Harden lifts Thunder over Jazz

Basketball Betting Lines

02/14/2012 - Oklahoma City, OK (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - James Harden scored 22 points and dished out five assists off the bench, and the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Utah Jazz, 111-85, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Tuesday.

Kevin Durant had 21 points and fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook added 16, while Serge Ibaka notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder, who won their second consecutive game, both over Utah. Oklahoma City bested the Jazz, 101-87, on the road Friday.

Al Jefferson scored 15 and Paul Millsap posted 10 points and eight rebounds for the Jazz, who lost their fifth game in six tries.

Oklahoma City shot 54.5 percent from the field, while holding Utah to just 35.6 percent.

Jefferson scored 11 in the first quarter on 5-of-10 shooting from the field, but his teammates shot just 18.8 percent (3-of-16), and the Thunder utilized a balanced attack to take a 25-19 lead after one.

The second period belonged to the Oklahoma City bench. Paced by Harden's nine points, the Thunder reserves scored 16 of the team's 28, including five from Harden during a 9-0 run after the Jazz cut their deficit to just three. The home team entered the locker room up 53-39.

Utah was on the precipice of getting back into the game near the midpoint of the third, rolling off a 8-2 spurt to cut the deficit to 12, but the Thunder responded by scoring 13 of the next 19. Oklahoma City led 79-63 after three.

Game Notes

Oklahoma City won its seventh consecutive game at home...The Thunder have won four of their last five...Oklahoma City held a 60-42 edge in points scored in the paint and 17-4 in fastbreak points...The Thunder led by as many as 27. Utah never led.

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -- Golden Boy Oscar De La Hoya and his rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrived at the MGM Grand here Wednesday amid the pomp and pandemonium befitting two of the biggest stars in the sport who are about to duke it out for the WBC super welterweight crown this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

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De La Hoya and Mayweather take part in today's final press conference before the official weigh-in this Friday.

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But Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao said in a recent interview with The Freeman's Emmanuel Villaruel that De La Hoya will win by unanimous decision over Mayweather.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on boxing needs.