Surging Mavs host Hornets in Big D

Basketball Betting Lines

02/28/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The surging Dallas Mavericks shoot for a season-high seventh straight win on Sunday when they welcome the New Orleans Hornets to Big D.

Jason Kidd's triple-double fueled a furious Maverick comeback in the fourth quarter to force overtime on Friday, as Dallas downed Atlanta, 111-103, at Philips Arena for its sixth straight triumph.

Kidd recorded 19 points, 17 assists and 16 rebounds to help the visitors overcome a 15-point deficit and hand the Hawks only their seventh loss at home all season.

Dirk Nowitzki poured in a game-best 37 points on 15-of-26 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. His five points led the Mavs in overtime.

Kidd, meanwhile, hoisted three of his four three-pointers in the final minutes of regulation leading to extra time and made a heads-up play by drawing a technical on Hawks coach Mike Woodson to help turn the tide with 1:37 remaining.

Jason Terry chipped in 17 points and Shawn Marion 14 to help offset the absence of Caron Butler, who missed a second straight game after suffering an allergic reaction to a medication. Butler is expected to return tonight.

The game seemed to be in the Hawks' control after Jamal Crawford put in two free throws for an 86-71 lead with 8:23 to play, but Dallas chipped away and trailed 97-95 with 1:43 remaining when Kidd made an odd but prosperous decision. He raced upcourt following Mike Bibby's last shot and purposefully made contact with Hawks coach Mike Woodson, who was barking orders to his players close to the boundary line.

"I saw him on the court...we needed to get a point somehow. I don't know what the exact ruling is, but hey, he's in a suit and I had to ratchet up the pressure -- make the officials make something happen," Kidd explained. "For some odd reason it's a fashion thing for coaches to be out on the floor. For me, it was just see what the official was going to call."

The officials called a technical on Woodson for being on the court, and Nowitzki's free throw made it a one-point game. The Mavs kept possession and made the incident a four-point swing on Kidd's three from beyond the left elbow with the clock winding under a minute.

In the overtime, Dallas scored the first seven points and were up 106-99 with 1:06 to go following a debilitating three by Nowitzki.

The Hornets, meanwhile, are also coming off an impressive win on Friday when David West finished with 40 points and 10 rebounds, as New Orleans fought back from a big second-half deficit to take a 100-93 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Rookie Marcus Thornton added 18 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while fellow freshman Darren Collison had 16 points and seven assists for the Hornets, who trailed by as many as 18 in the third quarter.

But New Orleans held the Magic to 4-of-18 shooting and 13 points in the fourth quarter on the way to ending a two-game slide.

"It was just an outstanding finish to the game," Hornets head coach Jeff Bower said. "I'm really proud of our team, how they fought and turned a difficult game into a victory. What I was most proud about was the fact that we didn't give up on the game when we were behind and things weren't going our way."

Dallas, which last won seven straight from Dec. 29, 2007-Jan. 12, 2008, snapped a two-game skid to the Hornets with a 94-90 win in Big D on Dec. 14.

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El Duque expected to throw Tuesday

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez, sidelined at spring training because of arthritis in his neck, is expected to resume throwing on Tuesday.

Hernandez received a cortisone shot Thursday after leaving camp and returning to New York to have his neck examined. The 41-year-old right-hander is penciled in as the team's No. 2 starter behind Tom Glavine.

El Duque's health is a major issue for the Mets, who won the NL East in 2007 and came within one victory of the World Series. Their aging and unsettled rotation is a big question mark this year.

MySportsbook.com has the Mets as -110 favorites to repeat as NL East champions odds. 

Hernandez went 11-11 with a 4.66 ERA last season, including 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in 20 starts after the Mets acquired him from Arizona in late May. But he missed the playoffs because of a torn calf muscle.

New York already is without Pedro Martinez, out until at least midseason following rotator cuff surgery. Among those competing for starting jobs are prospects Mike Pelfrey, Philip Humber and Jason Vargas, plus veterans Chan Ho Park, Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele.

Notes: Mets manager Willie Randolph is excited about two new utility players he could have on his bench: Damion Easley and David Newhan. ''Their value is really all over the place,'' Randolph said. Easley can play anywhere in the infield and could be used as an emergency outfielder, though Randolph said he would prefer to keep the veteran in the infield. Newhan, meanwhile, can play second base, third or any outfield position for the Mets. ''I love versatility,'' Randolph said. ''I love guys that can give me options when I need them to step in.''

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