Of all the NBA matchups today, the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat contest perhaps has the most intrigue. Sure, Giannis Antetokounmpo is likely going to be out because of a wrist injury. So what? This will mark the team debut of Jae Crowder in Milwaukee, who hasn’t suited up since a season ago. With Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler in their lineup, Miami is never a team you can truly take your eyes off of.
Sure, the NBA player stats for some of Miami’s guys are pretty poor. But they continue to work hard and always seem to play their best ball of the year after the All-Star break. So, buckle up and get ready for a great basketball game.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Odds
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Information
MIA Heat vs MIL Bucks
Location: Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI.
Date and Time: Friday, February 24 at 7:30 PM ET.
How to Watch: ESPN
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Recent Scores
Miami lost their last few games prior to the All-Star break, unable to showcase any rhythm. Of course, like any season, people might literally yell “Miami Heat injury report” at them because of how many players are usually sitting out over the course of a campaign. Heat Culture is a bit tougher in that players have to maintain specific weights and be in perfect shape all season.
When making those Heat vs Bucks predictions, that has to be kept in mind. NBA picks today will be reflective of this injury report. While Miami deals with theirs, Milwaukee has some of its own. Coming into the break, they have been the best team in basketball. They have figured out how to best utilize their depth chart en route to winning 12 straight ball games.
Jrue Holiday joined Giannis in the All-Star Game, and them having two guys who can play at that level will always make them an extremely tough out around the association.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Analysis
Miami Heat Facts to Know
The NBA schedule is set for each team before the year begins, so it’s known who a squad will play from start to finish right at the beginning. For Miami, they have had its ups and downs, but they have dealt with a lot over the course of the year.
Kyle Lowry’s play has quickly fallen off, and his age is finally starting to show as something being negative. They don’t have much depth in their frontcourt either, with two guys under 6’8 starting at the forward spots with Bam Adebayo.
The good news, though, is that they brought two new players in during the break, who can come in and contribute immediately. They had a serious need for a backup center, so they went and signed Cody Zeller, who has been proven as a solid rim-runner and a guy who’s fast at his position.
They also signed Kevin Love, who can serve as the first forward off the bench. His defense leaves a lot to be desired, but he can shoot the lights out from three.
Miami does not have a player who hasn’t missed at least two games, and all but two players have missed at least eight games. The lack of consistency in rotations and lineups has hurt them drastically.
Milwaukee Bucks Facts to Know
The return of Khris Middleton to the lineup a month ago has served to give this team a serious boost. The Milwaukee Bucks stats have been better with him in the lineup, as they have been for the many years before of Middleton being with the Bucks. He’s made multiple All-Star games and is one of the best clutch scorers in the league, both regular season and playoffs as well.
Jrue Holiday is playing some of the best basketball of his career, while Brook Lopez is still averaging better than three blocks per game. They have had a number of guys missing games this year, but the impressive front office job has allowed them to feel those absences a little less. Depth has been the name of the game in Wisconsin this year, and it’s got them sitting on an impressive 41-17 record to date.
Milwaukee has the best record in the league, and it’s not genuinely surprising. As we continue ahead, think about injuries before making any Heat vs. Bucks predictions.
Updates
Each and every game, at least five Miami Heat players find themselves being listed as questionable. The injury report filers have plenty of action when these guys are in action.
In this instance, they are without three players definitively, and one is questionable. Omer Yurtseven is expected to remain out with an ankle issue. Nikola Jovic is still sitting with back problems. Kyle Lowry is going to sit because of knee problems, while Tyler Herro is questionable for the same issue.
The Bucks are going to be extremely short-handed for this matchup. Not only is Giannis (wrist) going to be out, but Wes Matthews is sitting with a calf issue.
That same problem is likely to sideline their athletic two-way wing Pat Connaughton. Khris Middleton is expected to return after missing the last game with a knee issue. And Bobby Portis will probably need another few games.
Both teams will be short-handed, so injuries can’t be used as any sort of excuse if they fail to execute and compete.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Preview
And now for the NBA odds today, for the Bucks and Heat contest.
Moneyline: MIA +101, MIL -122
Spread: MIL -1.5
Over/Under: 217.5
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Betting Prediction
Moneyline
MIL -122: Making those Heat vs Bucks predictions can be tricky. But not if one team has more pieces than the other, even with the injuries. Miami has the No.2 scoring defense in the NBA but the No.30 offense. No team scores less than the Heat, and this doesn’t feel like a muck-it-up type of game. The Bucks will score enough to win.
Spread
MIL -1.5: It doesn’t matter who’s out in Milwaukee. As amazing as Giannis is for this team, they have won games without him this season. They come in having won 12 in a row and can be argued for being the best team in the league. They won a title two seasons ago, and with the goal to be run that back, they need to beat teams like Miami at home after a week of rest.
Over/Under
OVER 217.5: The baskets will be dropping as the stars come out. Jimmy Butler is going to have to do a lot to carry Miami, and he’ll eventually wear down. When that happens, the Bucks will come out and score more points. According to the NBA team stats, this is not a game they are expected to lose.
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