Durant carries U.S. into semis; Lithuania crushes Argentina
Basketball Betting Lines
09/09/2010 - Istanbul, Turkey (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Durant poured in 33 points on 11- of-19 shooting, helping the United Stated grind out an 89-79 victory over Russia in the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
Russell Westbrook was a spark off the bench with 12 points, seven in a third quarter that saw the Americans extend a five-point halftime lead to 14 going into the fourth.
Chauncey Billups scored 15 thanks to a 4-of-8 showing behind the arc for the U.S., which next plays Saturday against Lithuania, a thorough 104-85 winner over Argentina on Thursday.
Russia, which had a healthy height advantage, was led by Sergey Bykov's 17- point effort. Andrey Vorontsevich logged 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Timofey Mozgov, signed by the Knicks in July, scored 13 in defeat.
The game marked the 38th anniversary of the Soviet Union's controversial win over the Americans in the gold-medal showdown at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
A back-and-forth first stanza ended 25-25, and the Americans found themselves trailing 35-30 midway through the second before finally solving Russia's zone during a 14-4 run to end the half.
The heavy favorites pulled away in the third, as Westbrook capped an 8-3 run with a steal and fastbreak dunk for a 58-47 cushion with 4 1/2 minutes left.
Bykov converted a three-point play out of a Russia timeout, but Westbrook again went to work, hitting a three and finishing off another turnover with a slam for a 13-point edge.
Tyson Chandler's late bucket made it a 70-56 game with one quarter to play, and the closest the Russians got down the stretch was 84-72 with under four minutes to go. A Durant jumper and three-point play on consecutive possessions put the margin out of reach.
While the opener was closely contested, Lithuania was never seriously threatened in its quarterfinal, jumping out to a 50-30 halftime lead and never looking back to advance to the semis in convincing fashion.
Seven Lithuanians finished in double-figures, including the Toronto Raptors' Linas Kleiza, who dropped in 17 points to go with nine rebounds in the blowout.
Simas Jasaitis and Martynas Pocius netted 19 and 16 points, respectively, while Mantas Kalnietis, Paulius Jankunas and Jonas Maciulis each had 12 for Lithuania, which shot 12-of-24 from long distance to stay undefeated in the event.
The Milwaukee Bucks' Carlos Delfino paced Argentina with 25 points, while Houston Rockets forward Luis Scola had 13 points and a woeful 5-of-16 shooting effort in the debilitating loss.
Turkey and Serbia, which knocked out defending champion Spain, will square off in the other semifinal on Saturday.
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A bye week will allow Terrell Owens broken hand to recover just in time for the next game the Dallas Cowboys are slated to play, according to reports. MySportsbook.com, an football sportsbook, has posted football betting lines on TO playing.
Owens broke the bone leading to his right ring finger Sunday night and had a plate surgically attached to it Monday. Although Owens' hand was swollen and aching Wednesday, Dallas Cowboys coach Bill Parcells said he's optimistic the receiver will be back at work next week and catching passes a week from Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
MySportsbook.com online sportsbook listed Terrell Owens with odds of 7-2 (or $7 paid out for every $2 bet) to return back for the game against Tennessee.
"I certainly wouldn't rule it out now," Parcells said, referring to Terrell Owens immediate return. "Maybe five days from now I might, but I wouldn't rule it out now. ... I know we're looking to try to get him moving around pretty good in the next day or so. So we'll see where we are."
Owens did not speak with reporters Wednesday, but said Sunday he'd be out two to four weeks. A return against the Titans would be 13 days after the surgery. The Cowboys were listed as an early -7 1/2 favorite vs. the Tennessee Titans for Week 4 at MySportsbook.com
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