Bettors, Donaghy winners in game at Philly
Disgraced former NBA ref provided inside information for Dec. 13 contest
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NEW YORK - With Allen Iverson not playing, gamblers bet big on the Boston Celtics when they traveled to Philadelphia for a Dec. 13 game.
The Celtics won. So did Tim Donaghy.
Donaghy, the disgraced former NBA referee, pleaded guilty Wednesday to giving inside information to gamblers and taking payments when his information was right.
Before officiating the Dec. 13 game, Donaghy is accused of speaking with one of his alleged co-conspirators — James Battista, a professional gambler with the nicknames “Baba” and “Sheep,” or Thomas Martino.
The next day, Donaghy met with both and received a cash payment for a successful tip on the game, according to a person close to the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing.
Playing without Iverson while attempting to trade him, the 76ers opened as 1½ point underdogs, but heavy action eventually moved the line to 3½. Boston outscored Philadelphia 58-40 in the second half and won 101-81.
Donaghy is also charged with giving another pick over the phone on or about Dec. 26. He officiated a Grizzlies-Wizards game in Washington that night and heavy betting moved the over/under from 203 to 207. That was easily surpassed in Washington’s 116-101 victory.
Martino is accused of delivering payments to Donaghy in Phoenix in January, Toronto in March, and Washington in April. Donaghy was in those cities to officiate games, though it is not known if he was paid specifically for those games. A look at the games he worked in those locations.
Jan. 5; Suns 108, Heat 80
Phoenix opens as an 18-point favorite and cruises against a Miami team playing without Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O’Neal and coach Pat Riley. Heat starting guard Jason Williams is ejected by referee Gary Zielinski with 9:07 to play after scoring 14 points.
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March 11; Raptors 120, SuperSonics 119, OT
Favored by 5½, the Raptors rally to force overtime by outscoring Seattle 35-28 in the fourth quarter. With the teams combining for 90 points in the final 17 minutes, they easily surpass the over/under that had opened at 202½ and moved to 204.
Favored by three points, the Nets held on against a Washington team missing Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler when DeShawn Stevenson drove the lane twice in the final minute and didn’t draw a foul either time. The officiating crew of Donaghy, Joe Forte and Sean Wright had already made plenty of calls before that: The ragged game included 54 fouls and 73 free throws.
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