Division rival Knicks, Nets tangle in New Jersey

Basketball Betting Lines

02/25/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Both the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets will aim to make up ground in the Atlantic Division this evening when the teams battle at Continental Airlines Arena.

The Nets are currently second in the Atlantic, five games back of the Raptors, while the Knicks are third in the standings one further game back of the lead. Both clubs are also in striking distance of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey took the first meeting between the two squads this year on January 19 and has won seven of the last eight in the series and 13 of the last 16. The Nets have been successful against the Knicks at home where they have won nine of the last 11.

The Nets moved to 1-1 on their current five-game homestand on Friday after topping the Sacramento Kings, 109-96. Jason Kidd rewarded the club that elected not to trade him at the deadline with a trouble-double. He posted 22 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in the win.

Kidd was playing despite a cracked rib revealed Thursday, which was the NBA's trading deadline.

Vince Carter added 26 points and had 11 rebounds for the Nets, who halted a three-game losing streak. Eddie House notched 20 points, while Marcus Williams added 19 for New Jersey.

The Nets, who are 15-14 at home this season, remain without forward Richard Jefferson, who is still out at least another two weeks because of right ankle surgery.

The Knicks were involved in a tight game on Friday, but emerged as winners over the Bucks.

Channing Frye hit two free throws after a controversial foul on Andrew Bogut with 0.8 seconds remaining, as New York beat Milwaukee, 95-93. Frye's free throws came courtesy of a loose ball foul on Bogut as the two battled for a rebound off a Stephon Marbury miss.

Officials huddled and went to a replay to determine if time was left on the clock. Bogut's left hand barely made contact with Frye, causing the questionable foul call.

Marbury and Jamal Crawford each had 22 points for the Knicks, who posted their second win in three games. Eddy Curry was limited to 10 points, but had 11 rebounds for the Knicks.

New York is 10-18 on the road this season, but will return home to host the Heat on Monday.

On the injury front, forward David Lee (high right ankle sprain) and guard Steve Francis (flu) are both questionable for today's game.

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Big East Conference odds

Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence

Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.

Work left to do:

Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.

Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.

DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...

West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.

Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.

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