Pistons and Nets kick off home-and-home set in Jersey

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02/08/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Only one of Detroit's six wins this season has come on the road and the Pistons would like to change that as early as tonight, when they pay a visit to the New Jersey Nets in the opener of a home-and-home set.

The Pistons and Nets will then meet at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday.

Detroit is just 1-12 away from home this season and is winless in its previous seven games as the guest. It hasn't tasted victory on the road since a 98-81 triumph at Charlotte on Jan. 13, but will try to extend its current winning streak to a season-high three games in the Garden State. In Saturday's 89-87 win versus New Orleans at The Palace, Greg Monroe led the way with 24 points and 16 rebounds, and is averaging 18.8 points and 11.0 rebounds in his last eight games. Monroe is second in the NBA in offensive rebounds (101) and ranks ninth in the NBA in double-doubles with 13 this season.

"It's more or less effort; that's basically it," Monroe said about his performance. "That's what everybody preaches, effort and position. That's something I take pride in, so what you see on the court is just me working hard, trying to do my job."

Rodney Stuckey posted 17 points for Detroit, which has won two in a row since a seven-game slide and last won three straight from April 6-10, 2011. The Pistons are only 4-14 versus the East this season and will begin a three-game homestand versus the Nets, Wizards and Spurs at the end of the week. Detroit rookie Brandon Knight left the game with a broken nose after taking an elbow to the nose halfway through the first quarter. He is probable for tonight.

Ben Gordon and Will Bynum are still nursing injuries and their status for Wednesday's game is unknown. Gordon has been sidelined the last 10 games with a sore left shoulder and Bynum has missed 14 in a row with a strained right foot tendon.

The Nets have dropped three in a row and five of their last six games, including Monday's 108-87 loss to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls lost reigning MVP Derrick Rose in the second quarter to lower back spasms and New Jersey still couldn't take advantage.

Deron Williams ended with 25 points and five assists for the Nets, who fell to 3-8 as the host this season and are in the midst of playing six of eight games in Newark, NJ. Sundiata Gaines and Jordan Farmar scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, in a losing effort. Kris Humphries added 10 points and nine boards, and is averaging 13.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.

After the Nets visit Detroit on Friday they will head back home for back-to- back games versus the Spurs and Grizzlies. New Jersey is 6-13 against teams from the Eastern Conference and 8-18 overall this season.

New Jersey won the first meeting with Detroit, 99-96, last Wednesday behind 26 points and nine assists from Williams. Humphries added 18 points and eight rebounds, while the Pistons were led by 21 points from both Monroe and Tayshaun Prince. The Nets have won four of the last six matchups with Detroit.

The Pistons are winless in four straight trips to the Garden State.

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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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