camille Little and Lauren Jackson chiming in with nine points apiece.

Seattle, now 6-3, shot 34.6 percent in the loss.

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Basketball-Shaq Going To Cleveland?

ESPN reports that the Phoenix Suns are on the verge of dealing center Shaquille O’Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers for power forward Ben Wallace, shooting guard Sasha Pavolic, cash and a draft pick .

The deal is pending league approval and as it stands, the Cleveland Cavaliers are listed at +400 to win next year’s NBA championship while the Phoenix Suns are listed at +5000 to do the same.

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Basketball-Betting On The 2009 NBA Draft

The NBA draft takes place on Thursday at Madison Square Garden in New York and a number of prop wagers are available from SPORTSBETTING.com.

Who will go third overall? Will it be UConn’s Hakeem Thabeet, ASU’s James Harden or Spain’s Ricky Rubio (all are at +250) or someone else (+150)?

Where will Stephen Curry go? eighth overall (+300) or ninth (+500)?

How many North Carolina Tar Heels will be taken in the first-round? Three (+100)?

Basketball-Wiggins carries Lynx over Liberty

Candice Wiggins poured in 25 points to power Minnesota to a 69-57 blowout of New York at the Target Center.

Roneeka Hodges added 10 points, while Kelly Miller scored eight for the Lynx, who had lost their previous two games. Minnesota forced 20 Liberty turnovers, leading to 21 points.



Shameka Christon scored 25, going 6-of-10 from three-point range, for the Liberty, who had a two-game win streak snapped. No other New York player had more than six points.

The Liberty trailed just 38-36 with 7 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, but the Lynx finished the period on a 21-4 run to take control.

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Basketball-Detroit Pistons 2009 Draft Preview

Pistons president Joe Dumars is coming off a disastrous year in which he jettisoned the underrated Flip Saunders for the untested and unproven Michael Curry and compounded that mistake with the ill-conceived Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade.

Gone was Detroit's legendary balance, defensive prowess and chemistry, not to mention the run of six straight trips to the Eastern Conference finals. So, needless to say, this is a big summer for Dumars.


Trading for Iverson did give Dumars plenty of cap space and the team seems to be targeting Chicago sharp-shooter Ben Gordon. As for the draft big man Rasheed Wallace isn't likely to return and Antonio McDyess could also leave via free agency meaning Dumars will be in line for a big body with the 15th overall pick.

Options could include Gonzaga forward Austin Daye and Ohio State Center B.J. Mullens.

Mullens has the size and soft hands to develop into a legit center and help Curry start rebuilding his frontcourt. A number of sources say the Pistons have a promise in place to take Mullens, so if anyone else has designs on the big man, they will have to move up past No. 15.

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Basketball-Hayden and Sparks cruise past Monarchs

Vanessa Hayden had 12 points and eight rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Sparks over the Sacramento Monarchs, 67-47, at Staples Center.

Tina Thompson had 12 points, Betty Lennox added 10 points and eight boards and Marie Ferdinand-Harris had 10 points for the Sparks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.



Nicole Powell had 13 points and was the only played in double-figures for the Monarchs, who have dropped their past three Basketball games.

The Sparks held a 22-point lead at the half and were never threatened for the rest of the game.

Basketball: Dramatic Finish As Giants Beat Saints

The Nelson Giants are through to the National Basketball League finals after a thrilling last second win over the Wellington Saints in Nelson.

Trailing 82-81 with seconds remaining, Tony Rampton scrambled in a two point shot from a rebound off a free throw to claim an 83-82 win.



The Saints appealed the result after claiming time was up before the final play was made but they have since withdrawn the protest after reviewing footage.

Giants guard Phill Jones says the game was a great advertisement for New Zealand basketball and it was an exciting fightback by his team which showed, yet again, that the game is never over until the buzzer goes .

The Waikato Pistons host the Christchurch Cougars in the second semi final in Te Awamutu tonight.

NBA Basketball-Kobe Looking For Crown

The biggest rap against Kobe Bryant is that he hasn’t been able to win an NBA Betting title without Shaquille O’Neal but it looks like he is about to shed that label.

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic in OT 99-91, covering at +1.5 and gaining a 3-1 series lead.

Basketball Game 5 goes Sunday in Orlando and although the Lakers can capture a title, they are listed as 3-point underdogs and the Total is set at 198.

The Lakers are 15-5 ATS in their last 20 games when listed as underdogs of 4-points or less.

NBA BasketBall Final-Kobe Wins One Without Shaq

Kobe Bryant can finally say he won an NBA championship without Shaquille O’Neal as the Los Angeles Lakers took down the Orlando Magic 99-86 and won the NBA betting finals 4-1.

The Lakers covered as 3.5-point underdogs and Bryant was named MVP.

NBA Betting-2010 NBA Championship Futures

Here are some futures odds for next year’s NBA Betting championship and bookies are favoring a LeBron-Kobe matchup.

The L.A. Lakers are the odds-on from the Western Conference and overall at +250 and the Cleveland Cavaliers are the odds-on from the Eastern Conference at +300.

