Posting the best record in the NBA the last two seasons has meant little to the Milwaukee Bucks, who lost in the Eastern Conference Finals two years ago and were bounced in the second round by the Miami Heat just a few months back. The teams meet in South Florida on Wednesday in the second of a back-to-back. COVID changed everything last season with teams playing in a bubble setting in Florida, and the Heat thrived. The virus threat forced schedule adjustments this season with the unusual scenario of teams playing each other on consecutive nights in the same venue. We’ll see how the clubs handle the situation after a testy playoff series.
The matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat takes place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, from American Airlines Arena in Miami and will air live on NBA TV. BookMaker.eu will have odds for every game on the Wednesday NBA schedule.
NBA Opening Lines at BookMaker.eu
Milwaukee Bucks (Check Back Later)
Miami Heat (Check Back Later)
Over/Under (Check Back Later)
Odds Analysis
It’s been a tough start for the Bucks, who are thinking NBA title or bust this season. They lost two of their first three games with both setbacks taking place on the road. They head to Miami off a 20-point drubbing by the Knicks where they were positioned as a 13-point favorite on the closing line. The Bucks also dropped their opener to Boston in dramatic fashion. In between was the kind of effort we expect to see more often than not, a 138-99 verdict over Golden State. After evening their record at 1-1 with a 111-98 win over New Orleans on Christmas, the Heat will take a few days off before the back-to-back. And you know they’ll look at tape of last season’s games with Milwaukee. Including the playoff series, Miami went 6-2 SU and ATS against a team that’s won nearly 75 percent of its games over the last two regular seasons.
Milwaukee Bucks
Despite their success over the past two regular seasons, the Bucks are still searching for their first Finals appearance since 1974. They made sure the championship window stayed opened by inking Giannis Antetokounmpo to a max contract and adding what many consider a better supporting cast. That has yet to pan out with losses in two of their first three games.
However, this season is unlike any other – even last season – due to the short offseason and minimal training camp time with fewer preseason games. It may take longer for teams with a different roster to come together. The core of the club is intact with two-time reigning MVP Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Those two combined to average over 50 points a game while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor. Offense won’t be an issue for one of the most efficient teams the last two seasons.
Maybe the Bucks were looking ahead to the games against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs, which would explain their 130-110 loss to New York on Sunday. Giannis had 27 points and 13 boards, but the Bucks shot just 7 of 38 from three-point range, a game after going 20 of 37 in a 39-point win over Golden State.
Miami Heat
Nobody enjoyed the kind of success the Heat had over the Bucks last season. Miami surprised a lot of people with their playoff run, especially considering they won just 44 games and finished fifth in the East. They were closer to being out of a playoff spot then they were to the Bucks in the final standings. Roster depth, shooting accuracy and team defense can do wonders in this game and the Heat showed off all three to reach the NBA Finals.
They won’t be sneaking up on teams this season, but they are also a more confident bunch after their run to the Finals. Eight players averaged in double figures last season led by wily veteran Jimmy Butler. After losing their opener in Orlando, the Heat won again on their home floor, beating the Pels 111-98. They had one of the best home records in the league last season before the shutdown. And they showed off their depth with six players scoring in double figures.
Showing that they can overcome the loss of their leader, the Heat rallied after Butler left the last game with an injury. He was just 2 of 7 with four points, but the troops rallied behind Duncan Robinson and Bam Adebayo. Robinson was 7 of 13 behind the arc and is making 52.6 percent of his threes.
NBA Odds Pick
The addition of Jrue Holiday in particular was designed to make the Bucks a tougher team to play against. That wasn’t the case on Sunday when the Knicks shot 54.1 percent from the floor and 59.3 percent from deep. The Bucks will be there in the end even during the shortened season, and beating the Heat will make them feel better about last season’s collapse.
NBA Odds Prediction: Bucks 120, Heat 112
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