Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Preview
Game 1 of this series met the expectations, as it brought everything one playoff contest needs to have. Lead changes, tough defense, overtime, a last-second dagger, all this, and many more we saw last night at the Fiserv Forum. The Bucks won, but judging by the way the Heat played, we need to expect a strong response coming from their side. The two franchises have a long history of fierce matchups, and don’t be surprised if we witness even more intense battles in the upcoming few days.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Schedule
- Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- When: Monday, May 24, 7:30 PM
- How to Watch: TNT
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Odds and Lines
| Team | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Heat | +4.5 (-110) | 221.5 (-110) |
| Bucks | -4.5 (-110) | 221.5 (-110) |
Adebayo and Herro Need to Show Up
Not having Jimmy Butler at the usual level is enough of a handicap for the Miami Heat, and once Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo simultaneously post poor performances, things aren’t good at all for Erik Spoelstra.
Butler was 4-for-22 last night, yet he racked 17 points, 10 boards, and 8 assists. Herro and Adebayo had 19 points combined, shooting 6-for-25 and their inadequate contribution was, in fact, the reason for Heat’s loss. These two guys are the ones who push the team once Butler and Dragic stop, and their points are crucial in those situations. Plus, Adebayo is one of the best defenders in the league, and he wasn’t very shinny in that aspect of play during Game 1.
Goran Dragic did his part of the job correctly, the same as Duncan Robinson. These two guys had 25 and 24 points, respectively, holding Miami in the game as much as possible.
Need to Cherish Middleton
That is something we’ve been talking about for a long time. We are more than 100% sure that Giannis Antetokounmpo wouldn’t be where he is now if it weren’t for Khris Middleton, his fantastic sidekick, who isn’t getting enough attention.
With 0.5 seconds to go, Middleton scored a tough jumper for a go-ahead basket, which would later turn out to be a game-winner. KM had 27 points with six boards and dimes, shooting 10-for-22 and hitting three threes. But besides this, he would drive the Heat defense crazy, scoring points under pressure.
Giannis had his usual playoff stats, 26 buckets, 18 boards, and five assists, all that while playing 45 minutes. Jrue Holiday was at the expected level with 2- points and 11 boards, doing stuff that was why the Bucks traded for him. And in the end, Brook Lopez added 18 points too.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Head to Head
The Bucks took the lead following a 109-107 victory in Game 1. The result in the season series was 2-1 for Milwaukee.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Prediction and Pick
The line for the Over/Under limit is 221.5 points which is huge in our opinion. These two teams play tough basketball, and we predict to see sub-100-point performances frequently during these series. So, our pick here is under, at the odds -110. Avoid betting on the winner of the match because this series is highly unpredictable.
Free NBA pick: Under 221.5
