Best bets today: Celtics-Knicks among SportsLine's top plays for NBA, MLB, NHL for May 16

Bettors have many different options to choose from on Friday, May 16, with NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs and MLB games all on the schedule. In the NBA, the Boston Celtics will look to force a Game 7 when they travel to New York. The NHL Playoffs features the Toronto Maple Leafs trying to stay alive against the Florida Panthers after getting blown on home ice in Game 5. 

We highlight the top betting opportunities with links to full game analysis and picks throughout the article while providing the top betting tips for today's matchups.

There is also a link to the best sportsbook promotion today from Fanatics Sportsbook. Fanatics offers players up to $1,000 in "No Sweat Bets" over their first 10 days with the platform. See more about the promotion below. 

Best NBA bets today

Boston Celtics at New York Knicks (-2.5, 211.5) 8:00 p.m. ET

Can the Celtics do it again? Boston staved off elimination without leading scorer and rebounder Jayson Tatum in Game 5, defeating the Knicks 127-102 at home. Now, the Celtics must get another victory on the road to force a Game 7. One bright spot: Boston is 35-10 away from TD Garden this season. 

Six players scored in double-figures for the Celtics on Wednesday, led by Derrick White's 34 points and Jaylen Brown's 26. That duo helped Boston take over in the final two quarters. The score was tied at 59 at the break, then the Celtics out-scored New York by 25 in the second half. New York is up 3-2 but has trailed by double-digits in every game of the series.

Eight SportsLine experts have plays in this game. Get full analysis and expert picks for Celtics-Knicks Game 6 at SportsLine!

Best NHL bets today

Toronto Maple Leafs at Florida Panthers (-240, 5.5) 8:00 p.m. ET

The Maple Leafs looked to be in a good spot on Wednesday. Despite losing both games in Florida, the series was tied 2-2 with Game 5 in Toronto. That good feeling didn't last long as the Panthers hammered the Maple Leafs 6-1 and are now one win away from returning to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third straight year. 

If Toronto expects to force a Game 7, it must get better play in net from goaltender Joseph Woll. After a strong performance in a 2-0 Game 4 loss, Woll allowed five goals on 25 shots and was replaced late by third-string goaltender Matt Murray. With starter Anthony Stolarz still out with an injury, the Maple Leafs will ride or die with Woll in Game 6. 

Florida has now won seven of the last 10 meetings between the two teams heading into Friday's matchup.

Get full analysis and expert picks for Maple Leafs-Panthers Game 6 at SportsLine!

Best MLB bets today

New York Mets at New York Yankees (-125, 7) 7:05 p.m. ET

The 2025 version of the Subway Series kicks off on Friday between the Mets and Yankees. It has a little extra juice this season with both teams being among the favorites to win the World Series and Juan Soto facing the Yankees for the first time since signing with the Mets this offseason.

The Mets will give the ball to Tylor Megill. Megill has pitched well overall this season, although he's struggled in his last three starts, allowing 11 runs over 16 innings. The Mets lost all three of those games and five of the last six with Megill on the mound. 

The Yankees will turn to Carlos Rodon, who enters Friday's matchup with a 4-3 record and 3.29 ERA. The left-hander is coming off a poor outing against the Athletics but had been stellar in the prior three starts, giving up just three runs in 25.2 innings of work. 

Get full analysis and expert picks for Mets-Yankees at SportsLine!

Today's featured sportsbook promo

With no promo code required upon registration, Fanatics Sportsbook offers $100 in "No Sweat Bets" for 10 straight days, which applies only to the first bet you make daily. For example, if you bet $100 on Day 1 and opt into the promo when placing the bet, you would receive a $100 bonus bet the following day if your bet loses. If the $100 bet wins, you would receive your stake and winnings in cash. 

To maximize the full value of the promo, a customer would need to repeat $100 bets for the first 10 days after creating a new account. The bonus bets must be used within seven days or they will expire.

Fanatics Sportsbook promo code terms and conditions:

• Minimum deposit: $10
• No promo code required
• Must be 21 or older and in a state where Fanatics Sportsbook legally operates.
• Place a daily first bet of at least $1 on any market with odds of -500 or longer (e.-450, -300, +150). If your qualifying wager loses, you'll receive a bonus bet equal to the amount of your losing wager, up to $100 per day, for 10 consecutive days. This means you can earn up to $1,000 in bonus bets over the promo period.
• Bonus bets are credited to your account within 72 hours of your qualifying wager settling as a loss.
• Each bonus bet expires seven days after issuance.
• After the initial qualifying bet on Day 1, you must opt-in to the promotion each day before placing your qualifying wager to continue receiving bonus bets.
• Bonus bets cannot be cashed out or withdrawn and do not contribute to winnings earned at Fanatics Sportsbook.

Other games to bet on for Friday, May 16

MLB: Detroit Tigers at Toronto Blue Jays (7:07 p.m. ET)
MLB: Atlanta Braves at Boston Red Sox (7:10 p.m. ET)
MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Kansas City Royals (7:40 p.m. ET)
MLB: Houston Astros at Texas Rangers (8:05 p.m. ET)
MLB: Seattle Mariners at San Diego Padres (9:40 p.m. ET)

Over at SportsLine, you'll get top-notch analysis, including game breakdowns, betting trends, predictions and expert advice, on all the NBA Playoff, NHL Playoff and MLB games slated for Friday, May 16. You can also join the SportsLine Discord channel for even more betting tips and expert picks.  

Get more out of your SportsLine subscription! 

• Picks: Golf | NBA | MLB | NHL | NASCAR | UFC | More
• Early Edge: YouTube | Apple Podcasts
• Newsletters: SportsLine Daily | Fantasy
• More: Download App | New at SportsLine

Qualifying SportsLine members receive a 30-day free trial of Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. Sync your account right here.