Two of the favorite teams to fight for the NBA Eastern Conference title will be facing each other for the second time in three days as the Bucks vs Heat take the court on Saturday. The two teams met on Thursday night in a hard-fought game that ended in a 102-108 victory for Miami.
Without further ado, JefeBet brings you the best preview of the stellar clash between Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the Milwaukee Bucks vs Miami Heat NBA Regular Season Game on January 14, 2023
- Where: FTX Arena – Miami, Florida
- When: Saturday, January 14, 2023, 1:00 PM E.T.
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Betting on the Milwaukee Bucks
- Regular season record: 27-15.
The Bucks halted a two-game winning streak on Thursday to pull away from the Celtics, who are three and a half games behind them in the Eastern Conference standings. For next Saturday’s rematch, Milwaukee hopes to have the return of its star player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who missed Thursday’s game due to knee discomfort that has plagued him for a couple of weeks and for which he was given a short rest.
This is an absence that greatly diminishes the offense of a team that is one of the worst in the circuit. The Bucks average 112.4 points per game, the 11th lowest in the league, and Thursday’s 102 points exemplifies the calamities of not having the league’s third-best scorer averaging 31.0 points per game.
However, Milwaukee is still a contender for the title because of its defense. For the last couple of seasons they have been among the most reliable teams in the league in defense and this year has been no exception, allowing 111.0 points per game, being the sixth-lowest figure in the circuit.
The Bucks are the second-best defense, allowing just 45.1% from the field, rank as the sixth-best team at stopping three-point shots and have the third-lowest average foul rate per game at 21.1.
Betting on the Miami Heat
- Regular season record: 23-20.
Taking advantage of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence, the Heat enforced their home court with another defensive class to earn their second consecutive victory in front of their home fans. Miami clinched eighth place in the Eastern Conference after allowing its opponents fewer than 110 points for the fourth time in the last five games, and Milwaukee barely registered just over 40% shooting from the field.
This strong defensive performance is nothing new for the Heat, who for the past two years have been among the best teams in the league stopping opponents, and this year they are allowing the second-fewest points per game at 109.0.
Miami’s problems are on the offensive front since most of the times that great defensive work does not pay off as Erik Spoelstra’s team averages the second-fewest goals in the league with 108.8 and is within of the top six teams with the worst shooting averages from the field and long-range shots.
JefeBet Prediction
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