Tag: Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Denver Nuggets at Memphis Grizzlies sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Denver Nuggets (32-14) and Memphis Grizzlies (22-24) will lock horns at FedExForum at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Nuggets-Grizzlies odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Nuggets at Grizzlies: Key injuries

Nuggets

  • C Bol Bol (foot) out
  • PF Paul Millsap (knee) out
  • PG Jamal Murray (ankle) out
  • PF Mason Plumlee (foot) out

Grizzlies

  • PG Grayson Allen (hip) out
  • SF Bruno Caboclo (knee) out
  • SF Jae Crowder (knee) doubtful
  • SG Andre Iguodala (personal) out

Nuggets at Grizzlies: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Grizzlies 111, Nuggets 107

Moneyline (ML)

The GRIZZLIES (-106) are short dogs at home in a battle of red-hot teams. The Nuggets (-115) are slightly favored but roll with the Grizz on their home floor, as they have really been playing well lately, winning 10 of their past 12 games overall.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The GRIZZLIES (+1.5, -115) are a little more expensive catching a point and a half, but if you like the Grizz, the way to go is on the moneyline at a cheaper price. If you like the Nuggets (-1.5, -106) then you’ll want to lay the points instead of betting the moneyline favorite.

Denver has won each of the two meetings this season, and it has won four in a row against Memphis; however, the Grizzlies are 9-3 ATS in their past 12 at home and 8-3 ATS in the past 11 overall while going 3-1-1 ATS in the previous five against winning teams. Plus, the Nuggets are 1-4 ATS in the past five trips to Memphis.

Over/Under (O/U)

The trends for both sides show the UNDER 224.5 (-106) is the way to go. The Under has connected in five straight at home for the Grizzlies, and six of the past seven overall. The Under is also 9-3 in their past 12 games against winning teams.

For the Nuggets, the Under is 4-1 in their past five on the road, and 7-3 in their past 10 games overall. The Under is also 4-1 in the past five meetings in Memphis and 7-3 in the past 10 meetings in this series.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Westbrook scores 32, but Harden-less Rockets fall short in Denver

Russell Westbrook led Houston with 32 points and 7 assists. But with James Harden out (bruised thigh), it wasn’t enough to win at Denver.

There was a basketball game for the Houston Rockets on Sunday in Denver, even if the day will be remembered most for the intense emotions following the shocking death of NBA icon Kobe Bryant.

At 41 years old, Bryant died with eight others — including his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna — in a tragic helicopter crash near Los Angeles, where he played for 20 seasons with the Lakers. In those years from 1996 through 2016, Bryant was a five-time NBA champion; a two-time MVP and scoring champion; and an 18-time All-Star.

Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three other daughters.

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As for Sunday’s game, which reserve guard Austin Rivers said was tough to play, the Rockets (28-17) lost to the Denver Nuggets (32-14) by a 117-110 margin (box score). Houston had a nine-point lead after the first quarter and led by two at halftime, but they were unable to hold on.

Russell Westbrook led the way with 32 points and seven assists, but the Rockets were shorthanded with James Harden (bruised thigh) out injured. Unfortunately, Harden is also doubtful for Monday’s game at Utah, which Westbrook is already set to miss since he played Sunday.

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Sunday’s loss was tough for the Rockets in the Western Conference standings. The result puts them three games behind the Nuggets in the loss column, and it also allowed Denver to tie the season series between the teams at two games apiece.

Had the Rockets won, they would have trailed the Nuggets by just one game in the loss column, along with possession of the tiebreaker. Now, they’re three back, and Denver is well positioned to have any eventual tiebreaker, since the next criteria is conference record. At the moment, Denver has seven losses to West teams, compared to 13 for Houston.

Eric Gordon (19), Ben McLemore (15), Rivers (13), and Danuel House Jr. also scored in double figures for the Rockets.

Meanwhile, reigning All-Star center Nikola Jokic was the clear star for the Nuggets with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Without Westbrook and most likely without Harden, the Rockets now travel to Utah for the second half of the back-to-back. Houston will be significant underdogs versus the Jazz (32-13), who have won 19 of their last 21 games. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. Central time on Monday,

Nuggets fans chant ‘Kobe’ after a pregame moment of silence for Kobe Bryant

The Nuggets honored Kobe Bryant on Sunday.

