The Miami Heat (22-20, 12-9 Home), one of the NBA’s top scoring defenses, host the Milwaukee Bucks (27-14, 11-9 Away) on Thursday. Milwaukee is playing on back-to-back days after beating the Atlanta Hawks 114-105 at State Farm Arena yesterday, their third win in a row away from home. Jrue Holiday was the leading scorer with 27 points.
Brook Lopez added 20 points and 12 rebounds. The Bucks are trailing the Boston Celtics by 2.5 games in the Eastern Conference, currently sitting in third. Miami won a close one on Tuesday at FTX Arena, beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 112-111.
Jimmy Butler had 35 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks to lead the team. The Heat are eighth in the Eastern Conference.The teams are meeting for the first time this season. Milwaukee and Miami split their matchups last season, taking two apiece.
The Bucks triumphed in the last meeting 120-119 at Fiserv Forum in March 2022. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 28 points, 17 rebounds, and five assists. Tyler Herro had 30 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and one steals in the losing effort.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.0 points per game, third-highest in the league, to lead the Bucks in scoring this season. Antetokounmpo also has grabbed 11.9 rebounds per game, third-most in the NBA.
Meanwhile, Holiday is dishing 7.1 assists. Bam Adebayo and Herro have supplied much of the Heat’s offense, averaging 21.4 and 21.2 points per game, respectively. Adebayo also has pulled down 9.9 rebounds per game.
Kyle Lowry has doled out 5.6 assists per game. The Heat are holding opponents to 109.0 points per game, ranking as one of the stingiest scoring defenses in the league (2nd).
The Heat have had the advantage in the last 10 clashes between the teams at FTX Arena, winning six. Meanwhile, the Bucks are 4-0 when playing two days in a row this season and 2-0 in such games against opponents with at least a day of rest.
The Heat are 3-1 with a rest advantage.In the last 10 games, Milwaukee is 5-5 with an average margin of -6.2 (111.0-117.2). For the season, the Bucks are averaging 112.4 points per game, compared to 111.0 for opponents. Miami has a 6-4 record over the last 10, scoring 111.4 points per game on average while holding opponents to 108.7 (+2.7 margin).
BUCKS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Pat Connaughton: 17.4 | 12.6 | +4.8
Jevon Carter: 7.4 | 13.0 | -5.6
Rebounds per game:
Brook Lopez: 10.8 | 6.6 | +4.2
Assists per game:
Jrue Holiday: 4.5 | 7.1 | -2.6
HEAT HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Victor Oladipo: 24.0 | 17.8 | +6.2
Kyle Lowry: 14.5 | 23.1 | -8.6
Points per game:
Kyle Lowry: 7.8 | 13.1 | -5.3
Assists per game:
Kyle Lowry: 3.8 | 5.6 | -1.9
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Milwaukee Bucks (+190)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
