Heat vs Bucks Odds, Prediction and Betting Trends for Playoffs in Game 2

The big question surrounding Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Wednesday between the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks is the status of Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Oddsmakers clearly think he’s playing as the Bucks are -9 on the NBA odds.

Heat vs. Bucks, Game 2 | 2023 NBA Playoff Expert Analysis

How to Bet Miami at Milwaukee NBA Odds & TV Info

When: Wednesday, 9 PM ET
Where: Fiserv Forum
TV: NBA TV
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app
Radio: Tunein.com
NBA Odds: Bucks -9 (total 222.5 points)

Why Bet on Miami?

The Heat stole Game 1 by a score of 130-117 on Sunday. Jimmy Butler shot 15-of-27 from the field and 5-of-8 from the foul line on the way to 35 points along with 11 assists, five rebounds and three steals. With both teams suffering injury-related setbacks during Sunday’s series opener, Butler took over the game and led Miami to the victory. It was a far cry from his production in the last playoff series between the Heat and Bucks, a four-game Milwaukee sweep in 2021. In those contests, Butler averaged 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists while shooting 29.7% from the field and 72.7% from the foul line.

Bam Adebayo had 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Adebayo led the Heat in rebounds while finishing as one of two players with 20 or more points and at least 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in the Game 1 victory.

However, the Heat lost starting guard Tyler Herro for 4-6 weeks to a broken hand. Herro crashed to the floor after he was unsuccessful in trying to chase down a loose ball during the final minute of the first half. He stayed in the game until halftime but was in clear discomfort. In his fourth season, Herro has been a vital part of Miami’s offense this season, averaging over 20 points per game and tied with Butler for the highest usage rate on the team. Herro led the league in free throw percentage this season, the first Heat player in team history to ever do so.

“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 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.”

The Heat’s 130 points in Game 1 were the most points in postseason team history. Miami also connected on 50 field goals, also the most in playoff franchise history. Additionally, the Heat shot 60 percent from three-point range, tying the second-highest postseason percentage in Heat history.

Bet Heat to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Why Bet on Milwaukee?

The Bucks are holding out hope that the back injury two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered in Game 1 of the first round will not hamper him going forward. Coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters Monday that Antetokounmpo’s MRI and X-rays came back clean and that he and the staff remain “optimistic” about Antetokounmpo as Game 2 vs. Miami. Antetokounmpo played just 11 minutes in the opener after injuring his back falling to the floor after charging into Heat forward Kevin Love.

“I would say he’s still sore, but I think progress and he’s getting some treatment and I think we’ll just continue to monitor him for the next 24 (hours), next day or two,” Budenholzer said Monday. “And probably fortunate that two days between games. So, I think still mostly positive, mostly optimistic, but we’ll see how he feels in the next day or two.”

The Bucks have become all-too-familiar with this situation, falling to 5-7 in Game 1s under Budenholzer. The good news for Milwaukee is that the Bucks have won five of their past six series after losing the opening game. When the Bucks won the NBA championship in 2021, they fell behind 1-0 in each of the last three rounds of their playoff run, including in the Finals, where the Phoenix Suns took a 2-0 lead before Milwaukee ripped off four consecutive wins.

“It’s tough to go down 1-0 on your home court, but it’s the playoffs, nothing is guaranteed,” Khris Middleton said. “We watch film, we realize what we did well, what we need to be better at, make our adjustments. And then come out here and fight.”

Middleton played great in the opener with 33 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Middleton shot 60% from the field – he had just two 30-point games in the regular season. Bobby Portis had 21 points and eight rebounds. Portis finished Game 1 third on the team in shot attempts, and he would move into the starting lineup if Giannis cannot play in Game 2.

Center Brook Lopez finished second to Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. on Monday for NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Even though he’s always been a shot-blocker – he’s swatted 1.8 per game throughout his career – this was the first time that Lopez was a serious candidate for the DPOY award. Lopez blocked a career-best and league-high 193 shots this regular season, plus contested 17.5 shots per game — by far the most of anyone in the league. He had three blocks in Game 1.

Bet Bucks to Win Today
MyBookie Betting Lines for the Game

Game Trends

Heat are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Heat are 16-33-2 ATS in their last 51 games following a straight up win.
Heat are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
Bucks are 15-7 ATS in their last 22 games following a ATS loss.
Bucks are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 home games.
Heat are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.