Spurs visit Thunder in key Western Conference matchup

Basketball Betting Lines

03/22/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Playoff positioning in the jumbled Western Conference is at stake tonight, when the Oklahoma City Thunder open a four-game homestand versus the San Antonio Spurs at the Ford Center.

Oklahoma City is sixth in the conference standings, just a game ahead of No. 7 San Antonio, and one game behind Phoenix for the fifth seed. Utah is two games ahead of the Thunder in the fourth slot.

The Thunder will also host the Rockets, Lakers and Blazers on the residency and are 22-11 at home. They have lost two of three games since a five-game winning streak and suffered a 121-101 loss at Indiana on Sunday.

Jeff Green finished with 20 points and Kevin Durant had 16 points for Oklahoma City, which went 1-2 on the three-game road trip.

"How we came out was a disgrace to the game of basketball," Durant said. "That starts with me. I apologize to all the fans and all of my teammates that I came out like that."

Oklahoma City will put its six-game home winning streak to the test tonight against a tough San Antonio team.

The Spurs have dropped two of three games since a four-game win streak and are coming off Sunday's 119-114 overtime setback at Atlanta. Manu Ginobili lit up the scoreboard for 38 points and dished out six assists for the Spurs, whose seven-game win streak against the Hawks came to an end.

"Heartbreaking, we know we have a really tough stretch coming. We made a huge effort to stay in the game and have the opportunity to win it, and we couldn't finish it," said Ginobili, whose Spurs will face the Thunder, Lakers, Cavs and Celtics over the next four games.

Tim Duncan posted 29 points and 13 rebounds in defeat. San Antonio is 16-17 away from the Alamo City this season.

The Spurs have won two of three against the Thunder this season, and 14 of the previous 19 meetings in the series.

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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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