Best bets today: Nuggets-Thunder among SportsLine's top plays for NBA, NHL, MLB for May 18

We've got not one, but two Game 7s on the schedule for Sunday as the Denver Nuggets visit the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA and the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Florida Panthers in the NHL. Oh, and how about a full 15-game MLB slate? Yeah, Sunday's a great day to stay on the couch. 

Here are the top betting opportunities for Sunday's action, and we've got links to full game analysis and picks throughout this article while providing the top betting tips for today's matchups.

There is also a link to the best sportsbook promotion today from DraftKings Sportsbook, which is offering new users $200 in bonus bets. 

Best NBA bets today

Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (-8.5, 213.5), 3:30 p.m. ET

The Thunder had the best record in the NBA this year while the Nuggets surprisingly fired their longtime head coach shortly before the playoffs began. None of that matters Sunday, however, as this game decides who will face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. Denver won Game 1 in Oklahoma City while the Thunder won their next two home games this series. OKC lost just 14 times in the regular season, and only six of those losses came at home. 

Nikola Jokic dropped 29 points while pulling down 12 rebounds to go along with eight assists to help the Nuggets force Game 7. He likely won't win his fourth MVP this year as that's expected to go to the top player on the other side in the Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has scored at least 31 points in four of the six games this series thus far.

Get full analysis and expert picks for Nuggets-Thunder Game 7 at SportsLine!

Best NHL bets today

Florida Panthers (-130, 5) at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 p.m. ET

The reigning champion Panthers fell behind 2-0 this series before winning three straight to put the Maple Leafs on the brink of elimination. Florida was unable to close things out at home in Game 6, however, with Joseph Wall shutting out the Panthers in a 2-0 win for Toronto. The series returns north of the border Sunday, where the Maple Leafs won Games 1 and 2 but fell 6-1 in Game 5. 

The winner of this game advances to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they'll match up with the Carolina Hurricanes, who are coming off a dominant 4-1 series win over Alex Ovechkin's Washington Capitals. The Caps had the best record in the Eastern Conference this year, but the Hurricanes shut down Washington's potent offensive attack. If the Panthers advance, that leaves open the possibility we see a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Finals when Florida beat the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. 

Get full analysis and expert picks for Panthers-Maple Leafs Game 7 at SportsLine!

Best MLB bets today

Houston Astros (-121, 8) at Texas Rangers, 1:05 p.m. ET

The Astros and Rangers conclude a four-game series Sunday, with Houston hoping to grab the 3-1 series win while Texas looks to achieve a split at home. Framber Valdez (2-4, 3.54 ERA) will take the mound for the visitors, while the hosts counter with Jack Leiter (3-2, 4.34 ERA). Neither team has been particularly dominant in the first third of the regular season, though both sides remain closely behind the Seattle Mariners for the AL West lead. The Rangers, who are 17-9 at home this season, hope to capture some momentum ahead of a pivotal three-game set against the Yankees beginning Tuesday, May 20. The Astros, 8-13 on the road, try to get a series win before remaining on the road for a three-game series against the Rays starting Monday, May 19.

Check out the SportsLine model's latest projections for Astros-Rangers Sunday!

Today's featured sportsbook promo

DraftKings Sportsbook offers $200 in bonus bets to new users who sign up and place a first bet of at least $5. Your first bet doesn't need to win in order to receive this offer, which is paid out in the form of eight $25 bonus bet tokens. 

DraftKingsSportsbook promo code terms and conditions:

• The bonus is available only to new DraftKings customers who are in a state the sportsbook is available.
• New users must deposit a minimum of $5 and place a first bet of at least $5.
• Bonus bets are credited as eight $25 bonus bet tokens within 72 hours of your initial bet settling.
• Bonus bets must be wagered once before any winnings can be withdrawn and expire after seven days.
• The bonus bets are not included in any cash winnings nor are they transferable or refundable.

Other games to bet on for Sunday, May 18

MLB: Atlanta Braves at Boston Red Sox (1:35 p.m. ET)

MLB: Detroit Tigers at Toronto Blue Jays (1:37 p.m. ET)

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Milwaukee Brewers (2:10 p.m. ET)

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

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 Sunday, May 18. You can also join the SportsLine Discord channel for even more betting tips and expert picks.  

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