Best NBA Bets Today – Friday, May 16, 2025

Here are the best NBA bets today for Friday, May 16, 2025. FTN is home to the tools, research, models, data, and experts you need to become a smarter sports bettor.

Here are FTN’s best NBA bets for today. To see more picks from our team, check out our bet tracker.

NBA Best Bets Today (May 16, 2025)

Josh Hart Under 5.5 Assists 

-135, Bet365

Josh Hart has five or fewer assists in 44 out of 88 (50%) games, including each of the last six, averaging 5.7 assists per game. He’s been slightly worse at home, failing to exceed five assists in 24 out of 45 (53.3%) games, averaging 5.6 assists per game. With all three of Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride and Cameron Payne active, Hart has been below this mark in 37 out of 57 (64.9%) games, including each of the last six, and 20 out of 30 (66.7%) games at home, averaging 5.2 assists overall and 5.0 assists at home. His assist rate has also taken a significant hit since the start of the postseason, recording no more than five assists in eight out of 11 (72.7%) games, including all six against Boston, averaging 4.6 assists on 8.5 assists in the playoffs, down to 3.3 assists on 7.8 potential assists in Round 2. The Celtics are allowing the fifth-fewest assists to opposing shooting guards.

Derrick White Under 5.5 Assists

-145, DraftKings

Derrick White has five or fewer assists in 60 out of 86 (70%) games, including each of the last six, averaging 4.6 assists per game. He’s been even worse on the road, failing to exceed five assists in 30 out of 41 (73.2%) games, averaging 4.4 assists per game. With Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Payton Pritchard all active, White has no more than five assists in 23 out of 26 (88.5%) games, including each of the last seven and 13 out of 14 (92.9%) games on the road, averaging 3.4 assists overall and 3.1 assists outside of Boston. Although his usage rate receives a significant boost without Jayson Tatum (OUT), White has still been under this mark in seven out of 10 (70%) games. In the playoffs, White has been much more of a scorer than a distributor, recording more than five assists only once in 10 (10%) games, including each of the last six, going 0 for 2 without Tatum, averaging 3.7 assists on 5.5 potential assists. Against the Knicks, White has topped two assists only once in five games this postseason, maxing out at five, averaging 2.6 assists on 5.0 potential assists in Round 2. The Knicks are also allowing the sixth-fewest assists to opposing shooting guards.