By Stephen Nover
Heat plus 3 hosting Bucks
Bad matchup, bad timing. Look for those factors to do in the Bucks.
Milwaukee is coming off a huge road victory against the Celtics Friday night. The Bucks hardly had time to celebrate before flying into South Florida to take on the Heat. Not only is Milwaukee playing without rest, but it’s the Bucks’ third game in four nights and fourth game in six days all at different venues.
Miami is a tough opponent for the Bucks. Not only are the Heat playing their best ball with three straight victories – holding the Grizzlies, Pelicans and Rockets all below 100 points in those wins – but they have the defense, offensive rebounding and slowdown style to frustrate the high-scoring Bucks. Miami is 7-3 in its last 10 games, its best stretch.
So it’s not a fluke the Heat have defeated Milwaukee five times in a row. The Heat held the Bucks to just 88.3 points in sweeping the three-game series last season. The Bucks are flash and offense with today’s new kind of superstar in multi-talented Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat are old-school slowing tempo with a powerful commitment to defense.
This clash in styles has worked in Miami’s favor. The oddsmaker has no choice but to open the Bucks a road favorite. Milwauklee is 2-5-1 ATS in that role the past eight times.
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