Best bets today: Panthers-Hurricanes among SportsLine's top plays for NHL, NBA, MLB for May 22
A pair of Game 2s across the NBA and NHL Playoffs headline Thursday's sports action
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Bettors have plenty of choices when making sports wagers with the NBA Playoffs, NHL Playoffs and MLB games all on the schedule Thursday, May 22. In the NBA, the Minnesota Timberwolves will try to bounce back after the Oklahoma City Thunder won Game 1 by 26 points at home. The NHL Playoffs features the Florida Panthers looking to go up 2-0 on the road over the Carolina Hurricanes.
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 bet365. bet365 grants new users a bet $5, get $150 in bonus bets offer by using the bonus code SPORTSLINE. See more about the promotion below.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder (-7.5, 214.5): 8:30 p.m. ET
The Timberwolves entered Game 1 of the series with the rest advantage, but it didn't matter. Oklahoma City continued to dominate at home in the playoffs by defeating Minnesota 114-88 and taking a 1-0 series lead.
The Thunder were led by newly named league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who finished with 31 points. The Wolves got 28 points from Julius Randle, but they will need others to step up in Game 2, including Anthony Edwards, who was held to just 18 points. Edwards took only 13 shots, his second-fewest in 38 career playoff games.
Turnovers have been a problem for Minnesota in the postseason, and OKC took advantage, causing 17 in Game 1. The Thunder were also +34 points in the paint. Those are two areas the Timberwolves must improve in if they want to avoid falling behind 2-0 heading back to Minnesota.
Florida Panthers at Carolina Hurricanes (-125, 6.5): 8 p.m. ET
The Hurricanes need to find a way to figure out the Panthers fast before the series gets away from them for the second time in three years. After getting swept by the Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final in 2023, Carolina lost Game 1 on home ice 5-2. Florida has now won eight of the last 11 meetings between the two teams.
While the Hurricanes are still at home for Game 2, it's not a huge edge against the defending Stanley Cup champions. The Panthers are 6-2 on the road in the playoffs and average an NHL-best 4.75 goals per game away from home.
History is against Carolina on Thursday. The Hurricanes have lost 13 straight conference final games dating back to 2009.
Cleveland Guardians at Detroit Tigers (-135, 8): 6:40 p.m. ET
The Tigers continued their hot start to the season Wednesday by beating the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-1. Detroit is 7-3 in its last 10 games and enters Thursday's matchup with Cleveland sporting MLB's best record at 33-17.
To keep things going, the Tigers turn to Jack Flaherty. Flaherty hasn't lived up to the rest of Detroit's starting staff this season, going 2-5 with a 4.44 ERA. The 29-year-old has allowed 16 runs in his last four starts (19 innings). Seven of the Tigers' 17 losses this season have come when Flaherty is the starting pitcher.
Cleveland will counter with Tanner Bibee. Bibee had been pitching well until his most recent start against Cincinnati, where he gave up 10 hits and five runs over 6.0 innings. Before that poor outing, Bibee had allowed just seven runs in his prior 25 innings of work.
Get full analysis and expert picks for Guardians-Tigers at SportsLine!
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MLB: San Diego Padres at Toronto Blue Jays (1:07 p.m. ET)
MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Colorado Rockies (3:10 p.m. ET)
MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Pittsburgh Pirates (6:40 p.m. ET)
MLB: Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox (6:45 p.m. ET)
MLB: Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros (8:10 p.m. ET)
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