Heat Try To Close Series vs Battered Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks snapped a 0-3 SU and ATS losing streak in Game 4 with an overtime win over the Miami Heat. But in the process, they lost Giannis Antetokounmpo with a sprained ankle. Antetokounmpo is listed as questionable going into Game 5 in Orlando on Tuesday night.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Heat opened as 1.5-point favorites in this matchup but have since been bet up to 3-point favorites with Antetokounmpo’s status up in the air. Surprisingly, the total hasn’t been impacted much and has actually gone up half a point to 217.5 from its opener at 217 points. Miami closed as a 5-point underdog in Game 1 and Game 3, a 5.5-point underdog in Game 2, and a 2-point underdog in Game 4.

Miami News & Notes

Miami had a 7-0 SU and ATS streak snapped in Sunday’s 118-115 loss to the Bucks. Most NBA experts were projecting Milwaukee to roll through the Eastern Conference en route to the NBA Finals this season, but the Heat have had other plans.

With Jimmy Butler’s 25 points per game leading the way, the Heat are averaging 115.3 points per game against a Bucks team that allowed only 108.6 points per game during the regular season.

No NBA team has ever lost a best-of-seven series after taking a 3-0 lead. But this year’s circumstances are unique in that the Heat won’t have home-court advantage in any of their elimination games against the higher-seeded Bucks.

With Antetokounmpo potentially out or playing at less than 100 percent on a sprained ankle, Miami would love to close this series out now to avoid letting the momentum shift Milwaukee’s way.

Milwaukee News & Notes

Giannis Antetokounmpo was on a tear in Game 4 with 19 points in just 11 minutes of play before being forced out of the game with a sprained ankle early in the second quarter. He was well on his way to having his best game of the series after being held to just 22.7 points per game in Milwaukee’s first three games against Miami. Antetokounmpo averaged 29.5 points per game during the regular season and 30.6 points per game in five playoff games against the Orlando Magic.

Khris Middleton stepped up to carry the load on offense after Antetokounmpo’s exit, finishing the game with 36 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. With or without Antetokounmpo on the court Tuesday night, Middleton and the rest of the Bucks need to keep up the intensity they showed in Game 4 to extend this series again.