The entire sports world was shocked on Sunday by the news that Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif — just outside Malibu. In all, five people died in the crash. Bryant was 41 years old.

Just as that news spread, the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets were taking the floor for pregame shootaround. Austin Rivers was visibly emotional just minutes before tipoff. Other NBA players and athletes reacted to the tragic news on social media.

Ahead of the game, which went on as scheduled, the Nuggets held a moment of silence for Bryant. The extended moment of silence was capped off by Nuggets fans chanting Kobe’s name at the Pepsi Center.

As of Sunday afternoon, the NBA hadn’t announced any plans to postpone games. The Lakers aren’t scheduled to play again until Tuesday.

You can read more from USA TODAY Sports.

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Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Sunday’s Houston Rockets at Denver Nuggets sports betting odds, with NBA matchup analysis, picks and best bets.

The Houston Rockets (28-16) head to the Mile High City to play the Denver Nuggets (31-14) at 3:30 p.m. ET at Pepsi Center.  We analyze Rockets-Nuggets odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Rockets at Nuggets: Key injuries

Rockets

  • SG James Harden (thigh) questionable
  • SG Gerald Green (foot) out
  • C Nene Hilario (groin) out

Nuggets

  • PF Mason Plumlee (foot) out
  • PF Paul Millsap (knee) out
  • PG Jamal Murray (ankle) out
  • C Bol Bol (foot) out

Rockets at Nuggets: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Nuggets 125, Rockets 113

Moneyline (ML)

Consistency hasn’t been a thing with the Rockets or Nuggets recently;  Houston has won its last two games after losing four straight and Denver is 2-2 in its last four games. If Harden misses Sunday’s game, then who will buffer PG Russell Westbrook from another terrible outing in Denver? Westbrook has lost his last five games and scored fewer than 15 points in each of his last four games in Denver. Then again, it’s been Westbrook who has been pulling his end recently compared to a slumping Harden. The Beard is averaging 23 points per game on a .333 field goal percentage and .136 3-point success rate over his last five games.

Expect Denver to bring its Sunday Best against a Rockets team that generally ends its week in some sort of basketball hangover. The Nuggets are 7-2 in Sunday games with a plus-7.2 margin of victory, while Houston is 0-3 this season on Sundays with a minus-18.2 margin of victory. It has given up a whopping 131 PPG in those outings. Bet NUGGETS (-121) on the moneyline. New to sports betting? Bet $121 on the Nuggets to earn a profit of $100 if the Nuggets win outright.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

PASS on an against the spread wager. A tad nitty of a play here, sure, but I don’t want to mess with the Nuggets (-1.5, -106) because we are paying only slightly more to take them on the moneyline and I’d rather just make that bet then fret the 1.5 points.

Over/Under (O/U)

Look to the officiating crew for the handicap on our total in this game. It’s a nationally televised game and I anticipate more whistles, more instant replay, and more meddling from the officials. The crew assigned to Rockets-Nuggets makes me LOVE the OVER 227.5 (-106); the referee crew’s Over/Under record on the season is 66-32 in all games and 14-8-2 in Rockets games this season. In addition, the average total of games officiated by this crew is 229.4 points and don’t forget about the Rockets’ Sunday split above—131 PPG given up!

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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2020 aggregate NBA mock draft 4.0: Evaluating the rising upperclassmen

Somehow already past the midpoint of the college basketball season, the 2020 NBA Draft is starting to shape up with far more clear rankings.

Somehow already past the midpoint of the college basketball season, the 2020 NBA draft is starting to shape up with far more clear rankings.

As always, we examine the most trusted analysts to give us the best idea of a consensus for what the upcoming draft class will look like in June. The latest 2020 NBA mock drafts from experts at ESPN, CBS Sports, SI.com, Bleacher Report, NBADraft.net, The Athletic and USA Today Sports Media Group’s Rookie Wire were used for these rankings.

