NBA Game Day Preview between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks. An FL Teams alternative Fantasy Basketball matchup! Play for FREE and WIN prizes.
When: April 19, 2023
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
TV: NBA TV
Point Spread: Milwaukee Bucks -9
OVER/UNDER Game Total: 225.5
MoneyLine: MIA +320 MIL -420
Miami Heat (8)
2023 Playoff Record: 1-0
Playoff Road Record: 1-0
Playoff ATS: 1-0
Milwaukee Bucks (1)
2021 Playoff Record: 0-1
Playoff Home Record: 0-1
Playoff ATS: 0-1
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Game Day Preview
Wow, in game 1 of this series, the 2023 NBA playoffs have turned on a dime! Giannis Antetokounmpo hurt his lower back on a hard fall in the first quarter and the team was never able to fully recover. Despite the Tyler Herro broken right hand injury, Miami was able to collect a road playoff win 130-117 over the heavily favored Bucks.
Should Giannis not be able to compete at 100% moving forward, has the door now opened for another team to emerge from the Eastern Conference?
Miami Heat
The loss of Tyler Herro is going to hurt Miami’s chances to WIN game 2. In his fourth season, Herro has been a vital part of the Heat’s offense. He has averaged over 20 points per game and is tied with Jimmy Butler for the highest usage rate on the team.
“You can’t fully make up what Tyler has been for our team all year long, but guys got to step up, including myself, including Bam (Adebayo) and whoever Spo (Coach Eric Spoelstra) calls upon to do an offensive assignment, a defensive assignment, to bring some energy, to dive on the floor, get a loose ball or rebound,” Butler said. “It’s like all hands on deck at all times, now more than ever.”
Milwaukee Bucks
Let’s continue to monitor the health of Giannis heading into game 2. Let’s also look for Milwaukee to get a little tougher on defense.
“We got to get some stops,” Bucks guard Wes Matthews said. “We can’t let the Miami Heat shoot 60% from the field and expect to win.” For Bucks fans that have already hit the panic button… take solace in Jrue Holiday’s recent comments. “It was Game 1,” Holiday said. “It was a good game, and we’ll learn from it.”
Heat vs. Bucks Facts
- The Bucks are the top seed in the NBA playoffs for the third time in the last five seasons
- The Bucks have made the playoffs seven straight seasons in a row, the second-longest streak in franchise history
- The Bucks and Heat have met in the postseason three times in the last four seasons
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks Alternative Fantasy Basketball Picks
The 2023 NBA Playoffs are in full swing! Give our Fantasy NBA game a try. Make 10 picks and rank them in order of confidence. WIN the most contests in the month of April and collect a FREE $25 Apple or Google Play gift card.
PREDICTION: Heat 107 Bucks 113
10 PT Pick: Milwaukee Bucks Will NOT WIN By OVER 9.5 PTS
9 PT Pick: Khris Middleton OVER 24.5 PTS
8 PT Pick: Total PTS UNDER 225.5
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Thank you for reading my Game Day Preview article! You can read more of my sports betting content on my FL Teams author page. Feel free to connect with me on Twitter @MarcSaulino and follow @FLTeams to stay informed about everything relevant to Florida Sports.