you justify being 1/2? I know Villa havent been great, but

Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Kobe Bryant scored 21 of his 32 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Sacramento Kings 98-95 on Tuesday night. Bryant is 31 points away from passing Michael Jordan for third place on the NBAs all-time scoring list. His final two points of the night came after he sunk a pair of free throws with 15.6 seconds left for a 98-95 advantage, and the Kings never got a good look from beyond the arc. They settled for a Nik Stauskas step-through 3- pointer from the top of the arc, which clanked off the front of the rim. Carlos Boozer posted 15 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who had dropped seven of their last nine games coming in. I just wanted to keep us in it, Bryant said. Down the stretch we were active defensively. We made steals and our energy carried us through. Darren Collison had 26 points and six assists, while Rudy Gay added 23 points for Sacramento, which has lost six of its last eight contests. We defended well, but offensively we had a lack of execution down the stretch, Kings coach Michael Malone said. The Lakers trailed 88-81 with 8:42 left before Wesley Johnson knocked down a left wing triple to cap a 6-0 spurt to get them within 88-87 with 4:34 to go. Bryants trey with 2:16 on the clock tied it at 92-92. A possession later, Bryant threaded the needle with a one-handed pass from the top of the arc which found Jordan Hill inside, and his layup put the Lakers in front, 94-93, with 1:39 to go. Collison drove in from the right wing with a nifty left-handed reverse with 42.9 ticks remaining, but two Bryant free throws with 34.4 to play staked LA to a 96-95 edge. Earlier, the Kings led 29-24 after a quarter of play and headed into the locker room with a 55-46 cushion at the break. Collison nailed a jumper in the waning seconds of the third and Sacramento headed into the fourth with an 81-78 advantage. Game Notes Bryant came in averaging an NBA-best 25.2 points per game despite shooting a career-worst 38.9 percent from the field ... Los Angeles improved to 3-9 at Staples Center this season ... LA netted 21 points off 16 Sacramento turnovers and committed just five giveaways. Nike Free Outlet Uk .Those stars, most notably the top line of James van Riemsdyk, Tyler Bozak and Phil Kessel, struggled against the Montreal Canadiens and must be better as the Leafs look ahead to facing the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers this weekend. Nike Free Clearance Uk . TSN was honoured with several awards, with Rod Smith and James Duthie sharing the win for Best Sports Host for SportsCentre and the NHL: Season On The Brink coverage, respectively. http://www.wholesalenikefreeuk.com/ . Onyshko, from Minnedosa, Man., will compete in artistic gymnastics while Hanet, from Kelowna, B.C., will compete in lawn bowling as a para-athlete. "It is exciting that our Canadian athletes are starting to arrive at the Games Village," said Chantal Petitclerc, Canadas Chef de Mission. Nike Free Shoes Uk . -- Alex Anthopoulos spoke volumes with what he didnt say on right-hander Ervin Santana. Nike Free Running Shoes Uk . - Kentucky freshmen Stanley Boom Williams, Dorian Baker, Drew Barker and Tymere Dubose have been charged with disorderly conduct for their involvement with air pistol shots being fired near a residence hall on the South campus Sunday night.Newcastle know that three points are a must on Saturday when they take on already-relegated Aston Villa. The Magpies, who are currently a position above the drop zone in 17th, are only a point better off than rivals Sunderland and two ahead of Norwich having played a game more as they head to Villa Park.Rafa Benitezs side have found some form in recent weeks and are undefeated in their last four matches while a 12th successive loss for Villa would set a new club record for the longest run of league defeats. Pick your team Aguero? Ozil? De Bruyne? Pick your Fantasy Six-a-Side team for the chance to win ￡10,000 Newcastle are on 33 points while Sunderland (32) host Chelsea. But Norwich (31) can put pressure on both if they beat Manchester United in Saturdays early kick-off.Team news Aly Cissokho was shown a red card by referee Anthony Taylor during the Premier League match at Watford Villa will be without Aly Cissokho when they bring the curtain down on a dire home campaign.Cissokho was shown a straight red card in the defeat to Watford last weekend and the midfielder will serve a one-match suspension. Rudy Gestede sustained a knock at Vicarage Road and is a doubt.Fellow forward Gabby Agbonlahors club ban has been lifted but it remains to be seen whether he will be involved while Jordan Veretout is struggling with a pelvic problem and Kieran Richardson (calf) is still out. Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez insists his squad are full of confidence Vurnon Anita and Daryl Janmaat will battle it out for the Newcastle right-back spot at Villa.Midfielder Anita, who has filled in in Janmaats absence, is fit after shaking off a muscle injury sustained against Crystal Palace while Janmaat has recovered from a groin problem and will wear a protective cast over his broken hand.However, skipper Fabricio Coloccini (calf) is still sidelined along with goalkeepers Tim Krul and Rob Elliot (both knee) and defender Massadio Haidara (knee). Can Newcastle secure their top flight survival? Opta statsAston Villa have won none of their last nine Premier League games against Newcastle United (W0 D4 L5).The Magpies have scored just 13 goals in their last 24 Premier League away games, but five of those have come in the last three away trips. Aston Villa were beaten after two late goals by Watford Aston Villa have lost their last 11 Premier League games - only one side in Premier League history has lost more in a row (Sunderland, 20 between January 2003 and September 2005).Another defeat for Villa in this game would set a new club reecord for the longest run of league defeats, with Villa also recording 11 successive losses in 1963.ddddddddddddA draw in their last Premier League away game at Anfield ended a run of nine consecutive away defeats for Newcastle United and secured the Magpies their only away point in 2016 so far.There have been just four goals scored in the last four Premier League meetings between these two teams.Newcastle (W2 D2) have gone four games unbeaten in the Premier League for the first time since October-November 2014 (six unbeaten in that run under Alan Pardew). Jordan Ayew of Villa is tackled by Jack Colback The Villans have made a league-low 82 substitutions this season, eight fewer than any other side (Everton next on 90).Andros Townsend has scored more Premier League goals for Newcastle in just 11 appearances for the club (4) than he managed for Tottenham in 50 games (3). Jamie Redknapp joins Ed Chamberlain to preview Saturdays Premier League fixtures, plus Super 6 and the Sky Bet Price Boost Mersons predictionsI think theres more of a twist than people think in this. Newcastle are odds of 1/2 here. Theyve taken one point away from home in 2016, how can you justify being 1/2? I know Villa havent been great, but you cant be backing a team at 1/2 away from home with a record like that. Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd believes Newcastle will avoid relegation from the Premier League Im going 1-1 here, because Newcastle will have to come out and have a go, and Villa will cause a few problems. Newcastle went down at Villa in 2009 and will be out for revenge but the Villa fans wont want to lie down either. I just think people see this as nailed on, but I dont.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)BettingNewcastle will look to continue their push for survival when they travel to relegated Aston Villa on Saturday and Sky Bet have priced up the Magpies at 8/13 to pick up the vital win, while Villa are available at 9/2 to claim their first victory in 11 league games and the draw is 29/10. After scoring the crucial winning goal against Crystal Palace, Jamie Redknapp is tipping Andros Townsend to score first, which Sky Bet have Price Boosted from 5/1 to 7/1. See the rest of the odds as well as tips from our Sky Sports pundits here. ' ' '