Two goals from Gonzalo Higuain plus a Lionel Messi penalty handed Argentina a convincing win in Buenos Aires on Friday night. Real Madrid striker Higuain scored in either half, with Barcelona forward Messi converting from the spot a minute before the interval.

Argentina controlled the tempo from the outset, looking to find gaps in the visitors’ defence at every opportunity. They went close to breaking the deadlock several times only to be denied by Venezuela goalkeeper Daniel Hernandez but, just before the half-hour mark, Primera Division rivals Messi and Higuain linked up to give their country the lead.

Messi supplied the pass which put Higuain through one on one with Hernandez, and the Madrid man made no mistake with a neat cross-shot past Hernandez.

The gulf in quality between the teams became even more evident thereafter and Argentina duly doubled their lead in the 44th minute, Messi despatching the penalty after Venezuela defender Gabriel Cichero had handled the ball inside his area.

Messi was again the provider when Higuain made it 3-0 after 58 minutes, supplying the perfect pass for his colleague to slot home.

Colombia enjoyed a convincing 5-0 rout of Bolivia to remain hot on Argentina’s heels. The win kept Jose Pekerman’s second-placed side within four points of Argentina, who have played one game more than the Colombians.

The Cafeteros controlled the match from the first whistle but had to wait until the 20th minute to open the scoring, Macnelly Torres tapping home from Guillermo Cuadrado’s cross.

The floodgates opened after the interval in Barranquilla. Carlos Valdes took advantage of a kind rebound following a corner to double his team’s lead four minutes into the second half, with Teifilo Gutierrez swiftly adding a third on the counter-attack.

The misery was not over for Xabier Azkagorta’s side, though. Four minutes from time, Radamel Falcao latched onto Pablo Armero’s pass and notched a fourth goal and then, deep into stoppage time, substitute Armero made no mistake when one on one with goalkeeper Sergio Galarza.

In Montevideo, fourth-placed Uruguay lost ground in the qualification race as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Paraguay.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez looked to have won it for Uruguay when he broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute with a superb volley, but four minutes later Edgar Benitez capitalised on a Diego Lugano error to restore parity.

Finally, man of the match Jefferson Farfan grabbed the game’s only goal three minutes from the end to earn Peru a 1-0 triumph over Chile in Lima.

The post Messi and Higuain keep Argentina top appeared first on IdealCapper.

Oklahoma City At Denver
When: 10:30 PM ET, Friday, March 1, 2013
Where: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Fox Sports Oklahoma, Altitude (Denver)
PREDICTION: Nuggets 115, Thunder 113.

Odds aren’t yet posted for this game, so check back later for the opening line and total.

Forward Kevin Durant posted his third triple-double of his career when he had 18 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Wednesday’s rout of the Hornets. Durant has two triple-doubles in four games, a startling development since he didn’t have a single triple-double over his first five NBA seasons. Only injured Boston point guard Rajon Rondo (five) has more triple-doubles this season. “When you get a triple-double, people think it’s just about the guy that gets it,” Durant said. “Your teammates make so many great plays to put you in position to do that. So, it’s not just me.” Durant averages 28.6 points.

Last time out for Oklahoma City, they were a 119-74 winner as they battled the Hornets at home. The Thunder covered in the match as a 15-point favorite, while 193 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Oklahoma City:
Team record: 42-15 SU, 33-21-3 ATS
Current streak: won 3 straight games.

is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing Denver
is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 6 games when playing on the road against Denver

When playing on Friday are 5-5
Before playing LA Clippers are 6-4
After playing New Orleans are 10-0
After a win are 5-5

Point guard Ty Lawson continued the best scoring stretch of his career with 30 points in the victory over the Trail Blazers. Lawson has strung together eight consecutive 20-point outings and is averaging 26.1 points during the span. Lawson has scored 20 or more in 15 of the past 21 games since mid-January. He is averaging 16.6 points and 7.1 assists. Forward Danilo Gallinari averages a team-leading 16.9 points and is questionable after missing the previous two games with a thigh bruise. Wilson Chandler has started the two games Gallinari has missed, scoring 23 in Monday’s victory over the Los Angeles Lakers but just seven against Portland.

In their last action, Denver was a 111-109 winner on the road against the Trail Blazers. They failed to cover the 2.5-point spread as favorites, while the combined score (220) was profitable news for OVER bettors.

Denver:
Team record: 37-22 SU, 34-25 ATS
Current streak: won 3 straight games.

is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 11 of last 12 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of last 8 games
is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games

When playing on Friday are 8-2
Before playing Atlanta are 3-7
After playing Portland are 6-4
After a win are 8-2

The post Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.