Daily Sports Roundup
Tuesday, November 17
Today in the Daily Sports Roundup: The Rangers host the Capitals, the Pacers visit the Nets, and the Suns look to pick up a win against the Rockets in Houston.
Tipping off on the hardwood . . .
The NBA offers up eight games on Tuesday, including Phoenix at Houston. The 9-2 Suns slipped past the Raptors for a 101-100 win on Sunday, getting 30 points and eight rebounds from Amare Stoudemire. Steve Nash picked up 23 points and nine assists in that contest. The 6-4 Rockets were beaten 101-91 by the Lakers on Sunday, with Aaron Brooks scoring 33 points in that defeat. Trevor Ariza picked up nine points and grabbed eight rebounds for Houston that contest.
Also on the NBA hardwood on Tuesday: Golden State at Cleveland, Oklahoma City at Miami, the Clippers at New Orleans, Toronto at Denver, Chicago at Sacramento, Detroit at the Lakers, and Indiana at New Jersey. The Nets' early-season woes continued on Saturday, as they were edged 81-80 in Miami to fall to 0-10 on the season. Brook Lopez and Trenton Hassell each scored 17 points in that defeat, while Chris Douglas-Roberts was good for 16 points off the bench.
As well, the top two teams in college basketball are both in action on Tuesday, as Kansas hosts Memphis and Michigan State gets a visit from Gonzaga. The Jayhawks rolled to a win in their season opener on Friday, blasting Hofstra 101-65 on the strength of 27 points from Xavier Henry. The Spartans had an easy time in their opener as well, beating up on Florida Gulf Coast by a 97-58 score.
Taking a trip around the rink . . .
Finally, there are five games on the NHL's schedule for Tuesday, with Carolina at Montreal, Toronto at Ottawa, San Jose at Nashville, Colorado at Calgary, and Washington at the Rangers. The 12-4-4 Capitals are coming off a 5-2 loss to the Devils on Saturday night, with Jose Theodore giving up all five goals on 23 shots. Tomas Fleischmann and Mathieu Perreault had the Caps goals. The 11-8-1 Rangers knocked off the Senators 2-1 in a shootout in matinee action Saturday.
Today's Helpful Tips
Tuesday, November 17
Kobe a bit gimpy
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has a strained right groin muscle that could affect his playing ability. Bryant only managed to sink five of the 20 shots he took during the Lakers' 10 point setback to the visiting Houston Rockets. The Purple and Gold were 9-point faves in that game.
The Lakers have a busy stretch ahead with four home games in the next seven days, but when asked if he would take any games off to let the injury heal, Bryant said, “Absolutely not.”
The Lakers host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night and odds have yet to be set for that game.
Bulls down a man
The Buffalo Bulls will be without offensive lineman Andrew West for Wednesday's game at Miami (Ohio). MAC Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher announced that the conference would impose a one-game suspension to West for violating the MAC Sportsmanlike Conduct Bylaws during the Bulls' 27-24 loss to Ohio last week.
West, a 6-foot-6, 314-pound senior is one of the Bulls' best run blockers and one of only two returning starters from last season's offensive line.
Oddsmakers have Buffalo favored by 2.5-points. No total has been set for this game.
Lehtinen back in
The Dallas Stars will get a much-needed boost for Wednesday's game against the Detroit Red Wings. Dallas expects to get forward Jere Lehtinen back from injury.
Lehtinen is one of the NHL's best defensive forwards and could spark his mates who have dropped five of their last seven games. The three-time Selke Award winner has only played five games for Dallas this season, registering one assist.
Oddsmakers have yet to set a line for this game.
Ovechkin finally ready?
Alex Ovechkin is probable for Tuesday's game against the New York Rangers according to head coach Bruce Boudreau.
"As of today, he's in." Bouderau told the Washington Post.
The former MVP has missed the last six games with a shoulder injury but remains the team's leading scorer with 23 points. Oddsmakers have yet to post a line for this game.
Double trouble
The Miami Dolphins got bad news when leading rusher Ronnie Brown went down with an ankle injury in Sunday's come from behind win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However that news just got worse.
The running back also injured his foot and it is unlikely that he will be able to play Thursday against the Carolina Panthers. Brown could be out for more than a few weeks depending on the severity of the injuries.
Ricky Williams will start in place of Brown against the Panthers, who are favored by 3-points. The total is set at 43.5.
Notable quotable
"He is a cool owner and it is good to see him around here supporting us. To have an owner like that, it's cool."
-- Tennessee Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch, talking about owner Bud Adams, who was fined $250,000 by the league for making an obscene gesture at Bills fans while celebrating Tennessee's victory over Buffalo on Sunday.