The Milwaukee Bucks are down in South Beach this Wednesday to face the Miami Heat for the second time this season. Will the Bucks extend their win streak? Or, will the Heat trip up Milwaukee to snap out of a slump?

Catch this game live on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 8:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Milwaukee Bucks (12-5/4-4 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

• Damian Lillard
• Malik Beasley
• Khris Middleton (Questionable)
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• Brook Lopez

The Bucks are going for their third win in a row this Wednesday after winning a pair in a recent homestand. They defeated the Washington Wizards (131-128) and the Portland Trail Blazers (108-102) in their last two games, and will next face a team they have already beaten once this season. 

Milwaukee trounced the Heat back in late October in a 122-114 home win. In that game, the tandem of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard combined for 58 points, while Bobby Portis and Cam Payne came off the bench for a total of 27 points.

It could even be easier for the Bucks to deal with Miami this time around despite being the road team if the Heat ultimately rules out a number of their key players. Tyler Herro, who torched Milwaukee for 35 points in the first meeting this season has already been ruled out of Wednesday’s game.

Home: Miami Heat (10-7/4-1 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

• Kyle Lowry
• Duncan Robinson (Probable)
• Jimmy Butler (Questionable)
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. 
• Bam Adebayo (Probable)

As mentioned, the Heat are carrying quite an injury report. Miami, who has lost its last two games, has shooter Duncan Robinson and big man Bam Adebayo labeled probable for the Bucks game, while Jimmy Butler is questionable. Those are not encouraging signs for the Heat heading into a matchup against a legitimate NBA title contender, but they’re not going to be bereft of quality players either. 

Take for example rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr, who scored 18 points on 8/15 shooting from the floor in last Sunday’s 112-97 road loss to the Brooklyn Nets. A game prior to that, the former UCLA Bruins star had 15 points off the bench. He is definitely more confident now than in the first showdown against the Bucks. Even though they have been pretty banged up of late, the Heat have at least found a way to win games and cover the spread. They are 7-3 straight-up and against the spread in their last 10 games overall.

PREDICTIONS:

Spread: The Bucks (-3) cover the spread.

Over/Under: The total (226.0) hits the Over.