OPTIMAL BET · THE SLATE
Friday, May 8
Tonight’s board: 2 NBA playoff games · 15 MLB · 2 NHL playoff games · 2 WNBA openers
The NBA’s conference semifinals resume with both series hitting Game 3 tonight, while the NHL’s second round carries on with two more games. The WNBA tips off its 30th season, and MLB fills the board with all 30 teams in action.
NBA
Conference Semifinals, Game 3s
The Knicks bring a 2-0 series lead to Philadelphia for Game 3, while the Spurs and Timberwolves shift to Minneapolis. Both games stream on Prime Video.
New York Knicks at Philadelphia 76ers · 7:00 ET
Xfinity Mobile Arena · Prime Video · Market: PHI -1.5, total 214.5, PHI ML -120
Towns is the only player on either side projected for double-digit rebounds, and his ceiling on the glass tops 18 — nearly five clear of Embiid’s best-case scenario. In a game where both top scorers land within a point of each other, the rebounding gap is the sharpest individual edge on the board.
San Antonio Spurs at Minnesota Timberwolves · 9:30 ET
Target Center · Prime Video · Market: SA -4.5, total 216.5, SA ML -200
Wembanyama’s combined output across points, rebounds, and assists is expected in the low 40s, running nearly ten clear of every Minnesota player on the board. His rebounding floor sits above Edwards’ expected number on the glass, and with four blocked shots built into the outlook, the Timberwolves will need to build their offense on the perimeter to keep this game close.
| Team | PTS | REB | AST |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA | Wembanyama 25.7 | Wembanyama 12.2 | Castle 6.3 |
| MIN | Edwards 22.7 | Gobert 11.1 | Randle 4.2 |
The full NBA slate
| Matchup | Time ET | Line | Total | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY @ PHI | 7:00 | PHI -1.5 | 214.5 | PHI 51.4% |
| SA @ MIN | 9:30 | SA -4.5 | 216.5 | SA 63.5% |
MLB
15-Game Friday
All 30 teams are in action tonight, with first pitches spanning from 6:10 to 10:15 ET across the country.
Athletics at Baltimore Orioles · 7:05 ET
Oriole Park at Camden Yards · Market: BAL -136, total 9.5
Bradish holds a nearly one-strikeout edge over Lopez, and his upside pushes past nine — the widest K ceiling gap in this pitching matchup. The lineups are stacked evenly in combined hitting, so the game’s sharpest leverage lives on the mound.
Top bats (Hits + Runs + RBIs, p50)
| Team | #1 | #2 | #3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAK | Langeliers 1.9 | Kurtz 1.7 | Soderstrom 1.6 |
| BAL | Alonso 1.8 | Henderson 1.7 | Ward 1.7 |
The full MLB slate
| Matchup | Time ET | Line | Total | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOU @ CIN | 6:10 | CIN -135 | 9.5 | CIN 52.8% |
| COL @ PHI | 6:40 | PHI -217 | 7.5 | PHI 62.6% |
| OAK @ BAL | 7:05 | BAL -136 | 9.5 | BAL 53.1% |
| LAA @ TOR | 7:07 | TOR -160 | 7.5 | TOR 56.5% |
| TB @ BOS | 7:10 | BOS -135 | 8.5 | BOS 52.7% |
| WSH @ MIA | 7:10 | MIA -125 | 8.5 | MIA 50.6% |
| MIN @ CLE | 7:15 | CLE -142 | 7.5 | CLE 53.7% |
| SEA @ CWS | 7:40 | SEA -140 | 8.5 | SEA 58.5% |
| NYY @ MIL | 7:40 | NYY -135 | 7.5 | NYY 58.2% |
| DET @ KC | 7:40 | KC -145 | 8.5 | KC 53.4% |
| CHC @ TEX | 8:05 | CHC -140 | 8.5 | CHC 58.1% |
| NYM @ ARI | 9:40 | NYM -140 | 8.5 | NYM 58.3% |
| STL @ SD | 9:45 | SD -150 | 7.5 | SD 54.7% |
| ATL @ LAD | 10:10 | LAD -120 | 7.5 | ATL 50.3% |
| PIT @ SF | 10:15 | SF -120 | 7.5 | PIT 51.4% |
NHL
Stanley Cup Playoffs, Second Round
Montreal visits Buffalo for Game 2 in their Eastern Conference semifinal, while Vegas heads to Anaheim for Game 3 out West.
Montreal Canadiens at Buffalo Sabres · 7:00 ET
KeyBank Center · Market: BUF -133, total 6
The shots on goal are spread unusually evenly across both rosters, with no single player pulling away as the clear volume shooter. Hutson brings the most two-way value from the blue line — he’s the only Montreal defenseman projected for a point, and he adds blocked shots and a shot of his own.
Vegas Golden Knights at Anaheim Ducks · 9:30 ET
Honda Center · Market: ANA -110, total 5.5
Anaheim funnels its offense through Gauthier, who carries the widest shot-volume edge of anyone in the game. Vegas spreads production more evenly — Marner, Eichel, and Stone all project for a point — making this a committee approach versus a single-barrel attack.
The full NHL slate
| Matchup | Time ET | Line | Total | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTL @ BUF | 7:00 | BUF -133 | 6 | BUF 53.9% |
| VGK @ ANA | 9:30 | ANA -110 | 5.5 | VGK 50.9% |
WNBA
Opening Night — 30th Season
The WNBA tips off its milestone 30th season tonight, with the defending champion Liberty hosting Connecticut and the expansion Valkyries debuting in Seattle.
Connecticut Sun at New York Liberty · 7:30 ET
Barclays Center · Market: NY -10.5, total 160.5, NY ML -650
Stewart’s combined-stat ceiling pushes past 44 points, rebounds, and assists — the highest mark in the game by a comfortable margin. New York’s three-player core all project above 26 in combined stats, a top-end depth advantage Connecticut can’t match.
Golden State Valkyries at Seattle Storm · 10:00 ET
Climate Pledge Arena · Market: GS -6.5, total 157.5, GS ML -258
Malonga anchors Seattle’s offense as the game’s dominant glass presence, pushing her combined output to the highest mark on the board. Burton’s assists project as the best on either roster, giving Golden State a playmaking edge that makes this the most stylistically distinct matchup of opening night.
The full WNBA slate
| Matchup | Time ET | Line | Total | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CONN @ NY | 7:30 | NY -10.5 | 160.5 | NY 80.3% |
| GS @ SEA | 10:00 | GS -6.5 | 157.5 | GS 70.5% |
