Big Al's Daily Angle: NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB and EPL Previews and Odds - 05/18/2021

by Big Al Staff

Tuesday, May 18, 2021
The Tuesday sports card has action in the NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, and the English Premier League.

The play-in tournament for the NBA playoffs begins with a doubleheader on TNT. Indiana hosts Charlotte at 6:30 PM ET. The Pacers ended a two-game losing streak with a 125-113 victory at Toronto as a 5.5-point favorite on Sunday. The Hornets have lost five in a row after a 115-110 loss at Washington as a 6.5-point underdog on Sunday. Indiana is a 3-point favorite with the total set at 227.5 (all odds from BetOnline). The winner of this game plays the loser of the Washington/Boston contest to determine the eighth-seeded team for the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

Boston plays at home against Washington at 9:10 PM ET. The Celtics have lost five of their last six games after their 96-92 loss at New York as a 12-point underdog on Sunday. The Wizards have won two in a row with their 115-110 victory against Charlotte as a 6.5-point favorite on Sunday. Boston is a 2-point favorite with an over/under of 232.5. The winner of this game earns the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The loser plays on Thursday against the victor of the first game to determine the eighth seed. 

Four games are on the NHL schedule. Calgary visits Vancouver at 4 PM ET as a -129 money line road favorite with a total of 6 as both teams play out the remainder of their regular season. 

Pittsburgh is at home against the New York Islanders on the NBC Sports Network at 7:30 PM ET in the second game of their East Division playoff series. The Islanders won the opener of this series with their 4-3 win in overtime on Sunday. The Penguins are a -130 money line favorite with a total of 5.5. 

Tampa Bay plays at Florida at 8 PM ET on CNBC in the second game of their Central Division playoff series. The Lightning won the opener with a 5-4 victory on Sunday. The Panthers had their six-game winning streak end with the setback. Tampa Bay is a -126 money line road favorite with the total at 6. 

Vegas plays at home against Minnesota on the NBC Sports Network at 10 PM ET. The Wild won the opening game after breaking up a scoreless tie in overtime on Sunday. The Golden Knights are a -160 money line favorite with an over/under of 5.5.

Fifteen games are on the MLB slate. Cincinnati hosts San Francisco at 6:40 PM ET as a -114 money line favorite with a total of 8. Tampa Bay travels to Baltimore at 7:05 PM ET as a -147 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. Miami visits Philadelphia. The New York Mets visit Atlanta at 7:20 PM ET. Toronto is at home against Boston as a -130 money line favorite with the total at 9. Washington plays at the Chicago Cubs at 7:40 PM ET as a -110 money line road favorite. The Chicago White Sox play at Minnesota as a -110 money line road favorite with an over/under of 8. St. Louis plays at home against Pittsburgh as a -127 money line favorite with a total of 7.5. 

The New York Yankees play at Texas on ESPN at 8:05 PM ET as a -161 money line road favorite with an over/under of 9. Milwaukee visits Kansas City at 8:10 PM ET. 

The Los Angeles Angeles host Cleveland at 9:38 PM ET as a -132 money line favorite with the total at 8. Oakland is at home against Houston at 9:40 PM ET as a -112 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. San Diego plays at home against Colorado at 10:10 PM ET as a -200 money line favorite with a total of 7. Seattle is at home against Detroit as a -120 money line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers host Arizona.

Three games are on the WNBA docket. Minnesota visits New York at 7 PM ET. Phoenix travels to Washington at 8 PM ET on ESPN2. Las Vegas plays at Seattle in the second game on ESPN2 at 10 PM ET. 

Matchweek 37 of the English Premier League begins on Tuesday with four matches that are on the Peacock app. Manchester United hosts Fulham at 1 PM ET as a -1.5 goal line favorite with the total at 3. Leeds United visits Southampton at 1 PM ET in a pick ‘em match up with an over/under of 3.25. Manchester City travels to Brighton and Hove Albion at 2 PM ET as a -1.25 money line road favorite with a total of 2.75. Chelsea plays at home against Leicester City at 3:15 PM ET on the NBC Sports Network (and Peacock) as a -0.75 goal line favorite with an over/under of 2.25.

All photographic images used for editorial content have been licensed from the Associated Press.

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