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A22 SPORTS
Saturday 15 February 2020
Place your bet

Continued from Page 17 event. When the league
took its midseason spec-
The contest is often more tacle to Las Vegas in 2007,
fun than game with play- it went under the condi-
ers showing off their snazzy tion that it couldn’t be bet
sneakers but not their best there in the sports books.
defensive stances. So the Gavin Maloof, whose fam-
league is implementing the ily then owned the Sacra-
new format believing the mento Kings and the Palms,
change will stop the laissez responded: “If you bet the
faire approach to defense. NBA All-Star Game, you
Scores will be reset to 0-0 might as well get a life.”
for each of the first three Times have changed. There
quarters. Each time a team is currently gambling in 14
wins a quarter, it earns states and advances in
$100,000 for charity. The to- technology allow bettors to
tals will then be added and put their money down on
the fourth quarter will be their mobile phones right
played to a target score from their living rooms. Bets
the winning team will have can’t be placed on Dono-
to reach, rather than a hue’s site, but it has links to
standard 12-minute period. regulated ones where they
Everyone will find out Sun- can.
day if players and bettors These days, Johnny Avello,
are more engaged. the head of race and sports In this Feb. 18, 2018. file photo, Team Stephen center Joel Embiid, left, of the Philadelphia 76ers.
“Whenever there’s a big book for DraftKings, said leaps for the tipoff won by Team LeBron forward Anthony Davis, of the New Orleans Pelicans,
talking point in sports and All-Star weekend, includ- during the NBA All-Star basketball game in Los Angeles. Associated Press
among groups of sports ing the 3-point shooting
fans,” Donohue said, “inev- and dunk contests, draws quest of him before the That mindset was lost in going to happen. It’s new
itably fans have an opinion a fair amount of interest. game and did so again recent years, with the low to bookmakers and bet-
and when they’re legally About 35% of DraftKings’ when recounting the story point in 2017 when play- tors,” he said. “People used
allowed to bet it’s an op- action is live wagering and in 2015 during his final sea- ers hardly attempted to to bet it over every year
portunity to express that he believes fans will jump son. “I remember play- defend in a game where because of no defense.
opinion.” in during the game Sunday ing Michael his last All-Star the West won 192-182. The They don’t know what to
Donohue is based in Eu- night, particularly as they Game in Atlanta and he league then scrapped the expect now.”
rope, where he says in- try to determine where the and I were catching up East vs. West format in fa- That makes Avello’s job
game betting can some- final total might land. in the locker room and he vor of one in which two tougher. Reviewing recent
times account for 70% to In the days before super- says – because this was captains draft rosters. Now All-Star results won’t help
80% of the action on a teams, when players were his last game – he says to comes another change much in trying to set a final
game. foes first and friends sec- me, ‘I just want you to ap- and bettors will have to de- total, because the team
In-game betting isn’t as ond, the NBA didn’t worry proach this like any other termine if they like it. leading after three quar-
popular yet in the U.S., but about its All-Star game. game. I want you to com- Paul Howard, who co-hosts ters would end the game
he believes the NBA All-Star Players may have taken it pete against me, just like it’s a radio show on the Vegas by scoring only 24 points —
Game in Chicago could easy in the first three quar- any other game,’” Bryant Stats & Information Net- a tiny number for the best
be a catalyst for change, ters, but the competitive- said. “And I remember say- work, doesn’t anticipate players in the world — in
saying it might be a “mile- ness came out in the fourth. ing, ‘Michael, what the hell significant action. He said the fourth. The teams previ-
stone” in sports gambling. That’s why Kobe Bryant about me led you to think I bettors don’t know what to ously combined for about
Opinions vary on the inter- laughed in 2003 when Mi- was going to approach this expect with the changes. 75 in the last period, he
est in the game as a betting chael Jordan made a re- any differently?’” “Hard to anticipate what’s said.q
Tatum, Smart lead Celtics past Clippers in double OT

ward finished with 21 points rebounds, and Montrezl scoring more than 30, but
and 13 rebounds. Kemba Harrell finished with 24 Gallinari’s clutch shooting
Walker added 19 points points and 13 rebounds. — he had 11 points in the
and nine rebounds. Tatum George played 15 minutes, fourth quarter — kept the
and Smart combined for scoring four points on 2-of- Pelicans at bay.
16 of Boston’s 27 points in 7 shooting before heading New Orleans, which trailed
the overtime periods. to the locker room. by as many as 13 points
The Celtics have won sev- THUNDER 123, PELICANS in the third quarter, rallied
en straight at home and 118 behind Williamson’s domi-
eight of their last nine over- NEW ORLEANS (AP) — nant inside play to take
all. The Clippers played Danilo Gallinari scored 29 several slim leads inside
most of the game without points, Chris Paul had 14 the final six minutes.
Paul George, who left in points and 12 assists, and But after Lonzo Ball’s cor-
By The Associated Press les Clippers in the second the second quarter with Oklahoma City beat New ner 3 gave the Pelicans a
BOSTON (AP) — Jayson overtime to win 141-133 on a left hamstring strain. Lou Orleans. 111-110 lead, Gallinari hit a
Tatum had 39 points and Thursday night. Williams led Los Angeles Zion Williamson scored 32 fall-away in the paint and
the Boston Celtics pulled Marcus Smart added 31 with 35 points. Kawhi Leon- points for New Orleans, followed up by rattling in a
away from the Los Ange- points and Gordon Hay- ard had 28 points and 11 his second straight game 3.q