The top four players (Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Cole Anthony) have remained the exact same despite none of the latter three players being active for various different reasons.

Meanwhile, Iowa State sophomore point guard Tyrese Haliburton entered the Top 5 and replaced 19-year-old Israeli prospect Deni Avdija – who has not seen much playing time in the Euroleague.

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Included below are brief scouting reports for senior guards who have improved their draft stock the most since our last update. These players listed are all four-year NCAA players who could be ready to make the jump to the NBA like Josh Hart and Malcolm Brogdon did in their respective classes.

MARKUS HOWARD, MARQUETTE

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 46

One of the most important things to know about Marquette senior Markus Howard is that despite the fact he has four years of collegiate experience, he is just 20 years old. Few teams operate their offense through one player quite like Golden Eagles do with Howard, who has taken 42.5 percent of their total field goal attempts. Fortunately, the guard brags one of the most efficient and prolific jump shots among all NCAA players. Howard operates well when he is shooting off the catch and off the dribble, which will make him a good fit for almost any offense in the NBA. He is currently averaging 28.4 points per game while shooting 42.5 percent on three-pointers. Similarly, no guard in college has been fouled more often than Howard has thus far. He should be a lock win Big East Player of the Year and should be a strong contender for the National Player of the Year, too. As a pro, he can likely become a spark-plug scoring option off the bench. His draft stock has improved from No. 68 up to No. 46 month-over-month.

PAYTON PRITCHARD, OREGON

(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 47

Oregon senior guard Payton Pritchard was a Top-50 recruit coming into the Pac-12 back in 2016. He attended West Linn High School, where he was able to lead his squad to four consecutive state titles. That accomplishment was an especially impressive feat considering the program had only won the OSAA Boys Basketball Championship once before and it was way back in 1997. He has since played for the Ducks in the Final Four (2017) and also won MVP of the Pac-12 Tournament last season. He is currently averaging 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists with 1.7 steals per game. His assist rate (32.7 percent) is Top 20 among seniors and he has connected on 40.7 percent of his three-pointers. Now more than halfway through the season, he is the heavy favorite to win Pac-12 Player of the Year and could be a sleeper for National Player of the Year as well. He has leaped from No. 96 in December all the way to No. 47 now in January.

SKYLAR MAYS, LSU

Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports

Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 57

During his senior year of high school, Skylar Mays was actually teammates with Howard at Findlay Prep. Also on the roster was 2019 first-rounder PJ Washington and Toronto Raptors two-way wing Oshae Brissett. For what it is worth, their roster also had current college basketball standouts Tristan Clark (Baylor) and Lamine Diane (CSUN). Their team has already sent tons of prospects into the NBA and Mays could very well be the next in line. He is a potential 3-and-D threat, averaging 1.4 three-pointers and 2.1 steals per game for the LSU Tigers as an NCAA senior. Meanwhile, LSU’s adjusted offensive rating (116.6) ranks Top 5 in college basketball. Along with Reggie Perry (Mississippi State) as well as Kerry Blackshear Jr. (Florida), Mays has a strong candidacy to win SEC Player of the Year. He has jumped from No. 90 last month to No. 57 this month.

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Pelicans vs. Nuggets Recap: The good, the bad and the Ball

The Pelicans shot themselves in the foot repeatedly on Friday night as the Nuggets escaped New Orleans with a 113-106 win.

The Pelicans shot themselves in the foot repeatedly on Friday night as the Nuggets escaped New Orleans with a 113-106 win.

The Good: Josh Hart

On a night when a lot of Pelicans seemed to lack energy, Josh Hart was the outlier. He finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds off the bench and accounted for almost one-third of New Orleans’ 43 total rebounds.

His three-point play late in the game exemplified his night as he corralled a save attempt from Nikola Jokic under the Pelicans basket, took one dribble and converted a reverse layup while being fouled. The basket and free throw cut the lead to five but the Pelicans could not get the stops needed down the stretch.

Honorable Mentions: Zion Williamson, Michael Porter Jr.

