Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Game Day Preview

An NBA Game Day Preview between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks

When: 7:30 PM EST, May 24, 2021
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

Point Spread: Milwaukee -4.5
OVER/UNDER Game Total: 222.5

Miami Heat

Playoff Record: 0-1
Road Record: 0-1

Milwaukee Bucks

Playoff Record: 1-0
Home Record: 1-0

Miami Heat Vs Milwaukee Bucks Game Day Preview

The NBA playoffs are underway, and the Miami Heat will continue their first round series with the Milwaukee Bucks. The highly-anticipated series did not disappoint in the opening game as it went to overtime and ended on a heartbreaking note for the Heat, with Bucks forward Khris Middleton nailing the game-winner with five-tenths of a second left. The Heat will look to bounce back against Milwaukee in Game 2 of the series.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat had won five out of their last six regular season games, with the one loss coming to their series opponent, Milwaukee (122-108).

The impact of that loss may have been shown in the Game 1 loss to the Bucks. Miami will need major contributions from starting guard Duncan Robinson who had the best playoff game of his career on Saturday, with 24 points. Bench production will also be key as outside of Goran Dragic’s 25-point performance, the bench had a lackluster impact on the game’s outcome.

Injuries: Victor Oladipo (OUT) and Omer Yurtseven (DTD)

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks won eight out of their nine final regular season games and quickly built on that momentum by ripping Game 1 away from the Heat, 109-107.

Heading into the playoffs, the Bucks were one of the most dangerous teams with their incredible players on both sides of the ball and it showed. Four out of five starters scored in double-digits, highlighted by a double-double from Giannis and 27 points from the clutch performance of Khris Middleton.

However, one sore spot from the starting lineup came in the form of guard Donte DiVincenzo, who only scored three points in 37 minutes of action. While his rebounding stats were impressive with 10, he will look to improve on the scoring end. Also, Milwaukee’s bench only scored 15 points in Game 1, something they are going to need to improve on.

Injuries: Thanasis Antetokounmpo (OUT), Jeff Teague (DTD)

Projected Lineups

Miami 

Kendrick Nunn (PG)
Duncan Robinson (SG)
Jimmy Butler (SF)
Trevor Ariza (PF)
Bam Adebayo (C)

Milwaukee

Jrue Holiday (PG)
Donte DiVincenzo (SG)
Khris Middleton (SF)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (PF)
Brook Lopez (C)