Gambling

With 22 victories against the point spread in their first 33 games, the Lakers had become one of the NBA's best bets behind the unselfish play of Kobe Bryant. But things have changed over the last two weeks for Coach Phil Jackson's young team. Since the Lakers covered the line with an impressive victory at New Orleans on Jan. 9, they are 1-5 against the spread heading into tonight's game at Dallas.

For bettors who want to drop money on this year's Super Bowl but could not care less about whether New England covers a double-digit point spread against the New York Giants on Sunday, there are always plenty of proposition bets available. It's the fastest-growing phenomenon connected with the NFL's marquee event and also the craziest. Just look at some of the prop wagers listed at Bodoglife.

The most confusing measures on Tuesday's state ballot are the four Indian gambling propositions. But, cutting through all the fabrication and jargon, there's one simple way to look at this. The central question is: Should the state grab, by whatever legal means, any money it can find to help balance its books? Or has the expansion of Vegas-style Indian gambling in California gone far enough?

While many sports betting houses -- from Las Vegas to Antigua -- might be hurting today, there are a ton of New York supporters wearing smiles, thanks to Eli Manning and the Giants' defense. That's what happens when a heavy underdog wins as the Giants did Sunday, beating the previously unbeaten New England Patriots, 17-14, in the Super Bowl. "I'm just cashing tickets," said Jay Kornegay, director of the Las Vegas Hilton sports book.

Actor Todd Thomas is a transplanted New Yorker living in Southern California and he seldom gambles. But once Thomas found out that the Giants were double-digit underdogs to New England in this year's Super Bowl, he jumped at the chance to place his money on New York to win. It turned out to be a great decision when the Giants upset the Patriots, 17-14, on Sunday.

Shaquille O'Neal's trade from Miami to Phoenix has been the biggest news in the sports betting world this week and the deal has forced oddsmakers to adjust the Suns' postseason numbers. According to Bodoglife.com, the odds on the Suns winning the Western Conference before the trade were 5-2; after the deal they improved to 2-1. The odds on Phoenix winning the NBA championship before the trade were 4-1; now they are 7-2.

After ending their seven-game trip with a win in Milwaukee on Monday, the Clippers have a chance to maintain some momentum in their return to Staples Center tonight. Washington awaits, and the visitors have hardly been road wizards of late. Since an 88-83 victory at Boston on Jan. 14, the Wizards have lost nine in a row on the road, including a collapse Monday at Golden State. Washington, which led by as many as 23 points and by 17 at halftime, lost to the Warriors, 120-117.

Remember the days when NBA regular-season games were considered a formality for the league's top teams, and they didn't seem to play hard until the fourth quarter? Well, those disjointed efforts are now a thing of the past. Thanks to this season's hotly contested playoff races, the NBA features upsets and closely contested games nightly, and this type of unpredictability has kept pro basketball bettors on their toes. Just look at some results over the last week. Atlanta, despite a sub-.

Arthur Hancock, a fourth-generation thoroughbred breeder, pointed out his office window on a recent morning to illustrate a fundamental difference between horse racing and casino gambling. A shimmering copper sun was rising over his 1,800-acre bluegrass farm. A clutch of lithe prize ponies grazed under a gunmetal sky. "Look out there," said Hancock, 64. "This is a whole different world." Las Vegas it was not.

North Carolina will try to retain its No. 1 ranking tonight when it visits Duke. The game is the regular-season finale for both teams and the Atlantic Coast Conference title goes to the winner. Both the Tar Heels, who have won seven in a row, and the Blue Devils, who have four consecutive victories, are 13-2 in the ACC. Hoping to avenge its last loss -- 89-78 to Duke on Feb. 6 in Chapel Hill -- North Carolina has a solid history when playing the Blue Devils as the No. 1 team.