OPTIMAL BET · THE SLATE

Tonight’s board: 3 NBA playoff games · 15 MLB · 3 NHL playoff games

Three of tonight’s six playoff games could end a series — Boston, San Antonio, and Buffalo all hold 3-1 leads heading into Game 5. Meanwhile, the Knicks and Hawks are locked in at two-all, and a full 15-game MLB slate anchors the middle of the board.

First Round, Game 5

The first sweep of the 2026 postseason is already in the books — Oklahoma City dispatched Phoenix in four. Tonight, Boston and San Antonio can join the Thunder in the second round, while New York and Atlanta meet in a pivotal Game 5 at the Garden with the series knotted at two.

Frost Bank Center · Market: SA -11.5, total 216.5, SA ML -650

Wembanyama is the only player on either side projected for a double-double, and his defensive ceiling is just as imposing — his combined steals and blocks could reach eight. Castle is the game’s most prolific projected distributor, outpacing both Holiday and Avdija, and if San Antonio’s supporting cast converts the looks he generates, Portland’s season is in serious jeopardy.

15-Game Tuesday

A full 15-game slate about a month into the season, with Atlanta already past 20 wins and a handful of contenders still searching for early-season traction.

Sutter Health Park · Market: KC ML -117, total 9.5

Bubic’s strikeout upside is the story on the mound — his ceiling pushes past nine punchouts on a good night, while Civale’s best case barely cracks seven. Witt is the only hitter on either side with a realistic path to a six-combined-hit-run-RBI night, the kind of game-breaking offensive line that could single-handedly push this total over.

Top bats (Hits + Runs + RBIs, p50)

First Round, Game 5

Two potential clinchers and one pivotal swing game define tonight’s three-game slate. Buffalo and Anaheim each carry 3-1 leads into Game 5, while Dallas and Minnesota are knotted at two and fighting for series control.

Rogers Place · TNT · Market: EDM -1.5, total 7, EDM ML -170

McDavid’s ceiling reaches four points in this elimination game — enough to singlehandedly outscore most of Anaheim’s projected output — and with Draisaitl right beside him, Edmonton’s top line is the most dangerous unit facing elimination anywhere in the playoffs tonight. The Ducks counter with shot volume: Gauthier peppers the net more than any skater on either side, but converting that barrage against a desperate Oilers team will be the difference between closing this series out and heading back to Anaheim for Game 6.