The Bad: Turnovers and rebounds

When it came to finishing off defensive series with a rebound or taking care of the ball, the Pelicans did everything they could to keep the Nuggets in the game.

As dramatic as the shooting percentages were on the night, the second-chance points and turnovers were equally dramatic. Denver’s 35 second-chance points were tied for the most by any team in any game this season.

The Pelicans also committed 17 turnovers that turned into 13 Nugget points while Denver only had 11 turnovers on the night.

Honorable mentions: Free throw shooting

The Ball: Another quiet night

Lonzo Ball again took a backseat to Williamson and Brandon Ingram. He finished 3-for-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, scoring just nine points. He added six assists and four rebounds with a steal in 35 minutes of action.

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Pelicans vs. Nuggets Preview: Moving forward after Zion-mania

The healthy New Orleans Pelicans host the beaten Denver Nuggets on Friday with a chance for a key Western Conference win.

Who: New Orleans Pelicans vs. Denver Nuggets

When: Friday, Jan. 24, 8:00 p.m ET

Where: Smoothie King Center

How to watch: Fox Sports New Orleans

With the madness and chaos of Zion Williamson’s debut in the rearview mirror (so long as you’re not Jimmy Butler), the Pelicans can now move into some normalcy with their star rookie in the lineup.

Ironically, after being injured all season, the Pelicans will be as close to full strength as they’ve been all season while facing a depleted Nuggets side. Only Kenrich Williams has been ruled out for the Pelicans ahead of Friday’s game against the Nuggets. Meanwhile, Denver will be without Mason Plumlee, Jamal Murray and Paul Millsap while Gary Harris and Michael Porter Jr. are both listed as questionable.

It creates a winnable opportunity for the Pelicans in a game that may not have been seen as such leading into the contest.

Containing Nikola Jokic will be the biggest issue at hand for New Orleans. Derrick Favors, Williamson and Jaxson Hayes all will likely defend him at times with the middle of that trio present the most intriguing match-up dilemma.

It’ll be an interesting look at how the Pelicans handle Williamson return in a more natural environment that won’t be quite as chaotic as his debut was.

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Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Friday’s Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Pelicans sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Denver Nuggets (30-14) visit the New Orleans Pelicans (17-28) Friday at 8 p.m. ET at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. We analyze the Nuggets-Pelicans odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.

Nuggets at Pelicans: Key injuries

Nuggets

  • PG Jamal Murray (ankle) out
  • SG Gary Harris (groin) questionable
  • PF Paul Millsap (knee) out
  • PF Mason Plumlee (foot) out
  • SF Michael Porter Jr. (back) questionable
  • C Bol Bol (foot) out

Pelicans

  • SG JJ Redick (hamstring) probable
  • SG Josh Hart (ankle) probable
  • SF Darius Miller (Achilles) out
  • SF Kenrich Williams (back) out

Nuggets at Pelicans: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 9 a.m. ET.

Prediction

New Orleans 118, Denver 113

Moneyline (ML)

AVOID. Denver is 13-8 (minus-5.4 units) on the road. New Orleans is 8-14 (minus-7.4) at home. The lean is toward the Pelicans (-167), but there is better expected value on the spread. A New Orleans line closer to -160 would flip the equation.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on New Orleans to win returns a profit of $5.99.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Nuggets are 9-10-2 ATS on the road. At home, the Pelicans are 12-10 ATS. Denver is 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games against sub-.400 teams. New Orleans is 6-1-1 ATS over its last eight contests against winning teams. The Pelicans have won six in a row when coming off a straight-up loss. The banged-up Nuggets are playing their third straight abroad in this one. In two other road trips of three-plus games, Denver is 0-2 in game No. 3 (average against-the-spread loss is 17 points). With the injuries and with a schedule that has them playing a fourth game in six nights, some extra midseason fatigue can be expected.

New Orleans rookie F Zion Williamson scored 17 points in the fourth quarter of his minute-restricted NBA debut, a 121-117 loss to the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday. The Williamson-version Pelicans were improved on the defensive glass. New Orleans is a productive team in transition, and this game could provide better opportunities in that area. Denver is turning the ball over more frequently of late and has seen a downturn in its offensive rebounding numbers. Back NEW ORLEANS (-2.5, -125) to win by at least 3 points.

