Tied at one win apiece, the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat will try to get the edge in the series by taking Game 3. The Heat will host this one at the Kaseya Center, with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.
Despite playing on the road, the Bucks are the favorite in this one. They are -196 to win, while the Heat’s moneyline sits at +164. The spread features Miami as 4.5-point underdogs, and the over/under for total points is 220.5.
Status Of Giannis Uncertain Entering Game 3
After losing him in Game 1 to a back injury, the status of Giannis Antetokounmpo for Game 3 is listed as questionable. After averaging 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists per game during the regular season, the Bucks would love to have him back in the lineup, but they must weigh the risk of further injury.
To the relief of Bucks’ fans, the absence of Antetokounmpo was not an issue in Game 2. The Bucks demolished the Heat at home 138-122.
In the win, Brook Lopez tied for a game-high with 25 points. Other contributors included Jrue Holiday (24 points, 11 assists), Pat Connaughton (22 points), Joe Ingles (17 points), Grayson Allen (16 points), Khris Middleton (16 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds), and Bobby Portis (13 points, 15 rebounds).
If nothing else, Game 2 proved how incredibly deep Milwaukee is. While they would love to have their perennial MVP candidate back on the floor Saturday, no team in the NBA is better set to withstand such a monumental loss than the Bucks.
On the season, Milwaukee ranks sixth in scoring, averaging 117.2 points per game. On the defensive end, they rank 14th overall, allowing opponents an average of 113.6 points per game.
Heat Try To Pull Off Upset In Front Of Home Crowd
The Heat could not have been happier to get out of Milwaukee with a split in the series. Now heading back home, where they were 27-14 on the season, the Heat will hope to pull off the home upset and take down the Bucks in front of their home faithful.
In two games, Jimmy Butler has led the way for the Heat in scoring. He is averaging 30 points per game, while also chipping in seven assists, four rebounds, and 2.5 steals per game.
Other contributors include Bam Adebayo (20 points, seven rebounds, four assists), Gabe Vincent (15.5 points, 4.5 assists), Victor Oladipo (15 points, five rebounds), and Caleb Martin (15 points).
Like the Bucks, the Heat suffered a major injury as Tyler Herro is out for the rest of the season with a broken hand.
Take Milwaukee To Win And Cover
Milwaukee is 15-3 in their last 18 road games, and they are 10-5 in their last 15 against the Heat. For Miami, they are 7-2 in their last nine home games and 6-3 in their last nine games overall.
Obviously, it is going to be important to check on the availability of Giannis in this one. Even if he isn’t able to play, though, the Bucks are sitting in a good spot here. After all, over their last 13 road contests against teams with a winning record, they are 10-3 against the spread.
Take the Bucks -4.5 (-112).
