Bulls aim for season sweep of Pacers

Basketball Betting Lines

02/27/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Central Division rivals clash at Conseco Fieldhouse Saturday as Indiana plays host to a streaking Chicago Bulls team, aiming to sweep the season series with the Pacers for the first time in 13 years.

Chicago has already topped Indiana three times this season and a win tonight would give the club its first season sweep in the series since 1996-97.

The Bulls won for the sixth time in seven games on Friday when Luol Deng scored seven points in overtime, and Derrick Rose scored 33 overall, leading Chicago to a 115-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the Windy City.

Deng, playing with a balky left knee, finished with 23 points and seven boards, while Rose went 15-of-25 from the field for the Bulls, who snapped a five- game losing streak to the Blazers. Kirk Hinrich provided 17 points, while Hakim Warrick had 15 in the win.

"Turnovers were one of the reasons [Portland] was in the game," Rose said. "I have to stay focused and make sure I take care of the ball."

The Pacers, meanwhile, have been struggling recently and fell to Milwaukee in their most recent outing, a 112-110 setback on Thursday. The Bucks' John Salmons had 20 points in that one.

Danny Granger tallied a game-high 21 points for Indiana, which has lost three straight and seven of eight. T.J. Ford had 17 points, while Troy Murphy provided 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range.

"We had our chances," Murphy said. "I'm hoping to get some wins...I'm hoping to win some games here sooner or later. It's getting to that point."

Earl Watson added 15 points, eight boards and five assists in a losing cause.

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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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