Best bets today: Nuggets-Thunder among SportsLine's top plays for NBA, MLB, NHL for May 13

There are two Game 5s and a Game 4 across the NBA Playoffs and Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday, along with a full 15-game MLB slate. In the NBA, the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder play a pivotal Game 5 with the series tied 2-2. The NHL Playoffs features the Dallas Stars trying to take a commanding 3-1 lead at home over the Winnipeg Jets.

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 offer today from BetMGM. BetMGM offers new users up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses when using the bonus code SPORTSLINE.

Best NBA bets today

Indiana Pacers at Cleveland Cavaliers (-7.5, 229.5): 7:00 p.m. ET

The Cavaliers are on life support after falling in Game 4, 129-109. The Pacers built an NBA Playoff record-tying 41-point halftime lead and never looked back. Indiana is now up 3-1 in the series and has won five of the last six games against Cleveland. 

It's looking like the Pacers are just a bad matchup for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, especially offensively. In its last five wins over Cleveland, Indiana averaged 122 points. To make matters worse, the Cavaliers may be without star Donovan Mitchell for a must-win Game 5. Mitchell injured his ankle, and at best, he will be limited for Tuesday's game.

If Cleveland wants to extend its season, the Cavs need to slow down Indiana's 1-2 punch of Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner in the paint. The duo combined for 41 points and 13 rebounds in Game 4. 

Three SportsLine experts have plays in this game. Get full analysis and expert picks for Pacers-Cavaliers Game 5 at SportsLine!

Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (-10.5, 220.5): 9:30 p.m. ET

OKC cruised to the NBA's best record, but the Thunder knew Denver would be a tough out. The series stands 2-2, although the Thunder are still in a good spot after winning Game 4 and the series heading back to Oklahoma City for Tuesday's matchup. 

If the Nuggets are going to pull off the upset on the road, they need to get Nikola Jokic going again. After dominating the opener with 42 points and 22 rebounds, Jokic is just 21 of 63 (33.3%) from the field in the last three games, scoring a total of 64 points. 

OKC's depth could be a factor as we get deeper in the series. While Denver is relying on a seven-man rotation, the Thunder have 10 players averaging at least 10 minutes per game in the series. 

Mike Barner, who is 161-112 in his last 273 player prop picks, has a play in this game. Get full analysis and expert picks for Nuggets-Thunder Game 5 at SportsLine!

Best NHL bets today

Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars (-150, 5.5): 8:00 p.m. ET

Can Winnipeg win on the road in the playoffs? After going 26-19 away from home in the regular season, the Jets are 0-4 in the playoffs, getting outscored 22-7. 

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck's playoff struggles have been well-documented, but his performance in 2025 has Winnipeg fans hitting the panic button. Hellebuyck has an abysmal .768 save percentage in the Jets' four road playoff games. 

Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen won't make things any easier for Hellebuyck on Tuesday. He has scored nine goals in the last six games. Rantanen has also scored or assisted on 15 of Dallas' last 17 goals in the playoffs. 

Matt Severance, who is 144-67-8 in his last 219 NHL sides, has a play in this game. Get full analysis and expert picks for Jets-Stars Game 4 at SportsLine!

Best MLB bets today

New York Yankees (-135, 7) at Seattle Mariners: 9:40 p.m. ET

We have a good pitching matchup on deck for Tuesday between New York's Max Fried and Seattle's Bryan Woo.

Fried has been sensational for the Yankees, going 6-0 with a 1.05 ERA. The left-hander has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of eight starts. Fried has been especially dominant in his last four outings, giving up just one run over 27.2 innings. The Yankees are a perfect 8-0 when Fried pitches this season. 

Seattle turns to Bryan Woo to try and halt a four-game losing streak. Woo is coming off his worst outing of the season against the Athletics, where he allowed eight hits and five runs in 6.0 innings of work. Even with that poor performance, Woo has still given up three runs or fewer in five of seven starts. 

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

Today's featured sportsbook promo

BetMGM Sportsbook has an offer that allows bettors to be rewarded even if their initial wager loses. 

Using promo code SPORTSLINE, new users can deposit at least $10 and make their first bet using the First Bet Offer Token. If the bet wins, the customer will receive their bet stake plus winnings in cash. If the bet loses, BetMGM offers the customer bonus bets back equal to the amount of the wager, up to $1,500. Bonus bets cannot be cashed out until they are bet and only pay out winnings, not the original amount of the bonus bet.

Terms and conditions for the BetMGM welcome bonus:

• If your initial bet was $49 or less, you'll receive one bonus bet token. If your bet was $50 or more, you'll receive five bonus bet tokens in 20% increments.
• A customer has seven days to use the First Bet Offer token. The token will be automatically applied to the first selection added to the bet slip.
• If the bet loses, your bonus bets will be available once your initial wager is settled. 
• Bonus bets expire within seven (7) days.

Other games to bet on for Tuesday, May 13

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers (6:40 p.m. ET)

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets (7:10 p.m. ET)

MLB: Kansas City Royals at Houston Astros (8:10 p.m. ET)

MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at San Francisco Giants (9:45 p.m. ET)

Over at SportsLine, you'll get game breakdowns and expert predictions on all the key NBA Playoff, Stanley Cup Playoff and MLB matchups for Tuesday, May 13. You can also join the SportsLine Discord channel for even more betting tips. 

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