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So much for the Milwaukee Bucks having the best NBA playoff odds to win a championship going into Game 1. After a back injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are just hoping to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole at home.
Prediction 1
Milwaukee Bucks -6
10/11 (-110)
Prediction 2
Jrue Holiday Over 20.5 Points
25/27 (-108)
These odds from William Hill were correct at the time of writing.

Photo by Icon Sport
Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat – Game Predictions
Contents
Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo unlikely to play with his back injury, Miami is a 6-point road underdog with a total of 219.5 points. Miami, the league’s lowest-scoring team, shocked many in the NBA by scoring 130 points in Game 1’s win.
Prediction 1: Milwaukee Bucks to Cover the Spread (-6)
Make no mistake about it: Giannis is a way bigger loss than Tyler Herro is for Miami. However, the Bucks have the veteran leadership in Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton to get by in a game like this they have to win. Even in Game 1, you could see the impact of losing Herro as Miami went from +32.6 in Net Rating with him on the court vs. +2.2 without him. The Heat are 32-50-3 ATS (39%), the second-worst record in the league. The Bucks are 14-9-1 ATS (60.9%) after a loss, the third-best record. We will trust the Bucks to even the series here or else they may be cooked this season.
Prediction 2: Jrue Holiday Over 20.5 Points
In Game 1, it was Holiday with 16 assists and 16 points, but he only shot 6-of-18 from the field. His teammates also shot an absurd 16-for-17 on his potential assists, so that will regress. Look for more points and fewer assists from Holiday as he takes more of the scoring burden from Middleton, who had 33 points on 60% shooting. Both need to score well to make up for the loss of Giannis, and Holiday already has two games with 24 points against Miami this year. Take his over.
Bucks vs Heat Preview – Can Bucks Even Series Without Giannis?
Both teams have a significant injury to deal with after one game, but we will see if Playoff Jimmy Butler can carry the Heat past the top-seeded Bucks as long as Giannis is out of action.
Milwaukee Bucks News, Injuries, and Starting Lineups
The Bucks were +7.8 in Net Rating with Giannis on the court this season, and they were a respectable 11-8 in games he did not play at all. The veteran core intact from the 2021 title run is going to have to prove it can step up without their superstar.
Milwaukee Bucks Injury Report:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (back) is doubtful
- Wesley Matthews (calf) is out
Milwaukee Bucks Starting Lineup:
Brook Lopez, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Jrue Holiday, and Grayson Allen.
Miami Heat News, Injuries, and Starting Lineups
The Heat are still not favored to win the series by any means, but that could sure change with another upset here. They must take advantage of the absence of Giannis, though that will be harder without Tyler Herro in the offense.
Miami Heat Injury Report:
- Tyler Herro (hand) is out for 4-to-6 weeks
- Kyle Lowry (knee) is questionable but expected to play
Miami Heat Starting Lineup:
Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Max Strus, Kyle Lowry, and Gabe Vincent.
Bucks vs Heat Head to Head Record In 2023
Miami is now 3-2 against Milwaukee this season, including a 3-1 record when Antetokounmpo plays fewer than 15 minutes (or misses the game entirely).
Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat Game Details
- Date & Time: Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 9:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Fiserv Forum – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Where to watch match in UK: Sky Sports (TV), fuboTV, or other live stream
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