Best bets today: Timberwolves-Thunder among SportsLine's top plays for NBA, NHL, MLB for May 28
The Thunder and Panthers can wrap up their respective series in their Game 5s on Wednesday
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The Oklahoma City Thunder and Florida Panthers can book a trip to the championship series in their respective sports when the NBA and NHL Playoffs continue Wednesday, May 28. The Thunder get to return to their home floor with a 3-1 lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the Panthers will have to go on the road against the Carolina Hurricanes after failing to complete a sweep Monday. There is also a 15-game MLB slate on the schedule Wednesday, headlined by Braves-Phillies on national television.
We highlight the top betting opportunities with links to full game analysis and picks throughout the article while providing the top betting tips for Wednesday's matchups.
There is also a link to the best sportsbook promotion today from FanDuel Sportsbook. FanDuel offers new users a "bet $5, get $200" bonus if your first bet wins. No promo code required. See more about the offer below.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Oklahoma City Thunder (-8.5, 220.5): 8:30 p.m. ET
The Timberwolves fought hard at home in Game 4, but Oklahoma City prevailed to put the Thunder one win away from the NBA Finals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 40 in the win, while Jalen Williams added 34.
It won't be easy for Minnesota to stave off elimination on the road. The Thunder have been dominant at home, going 42-7 this season. OKC won the first two games of the series on its home floor by a combined score of 232-191.
This has been a high-scoring series so far, with the last three games going Over the total.
Florida Panthers (-125, 5.5) at Carolina Hurricanes: 8 p.m. ET
Carolina needed a win to stay alive Monday night, and the Hurricanes got it with a shutout on the road. The Panthers are still in a great spot to advance to their third straight Stanley Cup Final up 3-1 in the series, although the Hurricanes can make things interesting with a win at home in Game 5.
Despite the loss, Florida has to feel good about its chances Wednesday. The Panthers are 5-2 vs. Carolina this season and have won 14 of the last 20 meetings overall. If the Hurricanes are going to extend the series, they need another big performance from goaltender Frederik Andersen, who stopped all 20 shots in Game 4.
Get full analysis and expert picks for Panthers-Hurricanes Game 5 at SportsLine!
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies (-155, 7.5): 6:45 p.m. ET
The Phillies took the first game of the series Tuesday with a 2-0 win. Now, the Braves will try to even things up with AJ Smith-Shawver on the mound, while Philadelphia counters with veteran Zack Wheeler.
Smith-Shawver is coming off his worst outing of the season when he allowed eight hits and seven runs over three innings against Washington. Prior to that poor start, though, Smith-Shawver had given up just two runs in his previous three starts across 19 and two-thirds innings.
The Phillies have won 10 out of their last 11 games and turn to Wheeler on Wednesday to keep it going. Wheeler has been dominant in his last three starts, where he hasn't allowed a run in over 19 innings of work. Overall, Wheeler has allowed two runs or fewer in nine of 11 starts this season.
Get full analysis and expert picks for Braves-Phillies at SportsLine!
FanDuel Sportsbook offers new customers the ability to deposit as little as $5 and then make a first bet of at least $5. New users will receive $200 in bonus bets if their first bet wins. Plus, there are no minimum odds required, and the first wager can be made on any sport or market. So you can bet $5 on the biggest favorite you can find, and if it wins, you'll still receive $200 in bonus bets.
Bonus bets cannot be cashed out and must be wagered within the following seven days, or they will expire. In addition to the bonus bets, any winning first bet earns the customer their winnings in cash.
For example, let's say you bet $10 on big favorite Oklahoma City to beat Minnesota in the NBA Playoffs tonight, and the Thunder win. You will receive your $10 back plus winnings from the bet in cash. FanDuel will also give you $250 in bonus bets. Bonus bets are not included in any cash winnings.
MLB: Miami Marlins at San Diego Padres (4:10 p.m. ET)
MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Baltimore Orioles (6:35 p.m. ET)
MLB: Cincinnati Reds at Kansas City Royals (7:40 p.m. ET)
MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers (8:05 p.m. ET)
MLB: New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels (9:40 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 Wednesday, May 28. You can also join the SportsLine Discord channel for even more betting tips and expert picks.
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Written by Thomas Casale
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