Heat try to halt the Lin-sanity

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02/23/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat have received plenty of attention thanks to a star-studded lineup. With a squad that tries to blow the opposition out of the building on any given day, the Heat look to deflate the recent surge the New York Knicks are experiencing tonight in South Beach.

The Heat will close out a three-game homestand before the All-Star break and have won seven in a row, including a 120-108 triumph over Sacramento on Tuesday. Dwyane Wade led six players in double-digit scoring with 30 points and dished out 10 assists, while Chris Bosh tallied 20 points and 10 boards and Mario Chalmers added 20 points as well for Miami, winners of eight in row as the host and owners of a 14-2 home mark.

"We weren't necessarily sharp consistently throughout the game. We did some nice things in spurts and stretches," said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

"You do have to give the Kings credit. They played very well. They have some weapons, some young weapons on that team. If they get into a rhythm and get some confidence they can be very dangerous. They pushed us until the very end."

LeBron James recorded 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds, Norris Cole netted 12 points and Udonis Haslem scored 10. The Heat share the NBA's best record with Oklahoma City at 26-7 and have won 15 of 17 games since their last home loss versus Milwaukee on Jan. 22.

After the break the Heat will hit the road for three games out west against the Trail Blazers, Jazz and Lakers.

New York bounced back into the win column with last night's win over the Atlanta Hawks and had dropped two of three games since a season-best seven- game winning streak.

Blooming phenom Jeremy Lin had 17 points and nine assists to lead the Knicks to a 99-82 victory, while Steve Novak also scored 17 points for New York, which finished a five-game homestand with a 3-2 ledger. Landry Fields had 16 points, Carmelo Anthony added 15 and J.R. Smith contributed 12 for the Knicks. 'Melo played in his second straight game since missing seven in a row because of a groin issue, and is averaging 21.5 points per game.

"There are a lot of guys on this bench that would be starting on other teams. It's a very, very deep team and we have to use that to our advantage," said Knicks center Tyson Chandler, who compiled seven points and eight rebounds.

The Knicks shot 47.5 percent for the game and will try to extend their road winning streak to four games tonight. They sport a 7-8 record as the guest and are creeping up on the slumping Philadelphia 76ers in the Atlantic Division, sitting just three games off the pace.

New York dropped a 99-89 decision in Miami on Jan. 27 this season, as Wade came back from a six-game absence due to an ankle injury and posted 28 points. James had 31 points in that one for the Heat, who have won eight of the last 10 meetings with the Knicks.

Anthony was sidelined in the first meeting with Miami because of a thumb issue and Bill Walker did his part with 21 points. The Knicks have lost five of six trips to south Florida.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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