The Orlando Magic turned the ball over 20 times Sunday night and when the final second ticked off the clock in overtime they turned over the game as well. The Los Angeles Lakers seemed to want it more. The Lakers ended up winning 101-96 and they are taking that 2-0 series lead into Orlando on Tuesday night. Magic Courtney Lee missed a routine layup at the end of regulation that would have tied the series at 1 game each. You know that when the going gets tough the tough get going. The Lakers seem set for a date with destiny and a 15th NBA Title.

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Although the ball seems to be bouncing the Lakers way Kobe Bryant says there is nothing to be happy about. He wants this Championship as much as anyone but he knows that the series is not over until that final second tics off of their 4th win. They are only half way there and Kobe has been around long enough to know that the Magic will not simply lie down and give up in front of the hometown crowd in Orlando. Although the Magic still seem to be missing a beat they just missed splitting the series in Los Angeles. Rashard Lewis scored 34 points as the Lakers double teamed Dwight Howard all night long.

Kobe Bryant did not score 40 like in game 1 but he tossed in 29, which was just as effective. As the Lakers begin to smell the blood of their wounded victims that 15th Title is looming nearer and nearer. The Orlando Magic on the other hand is still dreaming of that first ever Finals victory. Kobe does not want his teammates to start celebrating yet.

He knows game 2 was too close for comfort and that the Magic are tough at home. If the truth were known Kobe is probably breathing a little easier. But the competitor in him knows that you can never leave your guard down. It must make him a little content to know that only 3 teams in NBA history have come back from a 2-0 deficit in the Finals. The Magic have to be aware of this as well.

Dwight Howard and the Magic may be wounded but some creatures only fight harder when wounded. He says they will have to fight harder to put everything together. The Magic know very well that losing game 3 would almost certainly leave them in a hopeless situation.

The Orlando Magic did not get to the NBA Finals on luck. It has been a season built on heartbreak but they have always found a way to prevail. Only time will tell if the Magic can reach down deep and pull out one more miracle. Orlando is a great team. Great teams find a way to win. But first the Orlando Magic will have to start playing as a team once again.

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The Sportsbook Gazette Weekly Sports Roundup is here. We will take this opportunity once a week to offer a complete overview of the latest sports news all in one article for the sports enthusiast who desires the whole scoop and nothing but the scoop all on one page. Lets take a look at the world of sports today.

NFL

In the National Football League the rumors are still flying about Brent Farve and his possible escape from retirement to quarterback the Minnesota Vikings. The jury is still out as to how much juice Farve still has and the options he could actually bring to the Vikings offense. The Vikings already have a great defense and one of the best running backs in the NFL in Adrian Peterson. All Farve would have to do is control the game and the Vikings could be a serious contender this year. But the potential of Farve coming out of retirement seems slim at this point. Nor the Vikings or Farve are willing to admit Farve is a possibility in Minnesota. More on NFL Betting!

NBA Finals

The NBA Finals tipped off Thursday night in Los Angeles between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic. The bottom line is simple. The Lakers came to Staples Arena hungry to play and the Magic did not. Dwight Howard the ‘off center’ center for Orlando could only put together a 12 -point outing and the Magic shot a dismal 30% from the floor. Orlando failed to get defensive rebounds because they couldn’t get close enough to the basket. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers scored 40 explosive points the most ever by him in a finals game. Bryant was hungry enough for both teams as he did his best to ward off the demons from last years finals when the Lakers lost to the Celtics. The Los Angeles Lakers dominated the Magic in game 1 winning 100-75. The Magic were well aware of their shortcomings Thursday night. Only game 2 will tell if they made the proper adjustments. More on NBA Betting!

Stanley Cup Finals

If you had already counted the Pittsburgh Penguins out of the Stanley Cup Finals you better think again. They approached game 4 in Pittsburgh faced with the possibility of allowing the Detroit Red Wings to go back home with a 3-1 advantage in the race for the Stanley Cup.

The Red Wings jumped out to a 2-1 lead and it seemed evident that this series was heading down the same road as last year when the Red Wings defeated the Penguins in 6 games. Just when all seemed hopeless the Penguins caught fire and scored 3 points over a five and a half minute stretch. The Red Wings never recuperated and Pittsburgh hailed victorious 4-2. With the series now tied 2-2 and going back to Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Saturday night for game 5 the odds are changing like a woman’s mind. The Stanley Cup is definitely still up for grabs. More on NHL Betting!

French Open Final

Roger Federer needs only to beat Robin Soderling of Sweden on Sunday in the French Open Final to take home his first French Open Title. Watch Roger Federer vs Robin Soderling video!

But that is not all. If he wins he will tie Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slam Singles Titles. In addition he will become only the sixth man in tennis history to have a career Grand Slam winning a title from each of tennis’ four majors. Federer has beaten Soderling in all 9 previous matches. Sunday he would like nothing better than to make it 10. More on Tennis Betting!

The world of sports is still unpredictable. The power of competition and the strength of the human spirit still make it hard to pick winners within the shadow of a doubt.

The difference between being champions and coming in the easily forgettable runner up is found somewhere in the heart and soul of the athletes who devote their lives to the sports that offer us so much pleasure. All is as it should be.

New Jersey looks to win their fifth straight home game on Tuesday as they host the Orlando Magic.  New Jersey is still in the playoff race, sitting 7th in the Eastern Conference.  Many people thought New Jersey would collapse after trading Jason Kidd but Marcus Williams has replaced Kidd and Richard Jefferson continues to score. The Nets won 102-91 against Indiana on Saturday as Williams had eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high 13 assists.  Jefferson had a season-high 36 points in the win. SBG Global reports that early NBA betting has the public taking Magic on the Road.

Jefferson is averaging 31.3 points in the last three games.  The Nets have played well at home recently winning by an average of 10.5 points per game in their four-game home winning streak. Vince Carter had 24 points in the Saturday win and is averaging 26 points per game in the Nets last five home games.

Orlando is coming off a 112-93 win against Sacramento on Sunday.  The Magic have won four of their last five games.  Dwight Howard had 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Magic.  He is averaging 29 points and 14.3 rebounds per game in his last three games. The Magic have won two of the three meetings against New Jersey this season.

SBG Global Current Line: Magic   – 4.5 , Total  202.5

Here are the NBA betting stats for Tuesday’s game. The Magic are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Tuesday games. The Magic are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Magic are 25-10-2 ATS in their last 37 road games. The Magic are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 games as a road favorite. The favorite is 6-1 ATS in the last 7 meetings between the two teams. The Magic are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings in New Jersey.

The Nets are 8-17-1 ATS in their last 26 home games. The Nets are 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games as an underdog. The Nets are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 Tuesday games. The home team is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings between the two teams.

The Over is 4-1 in Orlando’s last 5 road games. The Over is 6-2 in Orlando’s last 8 games as a road favorite. The Over is 5-2 in Orlando’s last 7 vs. the Eastern Conference. The Over is 12-5 in Orlando’s last 17 vs. the Atlantic. The Under is 5-1 in the Nets last 6 home games. The Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings between the two teams.