Over/Under (O/U)

Winning Overs dot the recent trends for both sides, but the public may be a bit slow in adjusting. There is some decent value on the upside of OVER 228.5 (-129) for this contest.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Russell Westbrook posts historic line as Rockets snap losing streak

In the win, Westbrook became the first Rockets player in nearly 30 years with at least 28 points, 16 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals.

Russell Westbrook led the way with 28 points and 16 rebounds as the Houston Rockets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 121-105 home victory (box score) on Wednesday night over Denver.

The win improves Houston to 27-16, while dropping the Nuggets to 30-14. It also gives the Rockets a 2-1 lead in the season series between the teams, which could be critical for potential tiebreaker purposes. The fourth and final game between them comes Sunday afternoon in Denver.

Backcourt co-star James Harden scored 27 points on 6-of-13 (46.2%) shooting, making it just the second time in eight games that he’s shot above 40%. Meanwhile, Eric Gordon had a season-high 25 points off the bench with a season-best 6-of-8 showing (75%) on 3-pointers.

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But Westbrook was the clear headliner. With 28 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, and four steals, he was the first Rockets player to post those numbers or better (in those categories) since Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon. “The Dream” did that nearly 30 years ago… on March 3, 1990.

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Wednesday’s victory was the 200th win in Houston for head coach Mike D’Antoni. In his postgame remarks, D’Antoni said he recently told his team that they were struggling with defensive rebounding — to which Westbrook replied, “I’ll just go get them.” With 10 of his team-high 16 rebounds versus Denver coming on defense, he certainly did his part.

Besides his presence on the glass, Westbrook also played well as a floor general in leading the Rockets during minutes that Harden sat on the bench — as evidenced by his plus/minus total of +25, compared to +7 for Harden. In those bench minutes, Austin Rivers (11 points) played well in his return from a thumb injury with three makes in four 3-point attempts.

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The Nuggets were led by All-Star center Nikola Jokic, who had a triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists.

The Rockets return to action Friday at Minnesota (15-29) to kick off a four-game road trip, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m. Central time.

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Denver Nuggets vs. Houston Rockets odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Wednesday’s Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets NBA matchup, with NBA betting odds, picks and best bets

The Denver Nuggets (30-13) will visit the slumping Houston Rockets (26-16) at the Toyota Center Wednesday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.  We analyze the Nuggets-Rockets sports betting odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.

Nuggets vs. Rockets: Key Injuries

Nuggets:

  • PF Paul Millsap (knee) out
  • SG Gary Harris (thigh) out
  • PG Jamal Murray (ankle) out

Rockets:

  • PG Austin Rivers (thumb) questionable

Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM.

Nuggets vs. Rockets: Odds, lines, picks, and betting tips

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Wednesday at 12:20 p.m. ET.

Prediction

Nuggets 114, Rockets 110

Moneyline (ML)

Despite losing four straight games, the Rockets (-400) are the moneyline favorites at home on Wednesday night. Houston has been good at home this season, winning 14 of 21 at the Toyota Center. However, the NUGGETS (+310) have fared well on the road, as well, going 13-7. With the Rockets in a major slump, take the Nuggets here as they present far more value as they have been the better team this season.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager the Nuggets to win outright would return a profit of $31.

Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

The Rockets open this game as 8.5 point favorites over the NUGGETS (+8.5, -115). With the line moving to 9.5 points midday Wednesday, and with the Rockets having failed to cover the spread in six of their last seven games, you should avoid picking Houston here. While Denver certainly has a history of coming up short in Houston, they are the far better bet here this time. Take the Nuggets and the points.

Over/Under (O/U)

The total is set at 226.5 points, which feels just about right considering how explosive each offense has been this season. It’s worth noting that the under has hit in five of the last seven games for the Nuggets as they have the No. 3 scoring defense. Expect there to be plenty of scoring in this one, but for the UNDER (226.5, -110) to nonetheless hit.

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Marcus_Mosher and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

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