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NBA Betting -Fantastic Game Four – NBA Finals - Orlando Magic vs Los Angeles Lakers

It will be an important game in the NBA finals as the Orlando Magic can pull even with the Los Angeles Lakers with a win or fall behind 3-1 in the series.

The Magic have been anything but the last 17 times the Lakers have visited going 6-11 ATS–Orlando is a 2-point home fave tonight.

Tonight’s Total is set at 201 and in the Lakers’ last 17 visits, the Over/Under has gone 5-12, including 6-0 in the last six games.

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NBA Finals MVP Props

With the NBA postseason winding down, it is a good time to take a look at NBA Finals MVP propositions.

As it stands, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers is the overwhelming favorite at -600 while the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard is listed at +700.

More options in the 2009 NBA Finals MVP section.

For more details check out NBA Betting.

Orlando Feeling The Magic, Bettors Not

The Orlando Magic finally were able to win in the NBA finals with a 108-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in yesterday’s Game 3.

However, Orlando bettors didn’t profit as the Magic were 4-point faves and the game was a Push.

Game 4 goes tomorrow and the Magic are 2.5-point faves with the Total set at 202.

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NBA Final- Orlando upends LA in Game 3

Dwight Howard scored 21 points with 14 rebounds, as Orlando finally put the ball in the basket and watched Kobe Bryant miss several shots and commit a key turnover down the stretch, as the Magic beat the Lakers, 108-104, to take Game 3 of the NBA betting Finals.

Rafer Alston scored 13 of his 20 points in the first half, Rashard Lewis donated 21 points and Hedo Turkoglu recorded 18 points with seven assists and six rebounds.

The Magic shot an NBA Finals record 75 percent in the first half, and ended up making 62.5 percent of their shots for the entire 48 minutes.

Kobe Bryant scored 17 points in the final five-plus minutes of the first quarter then went hot and cold for the rest of the contest, finishing with 31 points and eight assists.

Pau Gasol added 23 points and Trevor Ariza contributed 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Lakers now lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1, with Game 4 scheduled for Thursday night at Amway Arena in Orlando.

NBA Betting:Now Entering Magic Kingdom

The Orlando Magic blew an opportunity to tie the NBA Betting Finals at 1-1 when Courtney Lee flubbed a last-second layup attempt.

Instead the Magic lost 101-96 in OT to the Los Angeles Lakers, went down 2-0 but covered at +6.5.

The scene shifts back to Orlando and the Magic have been solid at home going 6-3 ATS, including four-straight wins ATS.

The Magic are listed as 4-point favorites for tomorrow’s Game 3.

Sunday No Day Of Rest In NBA Final

The L.A. Lakers opened the NBA championship series, guns blazing, with a 100-75 win over the Orlando Magic in yesterday’s Game 1–the Lakers were favored by 6-points.

Going into Sunday’s Game 2, the Lakers are favored by 6.5-points and the Total is set at 202.

In the Lakers’ last 19 Sunday home games, they are 11-8 ATS and a perfect 19-0 SU and are -300 on the Money line.

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Bryant leads Lakers in rout of Magic in Game 1

Kobe Bryant is off to a good start in his quest for a post-Shaq championship, scoring a personal NBA Finals-high 40 points with eight rebounds and eight assists, as the Lakers took control before halftime and never let up in a 100-75 victory over Orlando in Game 1.

Pau Gasol added 16 points with eight rebounds, Lamar Odom notched a double- double with 11 points and 14 rebounds and Andrew Bynum donated nine points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who shot 46.1 percent but more importantly held the Magic to 29.9 percent shooting.

The Lakers have not won a championship since 2002, the last of their three consecutive titles, but have won 14 in the storied franchise history. Bryant is in search of his first solo title -- meaning without the services of Shaquille O'Neal.

Los Angeles is off to a good start, as head coach Phil Jackson, aiming for his record 10th NBA championship as a coach, has a 43-0 mark in the postseason when his team wins the first game.

NBA Finals Preview

The Magic will open the Finals on Thursday in Los Angeles against the L.A. Lakers after winning the Eastern Conference and smothering the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Magic, who were not one of the favorites when the playoffs began, have convinced everyone that they are for real. They came from behind to beat both Philadelphia and Boston. Then they pounded the Cavs, who had the best record in the league during the regular season.

As for the Lakers, they are back where they wanted to be.

Their chance for redemption is at hand after they eliminated the Denver Nuggets in six Western Conference Finals games. The Lakers are favored by 6 points in Game 1.

Magic’s Nelson Expected To Play Game 1

Out with a torn labrum in his right shoulder since early-February, Orlando Magic PG Jameer Nelson went through a full practice on Tuesday and according to teammates, looked good.

While officials are “mum” on the subject, many Orlando players are expecting Nelson to see action in Game 1 on Thursday.

The Magic are 6-point underdogs in that game.

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2009 NBA Final Series Prices

Will Kobe Bryant finally win a title sans Shaquille O’Neal?

After losing to the Boston Celtics in last year’s championship series, Kobe and the Los Angeles Lakers will play Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic in this year’s NBA final.

The Lakers are favored at -245 while the Magic are +205.