Rookies Win, Robinson Dunks and Pierce Shoots. Sportsbook NBA action this past weekend had the rookies winning against the sophomores while Nate Robinson won the Slam Dunk Contest and Paul Pierce won the 3-Point Shootout. The victory by the rookies was a major shock at the online sportsbook since they were 12 point underdogs in the Rookie Challenge.
Sportsbook stats had San Antonio rookie DeJuan Blair pulling down 23 rebounds to go along with 22 points. It was the first 20-20 game in Rookie Challenge history. The rookies were able to get the win vs. the odds at the online sportsbook as they won 140-128 victory against the sophomores on Friday. “He started getting the rebounds for us. He did what he said he was going to do,” said Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans. Even though Blair had a big game it was Evans who was the MVP as he scored 26 points. Russell Westbrook had 40 points for the sophomores in a losing effort vs. sportsbook lines. The rookies had lost the previous seven games and eight of the ten in the history of the Rookie Challenge.
Evans made 11 of 15 shots and he also had six rebounds and five assists as sportsbook stats had it. Online sportsbook numbers had Brandon Jennings getting 22 points and eight assists while James Harden also added 22 points. Sportsbook stats had Michael Beasley getting 29 points for the sophomores. Online sportsbook had Kevin Love, who ran his mouth about winning, had just 12 points and six rebounds for the sophomores.
Sportsbook had Nate Robinson winning the Slam Dunk contest to become the first-ever three time winner of the event. He was able to defeat DeMar DeRozan who won the Dunk-off on Friday to get into the event. Robinson said that winning three times is enough for him and that he won’t be back.
“No, no, no, no, no. I don’t think I can bear that anymore. I’m just happy with this third one,” he said. “This is the last one.” It was not a pretty dunk contest and the NBA may have to rethink this event altogether. Robinson barely won against DeRozan as he got 51 percent of the fan vote.
The better contest as sportsbook odds indicated was the 3-Point Shootout as Paul Pierce had 20 points in the final round to beat Stephen Cury and Chauncey Billups. “I worked on it, I really took pride in it. In ’02 I stunk it up. I wanted to come in here and put on a show,” Pierce said.